The My Safe Florida Home Program is a state-run program that provides eligible Florida homeowners with free wind mitigation inspections and up to $10,000 in grant funds for recommended home upgrades. In a recent program cycle, homeowners who completed the recommended upgrades and reported them to their insurance company saved an average of $932 a year on their Florida home insurance — though actual savings vary by home, insurer, and location.
What does the My Safe Florida Home Program do?
The My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) Program helps eligible Florida homeowners protect their homes against hurricanes. Administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services and based on Florida Statutes Section 215.5586, the MSFH Program provides two key services to eligible homeowners:
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Wind mitigation inspection: If you qualify, you can get a free, no-obligation wind mitigation inspection from a state-approved inspector. If you've already made upgrades to help your home withstand hurricanes, you may be able to submit the inspection results to your home insurance company to make sure you're getting every discount you qualify for on the wind-related portion of your insurance costs.
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Grant program: If your inspection report recommends upgrades to make your home more hurricane-resistant, you can apply for a My Safe Florida Home grant of up to $10,000 to help pay for that work. Most homeowners apply for a matching grant, which provides $2 in state funds for every $1 you spend, up to $10,000. Homeowners who qualify as low-income under Florida Statutes Section 420.0004 don't have to match the funds at all.
Pro tip: The My Safe Florida Home grant program runs in funding cycles established by the Florida Legislature. Eligibility and funding availability are subject to change. Check the My Safe Florida Home website for updates.
Who qualifies for the My Safe Florida Home grant?
To determine if you qualify for the grant, you must first schedule and complete a wind mitigation inspection, which is free to eligible homeowners. To qualify for the free inspection:
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Your house must be a single-family, detached home or townhouse.
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Your house must also be built on-site (rather than manufactured or moved in as a unit) and owner-occupied.
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You must have already been granted a Florida homestead exemption on the property.
Multi-family homes, cooperatives, retirement homes, mobile homes, manufactured homes, second homes, vacation homes, and rental properties are not eligible. The MSFH Program also currently excludes condos, but the state has separately established a My Safe Florida Condo pilot program.
After receiving your inspection, you can apply for the grant as long as you meet the following requirements:
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You must have received an official inspection through the program.
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Your home must be insured for $700,000 or less. This refers to your dwelling coverage — the part of your policy that covers the structure of your home. This cap doesn't apply if you qualify as low-income.
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You must be able to prove the home was constructed before Jan. 1, 2008.
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You must provide the name and license number of the contractor who will complete your mitigation project.
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You must opt in to a final inspection once the project is complete.
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You must submit all information from your insurer about home insurance discounts you qualify for after project completion.
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You must meet the My Safe Florida Home Program income limits and be considered a low-income or moderate-income person, as defined under Florida Statutes Section 420.0004.
My Safe Florida Home grant funding groups
MSFH grant funds are limited. The program divides applicants into one of four groups based on age and income. Group 1 gets top priority for grant fund disbursement. Here are the four group categories for the current fiscal year.
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Group 1: Low-income homeowners aged 60+
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Group 2: Low-income homeowners
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Group 3: Moderate-income homeowners aged 60+
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Group 4: Moderate-income homeowners
Note: The program defines low-income as a household income at or below 80% of the median income for the household's state, metro area, or county of residence — whichever is highest. Moderate-income households fall below 120% of that same threshold.
If you need help with any part of the process, you can schedule an appointment with an MSFH agent via phone, email, or through the online MSFH Support Center.
What does the $10,000 MSFH grant cover?
You can use grant money from the My Safe Florida Home program to fund four core home improvements, as recommended by your wind mitigation inspection:
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Opening protection: Protecting any openings (doors, windows, garage doors, skylights, etc.) with impact-resistant materials
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Roof-to-wall attachment: Connecting the rafters or attic trusses to the walls of your home to reduce the risk of the roof lifting off the home
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Roof deck attachment: Further bonding the roof sheathing to the rafters or trusses
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Secondary water resistance: Installing a water-resistant barrier (called underlayment) beneath your roofing material to keep water out if the roof covering is damaged
Matching grant vs. low-income (non-matching) grant
While both the matching grant and low-income grant are available up to $10,000, they work a little differently.
Matching grant
The matching grant is awarded on a reimbursement basis. You must receive grant approval before beginning work, and the funds will be set aside for you. Before you can receive the funds, you have to schedule and pass a final inspection and submit the final invoice, with proof of payment in full. You’ll need to pay the contractor out of pocket (through cash, a loan, or a credit card) to complete the work, and then you’ll be reimbursed.
For every $1 you spend on approved improvements, the state chips in $2 — up to a $10,000 government contribution. For instance:
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If your project costs $15,000, you’ll pay $5,000, and MSFH will pay $10,000.
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If your project costs $20,000, you'll pay $10,000, and MSFH will pay $10,000 (its maximum contribution since the cap applies regardless of project size).
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If your project costs $9,000, you’ll pay $3,000, and MSFH will pay $6,000.
Low-income (non-matching) grant
If you’re a qualifying low-income Floridian, you can get the low-income grant, which doesn’t require you to spend any of your own money. The MSFH program simply awards $10,000, and you’ll pay any additional costs beyond that. If the project is less than $10,000, MSFH will fund it up to the total cost.
You’ll still have to request funds after the work is complete, but you don’t need to provide proof that you’ve paid in full, just the final invoice. That means you can pay your contractor with grant funds once you receive them.
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Matching grant |
Low-income grant |
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Max total funds |
Up to $10,000 |
Up to $10,000 |
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Homeowner expenses |
$1 spent for every $2 in grant funds; any project costs beyond $10,000 award |
Any project costs beyond $10,000 award |
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Draw timeline |
After paying invoice in full |
After final inspection but before paying invoice in full |
How to apply for the My Safe Florida Home grant
The My Safe Florida Home Program application is a multi-step process:
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Create an account online. Visit the My Safe Florida Home website to create an account, and complete the required questions.
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Schedule the inspection. If you qualify, schedule your free wind mitigation inspection.
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Indicate interest. After you receive the inspection report, indicate interest in the grant via the online portal.
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Apply for the grant. Once you receive the grant application, fill it out online and wait for approval.
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Schedule the work. Hire an approved contractor to complete work related to your grant.
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Schedule a final inspection. When the contractor finishes the wind mitigation updates, schedule a final inspection.
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Submit a draw request. Once you’ve passed the final inspection and received the final invoice, you’ll need to pay it (for a matching grant) and then submit a draw request online to receive your funds. Low-income grant recipients can submit the draw request with the final invoice, then pay the contractor with the funds.
Frequently asked questions
What are the income requirements for My Safe Florida Home?
To qualify for My Safe Florida Home, your household income must fall below 120% of the median income for your state, metro area, or county of residence — whichever is highest. Where you land within that range affects your priority group. Households at or below 80% of that median are considered low-income and get top priority (Groups 1 and 2), while households between 80% and 120% are considered moderate-income and are prioritized after that (Groups 3 and 4). If enough low-income homeowners apply and get approved, the program could run out of funds before moderate-income applicants get approved.
What is the $10,000 grant for Florida homeowners?
The $10,000 grant for Florida homeowners is a wind mitigation grant from the My Safe Florida Home Program. You can apply for this grant after completing a free wind mitigation inspection and receiving a report of recommended upgrades. Homeowners who don't qualify as low-income apply for a matching grant, while those who do qualify as low-income can get a grant that doesn't require any out-of-pocket spending.
Do you have to pay back the My Safe Florida Home grant?
No, you don’t have to pay back the My Safe Florida Home grant because it’s a grant, not a loan. However, the grant is reimbursement-based. Most grant recipients must pay for the project and then submit for reimbursement. Low-income recipients are the exception — they're exempt from matching funds, so they can complete the project up to $10,000 without paying anything themselves.
Is the My Safe Florida Home Program legitimate?
Yes, My Safe Florida Home is a legitimate program administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services. However, MSFH warns of potential scams. MSFH will never call you to sell its services, show up at your home unannounced, or request payment over the phone. Always visit the official website (mysafeflhome.com) for all actions.
