My Safe Florida Home Grants: Up to $10,000 for Your Roof?

If you’ve heard a neighbor mention “free money for a new roof,” they were probably talking about My Safe Florida Home, the state program run by the Florida Department of Financial Services. It can be a real help for Tampa Bay homeowners. But it’s not a blank check, the rules changed in 2026, and there’s a specific order you have to do things in or you can lose the grant.

Read to learn more on who qualifies, what roof upgrades count, how the money works, and where a licensed roofer fits in.

What Is the My Safe Florida Home Program?

The My Safe Florida Home program (MSFH) does two things:

1. Free wind mitigation inspections for eligible homeowners, done by inspectors the program contracts with.
2. Hurricane mitigation grants to help pay for the upgrades that inspection recommends, so your home holds up better in a storm and may qualify for wind-mitigation discounts on your insurance.

The program describes it in three steps: Inspect, Strengthen, Save.

Step 1: The Free Wind Mitigation Inspection

To qualify for the free inspection, according to MSFH and Florida Statute 215.5586:

• The home must be a single-family home on its own parcel: detached, or attached (like a townhome) up to three stories
• It must be site-built and owner-occupied
• You must have a Florida homestead exemption on the home

You can’t use your own inspector for this. Once you’re approved, the program assigns a licensed inspector. The report tells you which improvements are recommended and what insurance discounts might be available.

(Done Rite doesn’t perform wind mitigation inspections in-house. If you need one outside the program, we refer them to a trusted third-party partner.)

If you want to understand what that inspection looks at, our post What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection and How Much Can It Save You? breaks it down.

Step 2: Do You Qualify for a My Safe Florida Home Grant?

Not everyone who gets the inspection qualifies for grant money. Under the current statute and the program’s FAQ, the main grant requirements are:

• You were eligible for, and received, the program’s initial inspection within the 24 months before you apply
• The home has an insured dwelling value of $700,000 or less (Coverage A on your declarations page). Under the program’s rules, low-income applicants are exempt from this cap.
• The home was built before January 1, 2008, as shown on the county property appraiser’s website
• You agree to a final inspection after the work is done
• You agree to share the insurance discount information you get from your insurer

New for 2026: The 2026 version of the statute adds an income requirement. Grant applicants must be a low-income or moderate-income person as defined in Florida Statute 420.0004. In plain terms, moderate income means household income below 120% of the median for the state or your metro area (whichever is greater), and low income means at or below 80%. This change is tied to the 2026–2027 state budget and is scheduled to expire July 1, 2027, so check the current rules when you apply.

Applications open in phases, starting with low-income homeowners age 60 and up, then expanding to other groups. The program says specific dates are announced on MySafeFLHome.com.

How the $10,000 Grant Works

There are two kinds of grants:

Matching grants

The state pays $2 for every $1 you put in, up to a maximum state contribution of $10,000. You pay the contractor in full first, then get reimbursed after the final inspection. The program’s own example: spend $15,000 on eligible work and you could be reimbursed $10,000; spend $9,000 and you could get $6,000 back.

Low-income grants

Eligible low-income homeowners can get up to $10,000 with no match required.

The most important rule: don’t start any work until you have your official grant approval notice. MSFH says starting construction before approval disqualifies you from reimbursement.

Which Roof Upgrades Qualify?

MSFH funds four types of improvements, and only when they’re recommended in your initial inspection report. Three of them are roof-related:

Roof-to-wall connection

Strengthens the connection between your roof and walls, typically with hurricane clips or straps. A strong roof to wall connection helps keep the roof structure attached in high wind.

Roof deck attachment

Re-nailing the roof deck so the sheathing resists being pulled off in strong winds. This is often done during a re-roof, when the deck is exposed.

Secondary water barrier

Also called secondary water resistance (SWR). It’s a self-adhering underlayment applied over the deck so that if wind strips the shingles or tiles, water still has a hard time getting into your home.

The statute also allows grant funds toward replacing the roof covering as part of roof improvements, when recommended. The fourth category, opening protection, covers impact windows, doors, garage doors and skylights.

Only improvements recommended in the initial report and confirmed in the final inspection get funded. Nothing else counts.

Why the Grant Requires a Licensed Contractor

The law requires that grant-funded work be done by properly licensed contractors with all required permits and inspections. When you apply, you have to give the program your contractor’s name and state license number, and the program verifies it. Eligible license types include general, building, residential, specialty and roofing contractors registered with Florida DBPR.

The program no longer keeps a list of approved contractors. Picking one is up to you, and MSFH itself recommends getting bids from at least three. You can check any contractor’s license at MyFloridaLicense.com. Done Rite Roofing is licensed, bonded and insured, Florida contractor license CCC1336177, and we take My Safe Florida Home grant-funded jobs.

Does a My Safe Florida Home Upgrade Lower Your Insurance?

It can. Wind mitigation features like roof-to-wall connections, deck attachment and secondary water resistance are what Florida insurers look at for wind-mitigation discounts, and the program asks you to report the discounts you receive. How much you save depends on your home and your insurer. We covered this in Does a New Roof Lower Homeowners Insurance in Florida?

A Simple Checklist for Tampa Bay Homeowners

1. Confirm you have a homestead exemption and your home was built before 2008.
2. Create an account and apply for the free inspection at MySafeFLHome.com.
3. Read your inspection report and note the recommended roof improvements.
4. Get bids from licensed contractors for exactly those improvements.
5. Apply for the grant with your contractor’s name and license number.
6. Wait for approval. Then schedule the work.
7. After the work and permits are closed, request your final inspection and submit your draw request.

If your roof is aging anyway, it can make sense to line up a re-roof with the deck re-nailing and secondary water barrier at the same time. Our roof replacement page explains how we handle full tear-offs and storm-damaged roofs, and if you need help covering your share, see How to Get Roofing Financing in Florida.

FAQ

How much is the My Safe Florida Home grant? Up to $10,000 from the state. Matching grants pay $2 for every $1 you contribute; low-income grants require no match.

Who qualifies for the My Safe Florida Home program in 2026? Homesteaded, owner-occupied, site-built single-family homes (including qualifying attached homes) built before 2008, insured at $700,000 or less, with a program inspection in the last 24 months. Under the 2026 statute, grant applicants must also be low- or moderate-income.

Can I start my roof before I’m approved? No. Work started before grant approval isn’t eligible for reimbursement.

Can I choose my own roofer? Yes, as long as they’re a properly licensed Florida contractor.