My Safe Florida Home Grants: Boca Owners’ Playbook

Hurricane season is part of life in Boca Raton. If you own a home here, you want peace of mind and lower insurance costs without wasting time on red tape. The My Safe Florida Home program can help with a free inspection and grants up to $10,000 for specific upgrades. This guide gives you a clear, step-by-step Boca playbook so you can apply with confidence and plan smart. Let’s dive in.

What My Safe Florida Home offers

The state program provides a free wind-mitigation inspection and grants of up to $10,000 for qualified hurricane resilience upgrades. It is designed to reduce storm damage and may help you qualify for insurance discounts. Start by reviewing the official program details on the My Safe Florida Home portal.

Funding is limited and timing matters. The program reopened in August 2025 with new funding, and applications typically follow staged priority windows for different income and age groups. For current status and timing, review Florida Realtors’ reopening update and then confirm live details on the program portal.

Who is eligible in Boca Raton

• Property type and occupancy: Owner-occupied single-family homes and townhouses are eligible for the free inspection. Condos, co-ops, manufactured homes, second homes and rentals are not eligible for grants. Townhouses are generally only eligible for Opening Protection upgrades. See the state’s property eligibility guidance.
• Homestead: The home must be your primary residence with a Florida homestead exemption. Boca owners can verify homestead status through the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser.
• Construction date and insured value: To receive a grant, the original construction permit must generally predate January 1, 2008, and the insured value must be under the program cap. Confirm current thresholds on the program’s grant eligibility page. You can still get the free inspection even if your home is too new for a grant.

Income groups and matching

The program prioritizes low and moderate-income households and may adjust the match based on income:

• Low income: At or below 80 percent of county Area Median Income may receive priority and, historically, increased assistance.
• Moderate income: Under 120 percent of county AMI typically receives a 2-to-1 state match up to a $10,000 program share. For example, a $15,000 project could see $10,000 from the state and $5,000 from you, subject to current rules.

Check your household’s AMI status with the HUD income limits lookup, then verify current program rules on the portal before you apply.

The four upgrade types

Only improvements recommended in your Initial Inspection Report are eligible, and they must be verified at the Final Inspection. The grant covers four specific categories:

1. Opening Protection: Impact-rated windows, doors or shutters.
2. Roof-to-Wall Attachment: Clips or straps that strengthen connections.
3. Roof-Deck Attachment: Nailing upgrades such as ring-shank nails.
4. Secondary Water Resistance: Underlayment methods that seal roof seams.

Townhouses are usually limited to Opening Protection. Review the state’s list of authorized improvements.

How to apply, step by step

1. Create your portal account and request the free inspection. An inspector typically reaches out within about a week and uploads your report soon after. See the inspection overview in the program’s Homeowners Guide.

2. Review your Initial Inspection Report. The report lists the only upgrades the grant can fund. If none are recommended, you cannot pursue a grant.

3. Apply for the grant during your eligibility window. You will submit your chosen contractor’s name and Florida license number. You may select any appropriately licensed Florida contractor. Verify license type and scope fit the work.

4. Pull permits and complete construction. In Boca, your contractor typically pulls permits with the city or county. Confirm jurisdiction early and keep copies of all permits, inspections and invoices.

5. Request the Final Inspection and reimbursement. After your local permits close, schedule the program’s Final Inspection through the portal. The report includes the signed OIR-B1-1802 verification form and photos. Follow the instructions to request disbursement. Learn how to request it in the state’s Final Inspection guide.

Important: The program generally allows only one Final Inspection for your case, so complete all planned work and local inspections before requesting it.

Costs, matching and insurance savings

Program guidance cites typical project ranges to help you plan. Examples often include a few thousand dollars for roof-to-wall or roof-deck upgrades, several hundred to a few thousand for secondary water resistance, and several thousand to tens of thousands for impact windows or shutters, depending on size and materials. Your out-of-pocket depends on the match rules that apply to your income tier.

Many insurers offer wind-mitigation discounts when you upgrade openings, roof attachments or roof coverings and submit the Final Inspection’s OIR-B1-1802 form. Your savings will depend on your insurer and the exact improvements. Ask your carrier which features trigger credits and how to submit documents.

Boca paperwork and permitting tips

• Homestead proof: Download your homestead confirmation or be ready to verify through the county.
• Insurance documents: Have your current declarations page and the insured value ready.
• Permit history: Confirm city vs county jurisdiction, then gather prior permit records for roofing or window work.
• Contractor details: Keep license numbers, proposals and warranties in one folder for easy upload.

Quick Boca playbook

• Verify you qualify: Property type, homestead, pre-2008 construction date, insured value under the cap.
• Request your free inspection: Create a portal account and schedule the visit.
• Price your project: Get at least two licensed contractor estimates that include permits and closeout.
• Apply in your window: Use your inspection report to submit a grant application with contractor info.
• Finish strong: Close local permits, request the Final Inspection, then send the OIR-B1-1802 to your insurer.

Selling or buying? Use it smartly

If you plan to sell, documented mitigation features such as impact openings or upgraded roof connections can be a market signal for Boca buyers. Keep permits, inspection reports and warranties organized so you can present them confidently in disclosures and marketing. If you are buying, ask for documentation on any wind-mitigation features and review the inspection and permit history.

When you are ready to discuss timing upgrades with a sale or purchase, or how to position these improvements in your listing strategy, reach out for local guidance.

Ready to align your home improvement plan with your real estate goals? Contact Renee Hasak PA for thoughtful, concierge-level advice tailored to Boca and greater Palm Beach County.

FAQs

What is My Safe Florida Home and how does it help Boca owners?

• It is a state program that offers a free wind-mitigation inspection and grants up to $10,000 for specified upgrades, with limited funding and priority windows managed through the program portal.

Are Boca townhouses eligible for grants under this program?

• Yes for the free inspection, and townhouses are generally eligible only for Opening Protection upgrades like impact windows, doors or shutters.

Can I apply if my Boca home was built after 2008?

• You can request the free inspection, but grant eligibility typically requires the original construction permit to predate January 1, 2008.

Do I have to use a program-approved contractor for MSFH work?

• No, you may choose any appropriately licensed Florida contractor, and you will submit the contractor’s name and license number with your grant application.

Will these upgrades lower my homeowner’s insurance in Boca Raton?

• Many insurers offer wind-mitigation credits for verified improvements, but savings vary by carrier and scope; submit the Final Inspection documents to your insurer and ask how credits apply to your policy.