Mitigation Notices, Inspections and Forms

• A home inspector licensed under s. 468.8314; who has completed at least 3 hours of hurricane mitigation training which includes hurricane mitigation techniques and compliance with the uniform mitigation verification form and completion of a proficiency exam. Thereafter, licensed home inspectors must complete at least 2 hours of continuing education each year, related to mitigation inspection and the uniform mitigation form;
• A building code inspector licensed under s. 468.607;
• A general, building, or residential contractor licensed under s. 489.111;
• A professional engineer licensed under s. 471.015;
• A professional architect licensed under s. 481.213;
• Effective 05/27/09, any other individual or entity recognized by the insurer as possessing the necessary qualifications to properly complete a uniform mitigation verification form.

A person who is authorized to sign a mitigation verification form must inspect the structures referenced personally, not through employees or other persons, and must certify or attest to personal inspection of the structures referenced by the form. However, licensees under s. 471.015 or s. 489.111 may authorize a direct employee, who is not an independent contractor, and who possesses the required skill, knowledge and experience to conduct an inspection. Insurers have the right to request and obtain information from the authorized mitigation inspector, regarding any authorized employee’s qualifications prior to accepting a mitigation verification form performed by an employee that is not licensed under s. 471.015 or s. 489.111.

At the insurer’s expense, they may require that any uniform mitigation verification form provided by an authorized mitigation inspector or inspection company be independently verified by an inspector, inspection company or an independent third-party quality assurance provider which does possess a quality assurance program prior to accepting the uniform mitigation verification form as valid.

Effective 02/01/2012: OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 01/12) This revised inspection form was approved by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) on December 6, 2011. The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) notified all insurers via Informational Memorandum OIR-12-01M to begin using this form on February 1, 2012. This form has gone through several workshops where all concerned parties could provide input about the form. Since the workshops are over and the form has been approved by the FSC, the review period has been exhausted. All mitigation inspectors must use this form and the insurers must accept it after the effective date provided by the OIR.

Effective 04/21/2010 through 01/31/2012: OIR-B1-1802 form (Rev. 02/10) was effective April 21, 2010. After that date, homeowners were required to use this form. This inspection form requests a signed statement by the licensed professional who performed the inspection as well as the homeowner’s signature. In addition, photo documentation is required for sections 3 through 9 on the form. Insurance companies were instructed by The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) to use the new form via Informational Memorandum OIR-10-02M.

If your inspection was performed earlier than 04/21/2010 and you remain with the same insurer, the old version of the form may be good for up to 5 years and may be used unless there has been a change in the construction features of the home. Also, if an insured changes insurers the new company has a right to require the current 1802 form be completed and the cost assumed by the insured.

Effective 07/01/2008 through 04/20/2010: The original OIR-B1-1802, Uniform Mitigation Verification Form, was required from 07/01/08 through 04/20/2010.

Reference:

Florida Statute 627.711