Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) Adopted by Rule 69O-170.0155, F.A.C. Page 3 – Section 7 — Roof Geometry
Section 7 — Roof Geometry
Section 7 documents the shape of your roof. Of all the sections on the wind mitigation form, this one tends to generate the most curiosity from homeowners — and one of the most meaningful insurance credits when the right answer applies.
Before getting into the answer options, the form includes an important clarification at the top: porches, carports, and similar structures that are attached only to the fascia or exterior wall of the main house — and that cover open, unenclosed space — are not included when calculating roof perimeter or roof area for this section. Only the primary roof structure over the main conditioned living space counts.
Answer A — Hip Roof
A hip roof is one where all sides of the roof slope downward toward the walls of the house. There are no vertical gable ends — every face of the roof is a sloped surface. From above, a pure hip roof looks like a pyramid or a trapezoid with angled sides all the way around.
To qualify as Answer A on this form, the hip roof must have no non-hip features — gable ends, dormers, shed additions, or other non-hip elements — that collectively make up more than 10% of the total roof system perimeter. In other words, a mostly hip roof with a small gable over a garage or an entry dormer may still qualify as long as those non-hip portions stay within that 10% threshold.
When non-hip features are present, the inspector measures the total length of those non-hip sections and the total perimeter of the entire roof system and records both numbers on the form. If the non-hip portions exceed 10% of the total perimeter, the roof does not qualify as Answer A.
A qualifying hip roof is one of the most valuable features a home can have on the wind mitigation form. Hip roofs perform significantly better in high winds than other roof shapes because the sloped geometry deflects wind forces rather than presenting a flat vertical surface for the wind to push against. Insurance companies recognize this with meaningful premium discounts.
Hip roofs are by far the most common roof shape on single-family homes in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and the broader Southwest Florida market — particularly on homes built after the late 1980s. If your home has a hip roof and no significant non-hip features, there is a good chance you are already benefiting from this credit.
Answer B — Flat Roof
A flat roof designation on this form applies specifically to buildings with five or more units — multifamily structures — where at least 90% of the main roof area has a slope of less than 2:12. This is not an answer that applies to standard single-family homes. It is included here for completeness but will not be relevant for the vast majority of homeowners reading this guide.
Answer C — Other Roof
Any roof that does not qualify as either a hip roof under Answer A or a flat roof under Answer B is classified here. This is the catch-all that covers gable roofs, hip-on-gable combinations, mansard roofs, shed roofs, and any other configuration that does not meet the hip roof threshold. Gable roofs — where two sides of the roof slope and two ends are vertical triangular walls — are the most common “other” roof type. They do not perform as well as hip roofs in high winds, and they do not receive the hip roof insurance credit.
A Note on Mixed Roof Shapes
Many homes in Southwest Florida have what might be called a hybrid roof — primarily hip, but with a small gable section over a garage, an entry, or an addition. Whether that home qualifies for Answer A depends entirely on the math. The inspector measures the non-hip perimeter and compares it to the total roof perimeter. Ten percent is the threshold. A home with a 200-foot total roof perimeter can have up to 20 feet of non-hip features and still qualify as a hip roof for the purposes of this section. A home that exceeds that threshold moves to Answer C, regardless of how close it comes to qualifying.
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