If you own or are buying a home on the Texas coast, you have probably heard about the WPI-8. The question we hear most often is simple: do I actually need one to get windstorm insurance? The answer depends on who is insuring your home and when it was built or last worked on.
The short answer
- For TWIA coverage: usually yes. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association generally requires a windstorm certificate of compliance for construction that needs one.
- For private windstorm coverage: not always. Private insurers set their own rules. Some ask for a certificate, and others do not.
Why TWIA requires a windstorm certificate
TWIA provides wind and hail coverage for homes that cannot get it from a private insurer. To qualify, a property generally must be certified by the Texas Department of Insurance (WPI-8 or WPI-8-E) or by TWIA (WPI-8-C) as built to the applicable windstorm building code, with limited exceptions. TWIA also requires a declination from a private insurer and a home in good repair. You can read the full rules on TWIA's coverage and eligibility page.
Which homes need a WPI-8?
The certificate requirement applies in TDI's designated catastrophe area: the 14 first-tier coastal counties and the parts of Harris County east of Highway 146. In that area, the requirement generally applies to construction done on or after January 1, 1988, including:
- Homes built since 1988
- Additions
- Roof replacements, including re-roofs that involve the decking
- Major repairs and other structural alterations
An older home that has not been added on to, re-roofed, or significantly repaired since 1988 may not need a certificate for its original construction. But most homes have had a roof replaced at some point, so it is worth checking.
When you may not need a WPI-8
- You are insured privately. If a private carrier writes your wind and hail coverage, it decides what documentation it needs. Many still ask about windstorm certification, especially for newer construction and roofs.
- Your home is outside the designated area. Homes in Harris County west of Highway 146, and anywhere outside the 14 coastal counties, are not eligible for TWIA, so the TWIA certificate rule does not apply. Private insurers set the rules there.
- The work does not require an inspection. TDI says small roof repairs under 100 square feet that do not involve decking, painting, cabinets, fence and gutter repairs, plumbing and electrical repairs, and window glass replacement generally do not require one.
Buying a coastal home? Check before you close
A missing certificate is one of the most common surprises at closing. If TWIA turns out to be your only option for wind coverage and the home lacks a required WPI-8, you may not be able to get the coverage your lender requires. Before you close:
- Ask the seller for the home's windstorm certificates.
- Search the address in the TDI certificate search for WPI-8 and WPI-8-E certificates, and in the TWIA WPI-8-C lookup for certificates issued between 2017 and 2020.
- Look for certificates covering the original construction and any roof replacement or addition.
- Get a windstorm quote early so you know your options before closing day.
What if my home does not have a WPI-8?
You still have options:
- Get a WPI-8-E. A Texas licensed professional engineer can evaluate completed work and apply to TDI for a WPI-8-E certificate. Some work may need to be exposed or corrected so the engineer can verify it, and it can cost more than an inspection during construction.
- Look at private carriers. Some private insurers may offer wind and hail coverage without a certificate, depending on the home.
- Talk to us. We can help you figure out the fastest path for your situation.
Planning a new roof or addition?
The easiest and least expensive way to get a certificate is to plan the windstorm inspection before work starts. Ask your contractor how they will handle it, and put it in your contract. Our WPI-8 certificate guide walks through the process step by step.
We can help
We compare private wind and hail carriers and TWIA for homes all along the Texas coast, and we help clients sort out certificate questions every day. Learn more about Texas windstorm insurance, see what windstorm insurance costs, or request a windstorm quote.