Texas homeowners are no strangers to strong winds, sudden hailstorms, and the looming threat of hurricanes. For families living along the Gulf Coast and in nearby regions, questions about insurance are never far from mind. One of the most common concerns we hear at Richey Insurance Agency is whether windstorm insurance is something the state requires.
The short answer: it depends. Unlike auto insurance, which is mandatory across the board, windstorm coverage is tied to where your home is located and whether your lender requires it. To understand the details, let’s first look at what windstorm insurance actually covers.
Windstorm insurance is a specialized policy that protects property from damage caused by high winds. While a standard homeowners insurance policy may cover some wind-related incidents, many carriers exclude wind and hail coverage in coastal counties and other high-risk regions of Texas. That’s where a dedicated windstorm policy comes in.
Here’s what’s typically included:
If you’re curious about the scope, we’ve created a resource that breaks down what windstorm insurance actually covers in plain language.
Of course, like any insurance product, exclusions exist. For example, flood damage caused by storm surge is not part of windstorm coverage. Many homeowners are surprised by these limitations, which is why we’ve outlined common gaps in windstorm protection that need to be addressed separately.
In short, windstorm insurance fills an important role in areas where hurricane-force winds and severe storms are a regular threat. But is it mandatory? The answer varies across Texas.
Windstorm insurance is not required statewide. If you live in the Hill Country, North Texas, or urban areas like Austin or Dallas, your standard homeowners insurance may include wind coverage, and no additional policy is necessary. However, the picture changes dramatically for homes along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Here are the two main situations where windstorm coverage becomes mandatory in practice:
So while Texas law does not mandate windstorm insurance in every county, the practical reality for coastal homeowners is that it becomes non-negotiable.
The Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) regulate coverage in coastal counties where storms hit hardest. Homeowners in these regions often hear about the WPI-8 certificate, which can sound technical and confusing. Here’s what it means in practice.
A WPI-8 is a document issued by the Texas Department of Insurance after a property inspection. It confirms that the home meets windstorm building standards and qualifies for windstorm coverage through TWIA or private carriers. Without it, homeowners in designated counties may struggle to find affordable or even available coverage.
The size of TWIA’s exposure shows just how many Texans depend on this program. As of March 31, 2025, TWIA insures more than 276,000 coastal properties, representing a total insured value of about $117.2 billion in buildings and contents. That figure highlights why WPI-8 compliance is so important — without it, thousands of homeowners would be left out of this safety net.
Not every county in Texas requires this certificate. It applies to specific coastal areas and a handful of inland regions with higher risk profiles. To make it easier for homeowners, we’ve published a guide detailing which Texas homes and counties require a WPI-8 certificate for compliance.
For homeowners in high-risk counties, the WPI-8 is more than paperwork. It’s the gateway to obtaining coverage that lenders often demand. Without it, a home may be considered uninsurable against wind damage, which could block a mortgage approval or limit resale options.
At the same time, coverage itself sparks debate. On a popular Texas homeowner forum, one poster asked why anyone would choose TWIA over private windstorm policies when “the premiums are a lot lower and the roof coverage seems better since it’s replacement cost vs depreciated.” Other participants pushed back, pointing out concerns with slow claims handling or limited options in certain counties. Conversations like these show that even among residents who must carry coverage, there’s disagreement about the best path forward.
For many homeowners along the coast, the decision is made long before the keys are handed over. Mortgage lenders often require proof of windstorm coverage to protect their investment in the property. Without it, financing rarely moves forward.
But what happens if your home is paid off? In that case, the responsibility falls entirely on you. Some owners choose to forgo coverage, hoping to save on premiums, while others recognize that even a single storm can wipe out years of savings.
In our work with coastal Texas families, we often meet new buyers who are caught off guard at closing when their lender requires windstorm insurance before finalizing the loan. We’ve also seen long-time homeowners who, after paying off their mortgage, consider dropping the policy but remember the damage from storms like Harvey or Ike and decide to keep it. Experiences like these show that the choice is shaped not only by lender requirements but also by the lessons of past storms.
Premiums for windstorm insurance vary widely across Texas. Factors that influence pricing include:
For homeowners searching for ways to reduce expenses, there are several strategies that make a difference. We’ve put together an overview of practical methods for lowering windstorm premiums that explains steps like upgrading roofing materials, applying for mitigation discounts, and comparing policy options across carriers.
In short, while coverage in high-risk areas will never be the cheapest part of a homeowners policy, careful planning helps keep it affordable.
Each year, hurricane season stretches from June through November, with peak activity in late summer and early fall. Residents of the Texas coast know how quickly a storm can develop in the Gulf and make landfall, leaving little time to prepare.
During these months, insurance inquiries spike. Many homeowners start evaluating coverage after hearing storm forecasts or seeing the latest models track toward the Gulf. From our experience, the worst time to shop for a policy is right before a storm, since most insurers temporarily suspend new coverage once a storm enters the Gulf of Mexico.
That’s why preparation is key. If you want a clearer picture of how these seasonal risks impact Texans, take a look at our guide on preparing for hurricane season in Texas, which outlines what families should do before the first storm arrives.
Windstorm coverage is one piece of a larger insurance puzzle. A comprehensive protection plan usually includes:
Together, these layers form a safety net that keeps both your home and finances secure. For a deeper overview of how windstorm policies work and how they connect with other coverages, visit our main page on windstorm insurance in Texas.
Windstorm insurance is not required for every homeowner in Texas. But in designated coastal counties, it becomes a condition for mortgage approval and, in many cases, the only way to close gaps left by standard homeowners policies. For residents in other parts of the state, it remains a personal decision—though one heavily influenced by the increasing frequency of severe storms.
Our advice is simple: assess your location, review your current policy for exclusions, and decide whether you want the financial safety net windstorm coverage provides. If you’re in a high-risk area, chances are your lender has already made the decision for you.
At Richey Insurance Agency, we work with Texas families every day to evaluate coverage options, compare policies, and make sure no one faces the next storm unprepared. If you’d like to discuss whether windstorm insurance is right for your home, our team is ready to help.
