For homeowners along the Texas coast, strong winds and hurricanes aren’t a distant threat—they’re part of life. Protecting a property from these risks starts long before storm season begins, and one of the most important steps is obtaining a WPI-8 certificate. Issued through the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), a WPI-8 serves as proof that a home or building meets the state’s windstorm building codes.
Without it, many insurers won’t provide windstorm coverage at all. Even if a policy is offered, the cost is often much higher. That’s why securing this certificate should be seen as a foundation for reliable windstorm insurance coverage, rather than an optional add-on.
At Richey Insurance Agency, we frequently hear from clients who are surprised to learn that their home improvements, roof replacements, or even new builds in coastal areas may not qualify for insurance unless the WPI-8 is in place. In the following sections, we’ll walk through who needs the certificate, how the process works, and the most common obstacles homeowners face along the way.
Texas doesn’t require every home in the state to go through windstorm certification. The WPI-8 applies to properties in specific coastal counties and parts of Harris County that are designated as at risk for hurricane-strength winds.
Here’s a quick reference:
| Region | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 14 coastal counties (including Galveston, Brazoria, Jefferson, and Nueces) | Certification required for new builds, repairs, or significant structural improvements |
| Harris County (certain zip codes near the coast) | Certification required, depending on property location |
| Interior counties | WPI-8 generally not needed |
If you’re uncertain about whether your property falls into these categories, the simplest step is to review a guide to which Texas homes and counties require this certificate. Many homeowners are surprised to learn their area is included, even though they live a good distance inland.
The process for obtaining a WPI-8 certificate might seem complex at first glance, but it becomes far more manageable when broken down into clear steps.
Any major construction, roof replacement, or exterior repair in designated counties must be inspected for compliance. This inspection isn’t performed by just any contractor—it must be handled by a Texas-licensed professional who is approved to evaluate properties under windstorm standards.
If you skip this step and complete the work without oversight, getting the WPI-8 afterward becomes far more complicated. In many cases, retroactive approval isn’t even possible. And if a home doesn’t pass inspection, additional work may be required before certification is granted.
From our experience at Richey Insurance, one of the most common situations we see is a homeowner who hires a roofer after a major storm, assuming the contractor took care of the compliance paperwork. Months later, the homeowner contacts us for coverage and discovers that no inspection was ever scheduled. At that point, the only option is often to redo the work—an expensive and frustrating setback that could have been avoided with an early inspection.
Once an inspection request is made, the work has to follow TDI’s building requirements. That means the right materials and methods must be used for roofs, siding, doors, and windows. For example:
Contractors familiar with coastal building practices usually know these requirements, but it’s the homeowner who ultimately carries the responsibility for compliance. Many delays occur when builders cut corners or assume the details won’t matter.
After the work is complete and approved, the inspector or engineer submits the documentation to the Texas Department of Insurance. If the application is accepted, the WPI-8 certificate is issued.
The homeowner then receives a copy, which should be kept on file and shared with their insurance agent when shopping for or renewing coverage. Approval times vary, but most applications are processed within a few weeks.
Despite the straightforward process, many homeowners run into problems with their applications. The most common issues include:
When certification is denied, the implications stretch beyond paperwork. Insurance companies may refuse to write a policy, or if they do, coverage could exclude storm-related damage. In effect, homeowners could find themselves paying for a policy that won’t help in the very situation it was meant to cover.
Recent findings from the Texas Department of Insurance highlight just how uncommon full compliance really is. A market study found that only about 1% of residential policies in Texas with windstorm and hail coverage were written for homes that met all resilient building standards. That low percentage underscores why homeowners should treat the WPI-8 as more than a formality—most properties are still falling short, and those without certification are left exposed when it matters most.
This is where many people start asking what their policy will actually pay for in the event of a storm. In practice, the question of what windstorm insurance doesn’t cover often becomes more pressing when a certificate is missing or delayed. Linking compliance to coverage clarity helps homeowners avoid surprises when they need protection most.
A WPI-8 certificate isn’t simply a regulatory form—it directly affects how much homeowners pay for insurance. Without the certificate, many carriers decline to issue windstorm coverage altogether. For those that do, the premiums are often steep, reflecting the higher risk of insuring a property that lacks official compliance.
On a Texas insurance forum, one homeowner voiced a frustration many share: “Windstorm insurance is astronomically high cost … it seems to me that most claims are roof replacements, and this is effectively what you are paying for.”
That perception is common, but it misses the role compliance plays in pricing. When a home carries a WPI-8 certificate, insurers see it as less of a risk, which can translate into lower costs over time. To put it plainly, the WPI-8 is the difference between paying a fair rate for full coverage and paying more for a policy that may exclude the protection you need most.
Homeowners who maintain compliance often discover that the certificate helps keep long-term costs in check. Combined with smart policy choices, it becomes part of a larger strategy to reduce expenses by staying compliant. From selecting higher deductibles to making property improvements that qualify for discounts, the WPI-8 is one of the first steps toward lowering costs in high-risk areas.
The Gulf Coast has a predictable storm cycle, with peak hurricane activity typically running from June through November. Applying for certification well ahead of this window can make a significant difference.
Waiting until late spring or early summer often leads to inspection bottlenecks, with engineers and inspectors juggling multiple projects at once. A delay of even a few weeks could leave a property uncovered just as storm threats begin to rise.
Proactive homeowners plan repairs, roof replacements, or additions months in advance, giving themselves enough time to complete inspections and receive approval before peak season. Thinking ahead reduces stress and keeps the home protected.
For those who want to align their planning with local weather risks, it helps to review patterns tied to storm season in Texas, since that context shapes both insurance demand and inspection timelines.
Securing a WPI-8 certificate is more than meeting a state requirement—it’s a safeguard against the financial and structural consequences of windstorms. From keeping premiums reasonable to guaranteeing that coverage applies when the next hurricane makes landfall, the certificate provides both compliance and peace of mind.
At Richey Insurance Agency, we often remind clients that certificates, inspections, and paperwork all tie back to one larger goal: protecting the investment they’ve made in their homes. No one wants to discover coverage gaps after the fact, and taking the time to pursue certification now prevents far greater headaches later.
If you’re uncertain about your property’s compliance or simply want to make sure your coverage is aligned with today’s windstorm risks, our team is here to guide you through the details. We’ll help you confirm whether your home qualifies, explain the inspection process, and explore policy options that meet both state requirements and your budget.
