WPI-8 Windstorm Certification in Texas: A Homeowner Q&A Guide

It is a Certificate of Compliance issued by TDI confirming that a home's construction, addition, or repair in a designated coastal catastrophe area meets the windstorm building code standards required to qualify for windstorm and hail coverage through TWIA. Related variants include the WPI-8E, issued for completed improvements inspected after the fact by a licensed engineer, and the older WPI-8C, which TWIA issued for completed work submitted between January 2017 and May 2020.

TDI designates 14 first-tier coastal counties as catastrophe areas: Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, and Willacy, plus certain areas of Harris County east of Highway 146. Homes in these areas generally need a WPI-8 on file to be eligible for TWIA coverage.

Yes. A complete re-roof in a designated catastrophe area requires an inspection and WPI-8 certification, since the roof deck and covering are structural

components tied directly to windstorm resistance.

Not always. TDI exempts roof repairs under 100 square feet that do not involve the decking, along with non-structural items like painting, carpet, cabinets, fences, gutters, shutters, and screen doors. Once decking is disturbed or the repair exceeds that threshold, certification is generally required.

Replacing glass alone typically does not require certification, but replacing entire window or door units that affect the structural opening or building envelope usually does, since these components are part of the windstorm-rated envelope.

Yes. Additions, along with new construction and remodels involving exterior walls or structural reinforcement, require a WPI-1 application and inspection before and during the work, followed by a WPI-8 upon approval.

There is a limited exception for some homes built in that window that were never inspected, but it typically comes with a 15 percent premium surcharge on TWIA coverage rather than a full exemption from the certification requirement. It's worth confirming your specific property's status with our office rather than assuming coverage is automatic.

TWIA advises against making permanent repairs, such as a full roof replacement, before the adjuster has inspected the damage. Beyond the claims risk, TDI inspectors must inspect work during construction, not before or after, so repairing first and certifying later removes the free inspection option and forces a more expensive path through a licensed professional engineer.

The homeowner must then hire and pay a Texas-licensed professional engineer to inspect the completed work and issue a WPI-8E certificate for completed improvements. This route can be more expensive than a free TDI inspection and may require opening up finished walls or roofing so the engineer can verify what is otherwise hidden from view.

Without a Certificate of Compliance, TWIA has no evidence the structure conforms to the applicable building code, and the structure may be considered ineligible for TWIA coverage. That can mean an existing policy is not renewed, a new policy cannot be issued, and the homeowner is left

to cover future wind and hail damage out of pocket.

Yes, this is a real risk. If a prior repair, such as a roof replacement, was never inspected or certified, TWIA may determine the structure does not meet

eligibility requirements when a new claim is filed, which can delay or jeopardize payment on damage that is otherwise covered.

It can. Buyers and lenders in coastal counties routinely ask for proof of windstorm coverage or a valid WPI-8 before closing. A home without

certification on file can become difficult or impossible to insure through TWIA, which complicates financing, slows down a sale, and can affect resale value.

A TDI inspector or a TDI-appointed, Texas-licensed professional engineer can perform the inspection. TDI inspectors do not charge a fee and generally respond within about 48 hours of a requested inspection date, excluding weekends and holidays. Professional engineers set their own rates, which TDI does not regulate, and are typically used when work is already complete or in areas TDI inspectors do not cover.

Before work begins, the builder or homeowner files Form WPI-1, Application for Certificate of Compliance, with TDI's Windstorm Inspection Program. Inspections are then scheduled at the appropriate construction stages, and once all required inspections are approved, TDI issues the WPI-8 certificate, which can be viewed and printed online.