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4-Point Inspection

Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 13, 2026

What a 4-point inspection is

A 4-point inspection looks at four systems in your home: the roof, electrical, plumbing, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Citizens says the inspector "must provide the age, type and condition of the wiring, heating and plumbing systems, and roof."

It is an insurance inspection, not a full home inspection. Citizens' form says the information "only is used to determine insurability and is not a warranty or assurance of the suitability, fitness or longevity of any of the systems inspected."

It is also not a wind mitigation inspection. That is a separate state form that documents wind-resistant features for discounts. See our wind mitigation inspection guide. [1][2][5]

When Citizens requires one

Citizens Property Insurance "requires a four-point inspection for all property owner, dwelling and mobile home applications for properties more than 20 years old."

For Citizens' multiperil homeowners policies, the 20-year cutoff started with policies effective on or after February 1, 2022. Citizens' bulletin announcing the change said: "Citizens will require a 4-point inspection for properties over 20 years old (formerly 30 years old)."

Citizens' agent FAQs add some details:

• New applications, not renewals. Four-point inspections "are required on new-business submissions only for homes more than 20 years old, unless Underwriting determines that one is needed for a renewal policy," case by case.
• How recent. The report "must be dated within the last 12 months prior to the new-business application submission date." Shorter windows apply if lender-placed coverage was in effect within 45 days of the policy's effective date (10 days) or the home had a prior sinkhole claim (90 days).
• Not for tenants or condos. Four-point inspections "are not applicable to tenant named insured and condominium risks."

This page covers Citizens' published rules. If you're insured with a private company, ask your agent what that insurer requires. [1][6][7][8]

What the inspector looks at

Citizens' sample form (Insp4pt 03 25) asks for:

• Electrical: panel type (breakers or fuses), total amps and whether the amperage is enough, the panel's age and brand, wiring type, and hazards such as cloth wiring, active knob-and-tube, branch-circuit aluminum wiring, double taps, exposed or unsafe wiring, scorching, improper grounding, and corrosion.
• HVAC: central air and central heat, whether the systems are in good working order, the date of last service, the system's age, any wood-burning stove or central gas fireplace and whether it was professionally installed, space heaters used as the main heat source, and signs of a blocked or leaking condensate line or drain pan.
• Plumbing: whether the water heater has a temperature and pressure relief (TPR) valve, any active or prior leaks, the condition of fixtures and appliance connections, the age of the supply and drain piping (original, completely or partially re-piped), the pipe types (for example copper, PEX, CPVC, galvanized, cast iron, polybutylene), and the age of the water heater.
• Roof: covering material, roof age, remaining useful life, date of the last roofing permit and update, overall condition, and visible damage such as cracking, curling, granule loss, missing tabs or tiles, soft decking, hail damage, and leaks in the attic or on ceilings.

For single-strand aluminum wiring, the form says "Separate documentation of any single strand aluminum wiring remediation must be provided and certified by a licensed electrician." [2][3]

Photos the form requires

Photos must go with every 4-point form. Citizens' minimum list:

• each side of the house;
• each roof slope;
• the water heater (including the TPR valve), plumbing and drains under cabinets, and exposed valves;
• the main electrical panel with its interior door label, and the electrical box with the panel cover off;
• every hazard or deficiency in the report.

[2][3]

Who can do it

The form says "All 4-Point Inspection Forms must be completed and signed by a verifiable Florida-licensed inspector." Citizens' examples are a general, residential or building contractor, a building code inspector, or a home inspector.

A trade-specific professional can sign only their own section. In Citizens' words, "an electrician may sign off only on the electrical section of the form."

Citizens' form is a sample. Citizens says "this specific form is not required," but any other report must include at least the same level of detail.

Citizens may reject a form if the right professional didn't do the inspection or the inspector's Florida license "is not active or cannot be verified." You can check a Florida license on the Department of Business and Professional Regulation website. [1][2][9]

If the inspection finds problems

Citizens says "Any serious hazards or deficiencies (such as exposed wiring, active leaks or evidence of leaks) should be repaired before an application for coverage is submitted."

The form's note to agents is stricter: "Agents may not submit applications for properties with electrical, heating or plumbing systems not in good working order or with existing hazards/deficiencies." Citizens defines acceptable condition as each system "working as intended and there are no visible hazards or deficiencies."

If you repair something, the form asks the inspector to list the updates, the dates they were done, and by whom. [1][2]

Citizens' roof rules

Citizens has a separate rule for older roofs:

• Shingle and other "soft" roofs older than 25 years and tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal ("hard") roofs older than 50 years need documentation showing at least five years of remaining useful life.
• A Florida-licensed inspector must inspect the roof for visible damage or deterioration and complete a Roof Inspection Form.
• If the roof has less than five years of remaining useful life, you must show the inspector proof of a full roof replacement before Citizens writes a policy.

The roof section of the 4-point form, with photos of each roof slope, "can take the place of the Roof Inspection Form." The roof form can be signed by a general, residential, building or roofing contractor, a building code inspector, or a Florida-licensed home inspector. [1][2][10]

Florida's roof-age law

Since July 1, 2022, section 627.7011(5), Florida Statutes, limits how insurers can use roof age for homeowners policies issued or renewed on or after that date:

• "An insurer may not refuse to issue or refuse to renew a homeowner's policy insuring a residential structure with a roof that is less than 15 years old solely because of the age of the roof."
• For a roof at least 15 years old, the insurer "must allow a homeowner to have a roof inspection performed by an authorized inspector at the homeowner's expense" before requiring a new roof as a condition of coverage.
• The insurer may not refuse or nonrenew solely because of roof age "if an inspection of the roof ... indicates that the roof has 5 years or more of useful life remaining."
• Roof age is counted from the last date 100% of the roof was built or replaced to the code then in effect.

Authorized inspectors under this law include licensed home inspectors, certified building code inspectors, licensed general, building, residential or roofing contractors, engineers, architects, and others the insurer recognizes, but they must be approved by the insurer.

The law has limits. The same section says it does not apply to mobile home policies, and it does not stop an insurer from rejecting or nonrenewing "for other lawful reasons." If you think an insurer broke this rule, our Florida page lists where to get help. [4]

4-point inspection cost

Citizens' inspections page says that "In some cases, it is the property owner's responsibility to pay for inspections." Neither Citizens' form nor its inspections page lists a price for a 4-point inspection. The form describes the inspector as "the Florida licensed professional of your choice." Under the roof-age law, a roof inspection to prove remaining life is "at the homeowner's expense."

Separately, Citizens may order its own underwriting field surveys of your home's exterior or interior during the policy at "no cost to the policyholder." [1][2][4]

Questions people ask