The Texas coast's windstorm inspection program, explained

Who is inside the designated catastrophe area

TDI's windstorm program covers properties in 14 coastal counties and in parts of Harris County east of Highway 146. The agency's WPI-8 fact sheet names them:

• Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron and Chambers
• Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg and Matagorda
• Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio and Willacy
• Harris, east of Highway 146

TDI says the designated catastrophe areas did not change when it adopted the new codes, and its catastrophe area maps page shows the boundaries.

Why the certificate matters

TDI explains that homeowners who cannot get private wind coverage can buy a policy through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Construction must be certified to be eligible for TWIA coverage. TWIA and insurance companies can look up certificates to check that a property, repair or addition was certified.

The code TDI applies now

Starting April 1, 2026, windstorm certificate of compliance applications, filed on form WPI-1, must be certified under either the 2024 International Residential Code or the 2024 International Building Code. TDI recommends the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool for finding the wind speed at a site, and notes that most of the designated catastrophe areas now lie within the windborne debris region.

That region has a precise meaning in the 2024 IRC: areas inside hurricane-prone regions that sit within 1 mile of the mean high-water line with Exposure D upwind and an ultimate design wind speed of 130 mph or more, or anywhere that speed reaches 140 mph. In those areas, Section R301.2.1.2 requires exterior glazing to be protected against windborne debris.

TDI's building code page still lists older Texas revisions, among them the revisions to the 2006 IRC and IBC that took effect January 1, 2008.

What work needs an inspection

TDI says most new construction, roof replacements, major repairs and other alterations require an inspection and a certificate of compliance. Not every repair does, and the agency's advice is to contact the local windstorm inspections office before any work starts.

For a re-roof, TDI's guidance on repairs after a storm says to have the roof deck inspected and replace deteriorated or damaged decking before the new covering goes on. Asphalt shingles are the most common residential covering in Texas, and TDI says roofers must install them in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions on the shingle wrapper.

The certificates, and who can sign them

For completed work, the application is a signed WPI-2E plus a sealed post-construction inspection report with supporting documentation, or a sealed design. TDI points to Texas Administrative Code sections 5.4604 and 5.4606 and to Texas Insurance Code 2210.2515 for the details. The WPI-8 fact sheet adds that you can request a free TDI inspector or hire a Texas-licensed engineer or appointed qualified inspector, and that TDI does not regulate inspection rates.

Products that pass

Inspectors, engineers, contractors and consumers use TDI product evaluations to confirm a product meets TDI's adopted specifications and is installed to resist wind load. TDI-developed evaluation reports may be used to certify building products on construction seeking TWIA eligibility. For the shingle wind classes the 2024 IRC ties to each design wind speed, see the IRC wind and hail guide.

Before you hire

Get it in writing: who will perform the windstorm inspection, at what stage, and which form the job will end with. Check the contractor against NRD's roofing licensing guide, compare coastal roofers in the find-a-roofer directory, and bookmark the National Roofing Directory's Storm Center for hurricane season. If a storm has already hit, NRD's storm damage roof repair guide walks through the order of operations.

Frequently asked questions

Does a roof replacement in Galveston County need a windstorm certificate?

TDI lists roof replacements among the work that usually requires an inspection and certificate, and Galveston is one of the counties on TDI's WPI-8 fact sheet. Confirm with the local windstorm inspections office before work begins.

Which building code does TDI use in 2026?

For WPI-1 applications from April 1, 2026, TDI certifies to the 2024 IRC or the 2024 IBC.

Can any engineer certify my new roof?

During construction, the inspection must be done by a TDI-appointed engineer or a TDI inspector. Any Texas licensed professional engineer may inspect completed construction for a WPI-8-E.