FORTIFIED roof grants in NC — up to $10,000 toward your upgrade.
North Carolina's Strengthen NC program provides grants to help homeowners in coastal counties upgrade to FORTIFIED Roof™ standards. Here's exactly how the program works, who qualifies, and the step-by-step process to claim your grant.
We handle the FORTIFIED certification. You handle the grant application. Serving coastal NC.
Strengthen NC — the grant program most coastal homeowners don't know exists.
The NC Strengthen NC Home Program (administered through the NC Department of Insurance) provides grants to eligible homeowners to offset the cost of upgrading their roof to the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof™ standard. The program was created specifically to address the premium burden faced by coastal homeowners on the Beach Plan and in the voluntary wind insurance market.
Grant amount
Up to $10,000 per eligible homeowner — covering a portion of the cost to upgrade to FORTIFIED Roof™ certification.
Administering agency
NC Department of Insurance, in partnership with the NC Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA).
Primary eligibility
Homeowners in the 18 coastal NC counties who are insured through the Beach Plan (NCIUA). Voluntary market policyholders may also qualify depending on program funding availability.
Important: Grant programs like this are subject to legislative funding and may have waitlists, funding cycles, or eligibility changes. The framework described here reflects the program as established — confirm current availability and amounts directly with the NC Department of Insurance before beginning the process.
Eligibility — who the grant is for.
- Property must be located in one of NC's 18 designated coastal counties
- Property must be the homeowner's primary residence
- Homeowner must be the named insured on the policy
- Property must be insured through the NC Beach Plan (NCIUA) — or in some cycles, through a voluntary carrier in the coastal market
- Property must not have received a prior Strengthen NC grant for the same roof
- The replacement roof must be installed by a certified FORTIFIED evaluator-eligible contractor and achieve FORTIFIED Roof™ designation from IBHS
Note on income limits
Eligibility has varied between funding rounds.
Income limits have applied in some funding cycles. Confirm current eligibility thresholds with the NC Department of Insurance before applying. The program eligibility has varied between funding rounds.
(910) 218-8178Schedule free inspectionThe FORTIFIED grant process — step by step.
01
Confirm program availability
Contact the NC Department of Insurance or visit their Strengthen NC page to confirm the program is funded and accepting applications. Funding is appropriated by the legislature and is not always available.
02
Confirm your eligibility
You must be in one of the 18 coastal counties, insured through the Beach Plan (or qualifying voluntary carrier), and the property must be your primary residence.
03
Get a free inspection
A roofing contractor who installs FORTIFIED-eligible systems inspects your roof, documents its current condition, and gives you a scope and cost estimate for the FORTIFIED Roof™ upgrade.
04
Submit your grant application
Applications are submitted through the NC Department of Insurance's program portal. You'll need: proof of insurance (Beach Plan policy declarations), property information, and contractor information. The application is submitted before work begins.
05
Receive grant approval
The DOI reviews your application. Approval timelines vary. Do not begin work until you have written grant approval — work started before approval is typically not reimbursable.
06
Schedule and complete the installation
Your certified contractor installs the FORTIFIED Roof™ system: sealed deck, upgraded fasteners, continuous drip edge, and wind-rated shingles per IBHS specifications.
07
IBHS evaluation and certification
An IBHS-approved evaluator inspects the completed installation and issues the FORTIFIED Roof™ certificate. This step is required before the grant is disbursed.
08
Grant disbursement
With the certification in hand, the grant funds are released — either directly to you or to the contractor, depending on program structure. The grant offsets the upgrade cost up to the maximum amount.
What the FORTIFIED upgrade does — beyond the grant.
Insurance premium reduction
NCIUA offers meaningful discounts for FORTIFIED Roof™ certified properties. Most homeowners see 20–30%+ reduction in their wind premium. On a $3,500/year Beach Plan policy, that's $700–$1,050 annually — compounding year over year.
Storm performance
FORTIFIED roofs are engineered to perform better in high-wind events. The sealed deck, fastener pattern, and drip edge work together to prevent the cascade failure (roof deck lifts → interior exposed → full loss) that destroys conventional roofs in major storms.
Reduced out-of-pocket after storms
A roof that survives intact means no deductible, no claim, no gap between ACV and RCV. The reduction in post-storm financial exposure is often the most compelling argument for the upgrade.
What your contractor handles — and what you handle.
What your contractor does
- Installs the roof system to FORTIFIED Roof™ specifications (sealed deck, upgraded fasteners, continuous drip edge, qualifying shingles)
- Coordinates with the IBHS-approved evaluator for the site inspection
- Provides documentation required for the grant application (scope, materials, cost)
- Manages the installation timeline to align with grant approval
What you do
- Submit the grant application (with contractor details the contractor provides)
- Provide proof of insurance (Beach Plan declarations page)
- Wait for written grant approval before authorizing work to begin
- Receive the FORTIFIED certificate upon completion
- Notify your insurer to apply the FORTIFIED discount to your policy
Caliber handles the FORTIFIED installation and coordinates the IBHS evaluation. We'll give you exactly what you need for the grant application — you own the relationship with the DOI.
What homeowners ask us about the FORTIFIED grant.
Interested in a FORTIFIED upgrade? Start with the inspection.
We get on the roof, give you a full scope and estimate, and provide everything you need for the grant application. The inspection is free. No obligation.