Building Code / TWIA
New Homes Near the Coast Need a Windstorm Certificate
If you build or renovate in Cameron County's coastal windstorm zone, the work must be inspected and certified or you may not be able to get windstorm insurance.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) runs a Windstorm Inspection Program for the first-tier coastal counties including Cameron. When you build or make major repairs to a home there, an inspector checks that the work meets windstorm-resistant building codes. If it passes, TDI issues a WPI-8 certificate.
Without that certificate, TWIA cannot insure the structure for windstorm damage. This applies to both new construction and significant renovations. If you are buying a home, ask whether it has a current WPI-8. For details, check tdi.texas.gov.
Source to confirm: Texas Department of Insurance — Windstorm Inspection Program