South Carolina FORTIFIED Roof & SC Safe Home FAQ

SC Safe Home grants

How much can I get for a FORTIFIED roof in South Carolina?

For a Resilient Mitigation roof that meets both SC Safe Home and IBHS FORTIFIED Roof standards, SC Safe Home pays up to $7,500 non-matching or $6,000 matching. The actual award depends on income, household size, the approved cost and available funds. See the grant guide.

Is SC Safe Home open right now?

Check the notice at the top of this page and SCDOI's live status. Rounds open twice a year, and funding often runs out within days, so prepare your documents in advance and sign up for the official reopening alerts. Signing up is not an application.

Which counties qualify?

Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Marion and Williamsburg. See grants by county.

Do I have to live on the coast?

No. Eligibility is by county, and the list includes inland communities. Every other rule — owner-occupancy, insurance, home type, damage history — still applies.

Does income matter?

Yes. Households at or below 80% of area median income may receive the full non-matching award; above that, the grant is matching, and you match it dollar for dollar up to the cap.

Is the grant a loan?

No, it is a grant, but you pay any cost above the award, and a matching award requires your share. Don't confuse it with SC Housing's HPI program, where larger repairs are forgivable loans.

What documents do I need?

Your most recent IRS Form 1040 (or other income-tax return), your homeowners insurance declarations page and your county property-tax assessment. SCDOI also requires a retrofit estimate with the application.

Do I need an inspection before I apply?

No — SCDOI says not to schedule or pay for one before applying. Once your application is approved, you choose an inspector from the program's list and pay up to $150, $200 or $250 depending on the size of the home.

Can I be reimbursed for a roof I already replaced?

No. SCDOI "cannot reimburse you for retrofits you have already done, in accordance with state law." Read why.

My roof already leaks or has storm damage. Does SC Safe Home help?

No — the home must not have existing or previous damage, and SCDOI's program page also excludes homes with prior storm-related damage or insurance claim payouts. Look at your insurance claim, SC Housing's HPI, USDA Section 504 or a local repair program. See other roof assistance.

Are rentals, second homes, townhomes or duplexes eligible?

No. The grant is for a freestanding single-family home that you own and live in as your primary residence. Duplexes, townhomes and multifamily buildings are excluded.

Do manufactured homes qualify?

The statute lists manufactured and modular homes as eligible property types, but the program's portal says mobile homes qualify only for piers, anchors and tie-downs (up to $500, $700 or $900), not roof or opening protection. Ask SCDOI how your home is classified.

How long do I have to finish the work?

Three months from the date of your Grant Award Notification letter.

FORTIFIED roofs and evaluators

What makes a roof FORTIFIED?

A documented system: stronger roof-deck attachment, a sealed roof deck, reinforced edges, a compliant roof covering and properly detailed flashing and vents. An independent, IBHS-certified FORTIFIED evaluator documents the work and IBHS issues the designation. See About FORTIFIED.

Who does the evaluation?

An independent FORTIFIED evaluator certified by IBHS — not the roofer. We place you with a licensed, certified and insured evaluator who documents the roof at the critical stages and submits it to IBHS. Read how evaluators document a roof.

Is a Class 4 impact-resistant shingle FORTIFIED?

No. Class 4 is an impact rating for one product. FORTIFIED covers the whole installation and requires third-party verification. See FORTIFIED Roof vs a Class 4 Shingle.

Can I get a FORTIFIED roof without a grant?

Yes. The designation does not depend on SC Safe Home. The grant simply helps pay for the work.

Does it have to be an asphalt shingle roof?

No. IBHS publishes FORTIFIED requirements for asphalt shingle, metal, tile, wood and low-slope roofs.

How long does a designation last?

Five years. Renewing it requires a re-evaluation, and insurance credits tied to the designation may depend on keeping it active. For asphalt-shingle roofs, IBHS limits eligibility to 15 years from the first designation for applications from January 1, 2027.

Will a FORTIFIED roof make my home hurricane-proof?

No construction is hurricane-proof. FORTIFIED reduces specific, well-studied failure points — decks lifting, edges peeling, rain getting in when shingles go.

Insurance and taxes

Will a FORTIFIED roof lower my insurance?

It may. South Carolina requires coastal rating plans to include mitigation credits, but each insurer sets its own amounts. The SC Wind Pool lists a 5% credit for SC Safe Home certification. Ask your agent for the exact credit in writing. See insurance and tax credits.

Does the SC Wind Pool run the grant?

No. The SC Wind Pool is an insurer of last resort for coastal wind and hail. SCDOI runs SC Safe Home, and the two cover different areas.

Are there tax credits?

Yes: 25% of qualifying retrofit costs up to $1,000, and up to $1,500 for sales tax paid on fortification materials, both claimed on SC Form TC-43.

Can I claim a tax credit on the part the grant paid for?

No. Both credits exclude items bought with SC Safe Home grant funds that are not included in your taxable income.

Other help

I'm 62 or older and can't afford a roof repair. What can I do?

USDA Section 504 offers grants up to $10,000 to remove health and safety hazards for very-low-income homeowners 62 and older in eligible rural areas, plus 1% repair loans up to $40,000.

Can SC Housing pay for an unsafe roof?

Its Housing Preservation Initiative covers essential repairs, including roofs, through approved county sponsors. Repairs under $15,000 are grants; larger ones are forgivable loans.

How do I check a contractor or evaluator?

Use SCDOI's participating provider list for SC Safe Home, the IBHS FORTIFIED directory for evaluators and FORTIFIED Wise roofing contractors, and South Carolina's licensing boards for the contractor's license.