Windforce Blog

Most Texas windstorm certificates are available in the Texas Department of Insurance’s online Certificate Search, which covers WPI-8 and WPI-8-E certificates and lets you search by property address or application or certificate number.

The exception is the WPI-8-C, a certificate the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) issued for completed work on applications received from Jan. 1, 2017, through May 31, 2020. Those aren’t in TDI’s database. TWIA has its own lookup tool and will send you a copy.

If you’re not sure what a WPI-8 is or why an agent, lender, or buyer is asking for one, start with what a WPI-8 is and what each windstorm form means. This article covers how to find one that already exists, and what your options are if you can’t.

Where are Texas windstorm certificates kept?

It depends on the certificate and who issued it. This table has all the details:

A single property can have more than one certificate. The original house may have one, a replacement roof another, and new windows a third. If you need to show that a specific piece of work was certified, look for the certificate that covers that work itself (not just the house).

How do I search TDI’s database for a WPI-8 or WPI-8-E?

TDI’s Certificate Search lets you search in two ways: by address or by application or certificate number. Here’s how to search by address:

1. Go to TDI’s Certificate Search.
2. Choose Search by address.
3. Enter the street number and street name.
4. Select the city or the county. One of the two is required.
5. Run the search, then open the matching record to view or print the certificate.

And here’s how to search by application or certificate number:

1. On the same page, choose Search by application or certificate.
2. Enter the application or certificate number.
3. Run the search and open the record.

If you have any paperwork from the original job, such as a builder’s closeout file, a roofer’s invoice, or an engineer’s letter, look for an application or certificate number on it. That’s the most straightforward way to search.

If the address search comes up empty, try a few variations before concluding there’s no certificate. Use the street name without “Street,” “Drive,” or “Road,” try the county instead of the city, and check whether the property used a different address while it was being built (like a lot-and-block description or a new-subdivision street name).

How do I look up a WPI-8-C from TWIA?

TWIA’s lookup works differently. Instead of displaying the certificate, you make a request, and then TWIA sends you a copy. Here’s how it works, per TWIA’s instructions:

1. Go to TWIA’s WPI-8 Lookup page.
2. Enter the property zip code in the City, County, Zip field.
3. Enter the property address number in the Property Address field.
4. Select Request Certificate and submit the request form.
5. TWIA sends you a copy of the certificate.

This tool only covers WPI-8-Cs, which TWIA issued during the 2017–2020 window. TDI’s search page also lists a phone number for TWIA for these certificates: 800-231-5360.

What if no certificate turns up?

If you don’t find a certificate, it typically means one of four things:

• It’s a WPI-8-C: Completed work certified between 2017 and 2020 may only be findable through TWIA. Check there before anything else.
• The search didn’t match: Address variations are common, especially for newer construction. Try the variations above, or search by application number if one exists.
• It covers different work than you expected: The house may be certified while a subsequent roof or window replacement is not (or the other way around).
• The work was never certified: This happens from time to time. For example, when work was done during a busy season or when an owner didn’t know an inspection was needed.

If you think a certificate should exist and you can’t find it, TDI’s windstorm page includes its contact information, including the windstorm email address. WindForce or another AQI can also help you track it down.

If the work was never certified, it can usually still be certified after the fact. A licensed professional engineer or AQI inspects the completed work, which generally means opening up selected areas so the wind-resisting details can be verified. The engineer then submits a sealed post-construction inspection report to TDI, which issues a WPI-8-E.

If the question is insurance eligibility, TWIA’s windstorm certification page explains that a certificate is generally required before a property is eligible for TWIA coverage. It also describes limited exceptions for some residential properties, such as certain homes built between 1988 and June 2009. TWIA decides whether an exception applies, so talk to your insurance agent and TWIA directly.

Buying or selling a home on the coast?

If you’re buying or selling on the Texas coast, it’s best to check for certificates early, ideally as soon as a property is under contract. A search takes just a few minutes. If something turns out to be uncertified, a post-construction inspection takes time to schedule and may require opening parts of the house, so it’s easier to plan for it before a closing date is set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a copy of my windstorm certificate online?

For WPI-8 and WPI-8-E certificates, yes. TDI’s Certificate Search lets you view and print the certificate. For a WPI-8-C issued by TWIA, submit a request through TWIA’s WPI-8 Lookup, and TWIA will send you a copy.

Why can’t I find my certificate on TDI’s website?

The most common reasons are that it’s a WPI-8-C issued by TWIA (TDI’s database doesn’t include those), that the address in the record doesn’t match the one you searched, or that the specific work you’re asking about was never certified. Try TWIA’s lookup and a few address variations first.

What do I do if my property doesn’t have a windstorm certificate?

Completed work can generally be certified after the fact through a post-construction inspection by a licensed professional engineer or AQI, which leads to a WPI-8-E. For questions about insurance eligibility in the meantime, talk to your agent and TWIA.

Couldn’t find a certificate, or need one for completed work?

WindForce can certify completed work for homeowners, buyers, and agents on the Texas Gulf Coast. Get in touch to request a windstorm inspection or to get assistance finding your certificate, or call us at 409-422-9463.

10/12/2026