Short answer: SC Safe Home is a South Carolina Department of Insurance program that gives grants to retrofit owner-occupied, single-family primary residences against hurricane wind, up to $7,500 without a match for a roof that meets SC Safe Home and IBHS Fortified Roof guidelines (SC Code 38-75-485). Second homes and rentals don't qualify, because the home must be the owner's legal residence. As of October 26, 2026, the program is not accepting applications; it opened on February 10 and July 13, 2026, and the Department says it opens twice a year.
Key facts
- Largest grant: $7,500 non-matching, or $6,000 matching, for a roof meeting SC Safe Home and IBHS Fortified Roof guidelines (Resilient Mitigation award, SC Code 38-75-485).
- Other awards: up to $5,000 non-matching or $4,000 matching for an SC Safe Home roof only or for windows and opening protection; up to $3,000 for shutters and protective barriers only.
- Before 2023: the non-matching cap was $5,000; 2023 Act No. 29 raised it (effective May 16, 2023).
- Home must be: the owner's primary legal residence under the 4% rule (12-43-220(c)), single-family and freestanding, insured for at least its County fair market value.
- Department's added conditions: no previous Safe Home grant awarded and used; no prior storm-related damage or insurance claim payouts on the home (SC DOI).
- Status: not accepting applications as of October 26, 2026; 2026 windows opened February 10 and July 13 (SC DOI).
- Typical award: the Department says grants are "typically between $4,000 and $7,500."
- Not an entitlement: grants depend on available funds (38-75-485(B)).
What does SC Safe Home pay for?
Wind retrofits to an existing home. The statute lists roof deck attachment, a secondary water barrier, roof covering, bracing gable ends, strengthening roof-to-wall connections, opening protection, exterior doors including garage doors, tie-downs, repairs to weakened trusses and other structural parts, and other measures the program's advisory committee approves. The biggest award goes to a roof retrofit that meets both the SC Safe Home guidelines and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Fortified Roof guidelines.
| Award | What it covers | Non-matching maximum | Matching maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resilient Mitigation | Roof meeting SC Safe Home and IBHS Fortified Roof guidelines | $7,500 | $6,000 |
| Sustainable Mitigation | Roof meeting SC Safe Home guidelines only, or window replacement and opening protection | $5,000 | $4,000 |
| Shutters and barriers | Hurricane shutters and protective barrier systems only | $3,000 | $3,000 |
Source: SC Code 38-75-485, as amended by 2023 Act No. 29. A matching grant is matched dollar for dollar by the homeowner. A non-matching grant is scaled to household income: applicants at or below 80% of the county median may get the maximum, and those above may get less. If the project costs more than the grant, the owner pays the rest.
Who qualifies on Hilton Head?
An owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. The statute requires the home to be the applicant's primary legal residence, actually owned and occupied by the applicant, and the owner's legal residence as defined for the 4% assessment ratio. It must be a single-family site-built, manufactured or modular home with a current homeowners or dwelling policy covering at least the fair market value shown in the County records, and it must pass a wind certification and hurricane mitigation inspection.
The Department's program page adds that the home must be in a designated coastal county and freestanding (no duplexes or multifamily buildings), that the applicant can't have already been awarded and used a Safe Home grant, and that the home can't have prior storm-related damage or insurance claim payouts.
What that rules out on Hilton Head:
- Second homes and rentals. A home taxed at 6% isn't the owner's legal residence. See 4% vs 6%.
- Villas and condos in multifamily buildings.
- Homes with past storm claims, under the Department's rule. A CLUE report will show claims from the last seven years.
The program page doesn't say whether a grant used by a previous owner blocks a new owner. If that matters for a home you're buying, ask the Department (803-737-6087 or scsafehome@doi.sc.gov).
How does the application work?
Through the Department's online portal, during an open window. In general order:
- Sign up on the portal for reopening notices, so you're ready when a window opens.
- Apply with your documents as soon as it opens; awards depend on the funds available.
- If selected, the home gets a wind certification and hurricane mitigation inspection.
- Choose a contractor from the program's list of participating contractors, who are reimbursed by the state.
- The work is done with all required permits and inspections. The program may reinspect up to 10% of projects.
On Hilton Head, the Town issues building permits, so a roof replacement needs a Town permit like any other.
Is SC Safe Home open now?
Not as of October 26, 2026. The Department's page says the program "is not currently accepting applications" and that applications open twice a year. In 2026 the portal opened February 10, which the Department called one of the program's most significant funding cycles, and again July 13. The Department hasn't said why or when the July window closed. Check doi.sc.gov/safehome for the next one.
A bill in the 2025 to 2026 session, H.4817, would put an SC Safe Home program in statute, require an actuarially justified mitigation discount, and raise the retrofit tax credit to $2,000. It passed the House in April 2026 and was reported out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on April 30, 2026, with no later action listed. It isn't law as of this update.
What do other sites get wrong?
Older pages still say Safe Home grants top out at $5,000. That was the non-matching cap before 2023 Act No. 29. Since May 16, 2023 the maximum has been $7,500 for a Fortified-level roof.
Is there other help for a retrofit?
Yes, two things. South Carolina offers an income tax credit for hurricane and flood retrofits to a legal residence: 25% of the cost or $1,000, whichever is less (SC Code 12-6-3660). It can't be claimed on items paid for with untaxed Safe Home grant money. And coastal insurers must offer discounts or credits for features such as roof tie-downs and storm shutters (SC Code 38-73-1095(C)), so ask your agent what a retrofit would change on your policy. See hurricane deductibles.
How we help
If you're buying a home to live in, we'll ask the seller for the roof's age, permits and any wind mitigation or Fortified certificate, and pull its claims history, so you know whether a Safe Home application is realistic and what your insurer might credit.
Questions
Can I get an SC Safe Home grant for a Hilton Head second home or rental?
No. The statute requires the home to be the applicant's primary legal residence, owned and occupied by the applicant, the same test as the 4% legal residence ratio.
What is the most an SC Safe Home grant pays?
$7,500, as a non-matching Resilient Mitigation award for a roof meeting SC Safe Home and IBHS Fortified Roof guidelines (SC Code 38-75-485). Non-matching awards are scaled to household income, so some applicants get less.
When does SC Safe Home open again?
The Department of Insurance says applications open twice a year; in 2026 they opened February 10 and July 13. It wasn't accepting applications as of October 26, 2026. Sign up for notices on the program's portal.
Sources
- SC Safe Home, SC Department of Insurance (checked October 2026)
- SC Code Title 38 Chapter 75 (38-75-485, Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program), SC Legislature (checked October 2026)
- July 2026 Safe Home opening release, SC Department of Insurance (checked October 2026)
- SC Code Title 12 Chapter 6 (12-6-3660, retrofit tax credit), SC Legislature (checked October 2026)
- Bill 4817, 2025 to 2026 session, SC Legislature (checked October 2026)