Questions homeowners actually ask
Every answer is sourced to the program FAQ, the statute, or the implementing regulation — see sources for all of them.
Is it a lottery? What are my odds?
Not a lottery. Kentucky approves complete, eligible applications first come, first served within each of 15 regions, which receive equal shares of the funding. (Louisiana's similar program uses lottery rounds; Kentucky deliberately doesn't.) The state received over 150 applications in the first eleven days against roughly $5 million in funding, and doesn't publish a running balance — so apply early.
I already replaced my roof. Can I get reimbursed?
No. The program has no retroactive path: you must be approved before selecting a contractor or starting construction, and contractors who start early forfeit payment. This is the program's hardest rule.
Can I use my own roofer?
Only if they join the approved list, which means getting IBHS roofing-contractor certification and registering with the program. A 2026 law reimburses their certification cost, so a roofer you trust has little reason not to — but until they're listed, they can't be paid grant funds.
What does the evaluation cost?
Whatever the evaluator charges — the state neither sets nor publishes fees, and no official fee schedule exists. Get the total price in writing before booking, and remember you pay it even if your application ultimately isn't approved.
How long does the whole thing take?
No official end-to-end timeline is published. The sequence is: evaluation, application approval, construction, final certification. The implementing regulation sets a completion deadline once you're approved (reported as 90 days — your approval notice states your exact deadline), so don't get approved before your contractor can actually schedule you.
What if funds run out or I miss it?
Three fallbacks. First, unused money in slow regions gets reallocated to exhausted ones, and the fund carries forward year to year. Second, you can self-fund the upgrade — IBHS estimates the FORTIFIED delta at $1,000–$3,000 on a typical re-roof — and still claim the insurance discount. Third, ask your agent for the FORTIFIED endorsement on your policy: if a covered claim ever totals your roof, it rebuilds to the FORTIFIED standard.
Will my insurance actually go down?
Kentucky law requires insurers writing wind/hail coverage to apply an actuarially justified discount or rate reduction once they receive your FORTIFIED certificate, on policies issued or renewed on or after March 1, 2026. No fixed percentage exists — it varies by insurer. Send the certificate, then ask your agent what their filed discount is.
Does the grant cover my whole roof?
It covers up to $10,000 of construction costs, paid directly to the contractor. You cover the evaluator's fees, permits, and anything above $10,000. IBHS puts the FORTIFIED upgrade itself at $1,000–$3,000 over a conventional re-roof; whether the total job exceeds the grant depends on your roof.
Is this site the program?
No. This is an independent guide. The only place to apply is skh.ky.gov, applying is free, and nobody — including us — can reserve, award, or accelerate a grant. Treat anyone claiming otherwise as a scam.