Kentucky's roof grant is real and paying out — but it's the smallest pool of any state on this list.

How it works

The Strengthen Kentucky Homes (SKH) program, administered by the Kentucky Department of Insurance, provides grants up to $10,000 toward the construction cost of upgrading a roof to the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof standard. It was authorized by House Bill 256 in April 2024, but the application portal didn't actually open until March 1, 2026 — Kentucky is the newest state to offer this kind of program. The grant is paid directly to your contractor after the project is complete and the FORTIFIED certificate is submitted; you're on the hook for anything above $10,000.

The General Assembly appropriated $5 million total for the program — noticeably smaller than Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, or Louisiana's pools. More than 150 applications had already come in within the program's first weeks, so funds are going out on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantee of a second round being funded at the same level.

The mandatory insurance piece

Kentucky HB 256 didn't just create the grant — it also requires insurers to offer premium discounts or rate reductions for FORTIFIED-designated homes, and to offer homeowners the option to rebuild to FORTIFIED standards after a covered loss. Both took effect March 1, 2026, the same day the grant program opened.

Who qualifies

• Homeowner (mobile homes are excluded)
• The evaluator fee is paid out of pocket by the homeowner, separate from the $10,000 grant
• Grant covers construction costs only — not evaluator fees or permit costs
• Waiting for grant approval before contacting a contractor is required — the state explicitly warns against starting early

How to apply

• skh.ky.gov — create your profile and submit your application here. Given the small $5M pool, applying promptly once you're ready matters more here than in most states on this site.

Sources

• Kentucky Department of Insurance — program administrator, applications at skh.ky.gov.
• Kentucky HB 256 (2024) — the authorizing legislation, signed by Gov. Andy Beshear.

Last reviewed: August 28, 2026