Impact Window and Door Permits in South Florida – Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County 2026

Impact-resistant windows and doors are one of the most important construction investments a property owner can make in South Florida. Located in a hurricane-prone region subject to powerful Atlantic storms annually, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County all require that impact window and door installations be performed under proper construction permits. Installing hurricane-impact windows and doors without permits is not only a code violation subject to USD fines — it potentially voids the product warranty, invalidates homeowners' insurance wind coverage, and creates dangerous situations where improperly installed windows fail during a hurricane.

Why Impact Window and Door Permits Are Required

Hurricane-impact windows and doors are life-safety products. When a window or door fails during a hurricane, the sudden internal pressurization of the building structure can cause catastrophic roof uplift and structural failure. This is why the Florida Building Code and South Florida building departments require that all impact window and door installations be performed by licensed contractors under permits with government inspections.

The Miami-Dade County Product Approval system and the Florida Statewide Product Approval system are the two approval pathways for impact windows and doors. Every impact product installed in South Florida must have a valid, current product approval confirming it has been tested and certified to withstand the specific wind speeds applicable to the installation location.

Impact Window and Door Permit Types in South Florida

The following permit types apply to impact window and door projects:

Impact Window Replacement Permit is required when replacing existing non-impact windows with new hurricane-impact windows. This is the most common impact window permit type in South Florida for both residential and commercial properties.

Impact Door Replacement Permit covers the replacement of existing entry doors, sliding glass doors, French doors, and garage doors with new hurricane-impact rated products. Each door opening may require a separate permit or may be included in a comprehensive window and door permit depending on the jurisdiction.

New Construction Window and Door Permit covers the installation of windows and doors in new construction buildings. New construction window and door permits are typically part of the overall building permit package.

Window Opening Modification Permit is required when an existing window opening is enlarged, reduced, or relocated. Structural engineering review is required when window openings are modified.

New Window or Door Opening Permit is required when a new window or door opening is cut into an existing exterior wall. This requires structural engineering to ensure the wall opening does not compromise the structural integrity of the wall system.

Garage Door Replacement Permit is required for garage door replacement when the new door does not have the same dimensions as the existing door, or in all cases in Miami-Dade County's HVHZ. Impact-rated garage doors must carry Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval.

Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA) Requirements

Miami-Dade County's Product Control Division operates the most rigorous product approval system in the United States. All windows, doors, and glazing systems installed in Miami-Dade County must carry a valid Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) issued by the Product Control Division. The NOA specifies the tested wind loads, the approved installation methods, the approved anchoring systems, and the required flashing and sealing systems. Any deviation from the NOA installation requirements invalidates the product approval.

Permit applications for impact window and door installations in Miami-Dade County must include: the complete NOA document for each window and door product to be installed, installation drawings showing anchor spacing and type consistent with the NOA, and a site plan showing which openings are being replaced or modified.

Miami-Dade Building Department: (786) 315-2000. Miami-Dade Product Control Division: (786) 315-2590. NOA verification: miamidade.gov/building/product-approval.asp.

Florida Statewide Product Approval

In Broward County, Palm Beach County, and other Florida jurisdictions outside Miami-Dade County's HVHZ, impact windows and doors must carry Florida Statewide Product Approval issued through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's (DBPR) Florida Building Commission. Florida Statewide Product Approvals can be verified through the DBPR's product approval search system at floridabuilding.org.

Products installed in the HVHZ areas of Broward County — primarily coastal areas — may require Miami-Dade NOA approval in addition to or instead of Florida Statewide Product Approval. Confirm specific requirements with the Broward County Building Division at (954) 765-4400.

Impact Window Installation Requirements

Impact window installations must comply with the specific installation requirements of the product's NOA or Florida Product Approval. Key requirements include:

Anchor spacing — the distance between fasteners securing the window frame to the rough opening framing must exactly match the approved anchor schedule for the specific window size and wind speed zone.

Buck installation — pressure-treated wood or aluminum bucks (sub-frames) must be installed in masonry openings per approved specifications before the window frame is installed.

Flashing and sealant — all window perimeter flashings and sealants must be compatible with the window product and installed per the manufacturer's approved installation instructions.

Glazing verification — the glazing (glass) installed must match exactly what was tested and approved in the NOA. Laminated glass, tempered glass, and combinations used in the approved product cannot be substituted.

Impact Window and Door Permit Process in Broward County

Broward County Building Division: (954) 765-4400, broward.org/building. Impact window and door permits in Broward County require: completed application, letter of intent, product approval documentation, and installation drawings.

Required inspections: rough installation inspection (frames installed, glazing not yet installed or prior to final), and final inspection (complete installation including all flashing, sealant, and hardware).

Impact Window and Door Permit Process in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County Building Division: (561) 233-5100 (West Palm Beach), (561) 274-1200 (South County). Required documentation includes Florida Product Approval documents and installation drawings.

Required inspections: installation/setback inspection and final inspection.

Contractor License Requirements

Impact window and door installations must be performed by Florida-licensed Glazing Contractors or Florida-licensed General Contractors or Building Contractors with appropriate scope authorization. Some installations may be performed by licensed Specialty Structure contractors depending on the jurisdiction. All contractors must carry current workers' compensation insurance, general liability insurance, and a valid Local Business Tax Receipt.

Do not hire window installation companies that are not properly licensed as contractors. Unlicensed installers cannot pull permits — and if they represent themselves as being able to pull permits, they are operating illegally.

Impact Window and Door Permit Fees

Permit fees for impact windows and doors are charged in USD and calculated based on the number of openings, the construction valuation of the installation project, or a flat fee per opening depending on the jurisdiction. Application fees, plan review fees, and inspection fees are charged separately in USD.

Reinspection fees are charged in USD when inspections fail due to incorrect anchor spacing, unapproved products, missing flashing, or other deficiencies.

Insurance Benefits of Permitted Impact Window Installations

Properly permitted and inspected impact window and door installations qualify property owners for wind mitigation credits on homeowners' insurance policies. A wind mitigation inspection report — completed by a licensed inspector — documents the impact product approvals and installation verification from the permit inspection. This report can result in significant USD savings on annual homeowners' insurance premiums. Unpermitted window installations do not qualify for wind mitigation credits and may actually void existing wind coverage.