Do you need a permit for hurricane shutters?
In most cases, yes. Both the City of Orlando and Orange County generally require a building permit to install hurricane shutters. The permit is how the building department confirms two things: the product is code-approved (Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA), and the installation matches the approved plans — right anchors, right tracks, right fasteners for your wall type. Our building code guide explains the product side.
Which office you deal with depends on your address: inside Orlando city limits means the City of Orlando permitting office; in unincorporated Orange County it means the county building division. Your installer should know which one applies to you.
Who pulls the permit?
Your installer should. This is standard practice and one of the simplest ways to judge a contractor: a pro handles the paperwork as part of the job. The permit application includes the product approval documents, a simple plan showing each opening, and the install details. If an installer asks you to pull the permit, or suggests skipping it to save money, treat that as a red flag. Our installer guide lists more warning signs.
What does the process look like?
1. Application. The installer submits the product approvals and opening schedule. Simple residential shutter permits are usually straightforward.
2. Review. The building department checks that the products are approved and the plan fits the code. This can take days to a few weeks depending on how busy the office is — longer right before hurricane season.
3. Installation. Once the permit is issued, the work goes ahead.
4. Final inspection. An inspector verifies the installed shutters match the approved products and the anchors and tracks are correct. You get a signed-off permit card — keep it. It is part of your proof for insurance discounts and future home sales.
How much does the permit cost?
Permit fees vary by jurisdiction and project size, but for a typical home they are a small slice of the total project — usually in the low hundreds of dollars. A good quote lists the permit fee as its own line item (or states that it is included) rather than hiding it. See our cost guide for how the full budget breaks down.
Permit vs HOA approval — two different gates
A building permit is not the same as HOA approval. The city or county cares about safety and code. Your HOA cares about looks — color, style, and placement. You need both if you live in an HOA community, and the HOA sign-off should come before you pay for the install. Our HOA guide covers your rights and the process.
Common permit delays (and how to avoid them)
Most permit delays come from incomplete paperwork, not from the building department being difficult. The usual culprits: a missing or expired product approval number, an opening schedule that does not match the plans, or an application filed under the wrong jurisdiction (city vs county). A professional installer who does this every week avoids all three. If you are managing any part of the paperwork yourself, double-check the approval numbers on the Florida Building Commission site before submitting — catching an expired approval early saves weeks.
Why you should never skip the permit
- Insurance: your wind mitigation inspector wants to see permitted, inspected work. No permit can mean no discount.
- Resale: buyers and their inspectors check permit records. Unpermitted shutters raise questions and can delay or kill a sale.
- Safety: the inspection is a free second set of eyes on the anchors holding your shutters to the house.
- Liability: if unpermitted work fails in a storm, you own the problem alone.
Timing tip
Permit offices get slammed from spring into hurricane season. If you want shutters up before June 1, start the process in fall or winter. Our timing guide explains the seasonal rhythm.
We handle the paperwork
Permits, product approvals, inspections — we take care of all of it as part of every install. Send the free quote form below and we will walk you through exactly what your address requires.