Quick answer
Impact windows are not required everywhere in Florida, and even where opening protection is required, impact windows are not always the only compliant option.
Under the code in force on September 5, 2026, exterior glazed openings in a wind-borne debris region generally must be impact resistant or protected by an approved impact-resistant covering. Miami-Dade and Broward counties form the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) and follow additional HVHZ provisions.
The legal answer for a specific home depends on the address, wind speed, exposure, building type, project scope, local map, and permit review, not the county name alone.1, 2
| Question | Current answer as of September 5, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Is there a statewide law requiring impact windows on every Florida home? | No. Florida uses location- and project-specific wind and opening-protection rules. |
| What is required inside a wind-borne debris region? | Approved protection for exterior glazed openings. The opening can use an impact-rated product or a qualifying impact-resistant covering.2, 3 |
| Which counties are in the HVHZ? | Miami-Dade and Broward.4 |
| Are shutters allowed instead of impact windows? | Often, yes, if the system is approved, properly designed, permitted, and installed for the opening. |
| Do replacement windows always have to be impact rated? | Not always. The Existing Building Code contains a limited 25% exception for certain one- and two-family dwellings, subject to strict conditions and local interpretation.5 |
| Which code is current? | The 2023 Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition is current. The Ninth Edition becomes effective December 31, 2026.1 |
The 2023 Florida Building Code, Eighth Edition, took effect on December 31, 2023 and remains the governing statewide edition on September 5, 2026. The published 2026 Ninth Edition does not take effect until December 31, 2026.1
That timing matters. An article written in September should not call the Ninth Edition the current enforceable code. Homeowners planning a late-2026 or 2027 project should ask the local building department which edition will apply based on the permit-application date and any transition rules.
Florida Building Code, Residential §R301.2.1.2 says that exterior glazed openings in buildings located in wind-borne debris regions must be protected from wind-borne debris. The parallel Building Code provision says glazed openings must be impact resistant or protected with an impact-resistant covering that meets an accepted standard.2, 3
Accepted compliance paths can include ASTM E1886 and ASTM E1996, TAS 201, 202 and 203, AAMA 506, or another approved standard, depending on the product and project. The code also contains limited exceptions, including provisions for certain separated porches or sunrooms and qualifying pre-cut structural wood panels on specified low-rise residential buildings.2, 3
Important distinction: Florida may require opening protection without requiring the homeowner to buy permanent impact windows. An approved shutter or panel system can be a compliant alternative when its approval, design pressures, anchors, substrate, installation, and permit documents match the project.
Under the current Eighth Edition definition, the wind-borne debris region includes hurricane-prone locations where either of the following applies:
The second condition is why a coastal county may contain a narrow regulated band rather than being entirely inside the debris region. It is also why a countywide yes-or-no chart can mislead homeowners.
The University of Florida GeoPlan Center produced updated statewide and local wind-speed maps for the Eighth Edition and worked with county building officials to translate contour lines to recognizable landmarks. Its project materials emphasize that local maps and jurisdictional linework matter when determining the actual design wind speed at a site.7
The HVHZ consists of Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Florida’s 2026 Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form identifies those two counties as the HVHZ, and the Florida Building Code contains separate high-velocity hurricane provisions and test protocols.4
A product suitable elsewhere in Florida is not automatically acceptable for every HVHZ installation. The contractor should identify the Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, the approved size and configuration, the required positive and negative design pressures, and the exact anchorage and substrate conditions.
The table below is a screening guide, not a parcel-level code determination. Broad mapped WBDR means the Eighth Edition Risk Category II map shows most or all of the county at or above the 140 mph trigger. Mixed means a contour crosses the county. Coastal-band dependent means the one-mile coastal/Exposure D rule may control even where the county is below 140 mph inland. Generally below the mapped trigger means the statewide residential map does not show broad coverage, but wind-load design, local amendments, project conditions, insurance, floodplain, HOA, or other requirements may still apply.6, 7
| County | Screening status | What homeowners should assume before permit review |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Impact opening protection is not a countywide presumption; verify the address and project with the local building department. |
| Baker | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Verify the wind-speed map and permit requirements; all replacement units still need applicable wind-pressure compliance. |
| Bay | Mixed/partial WBDR | The 140 mph contour and coastal conditions make the result address dependent. Expect stricter requirements near the coast and western/southern areas. |
| Bradford | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | No countywide impact-window rule should be assumed; confirm the site-specific design criteria. |
| Brevard | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection should be expected for covered projects; confirm product approval, design pressure, and permit scope. |
| Broward | HVHZ | Follow HVHZ requirements. Use products and installation documents accepted for the specific jurisdiction and opening. |
| Calhoun | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Verify the local wind map; Panhandle contours are close enough that assumptions based on county name are unsafe. |
| Charlotte | Broad mapped WBDR | Opening protection is generally expected for covered work; confirm every opening, including doors, skylights, and garage doors. |
| Citrus | Coastal-band/address dependent | Inland areas may differ from coastal locations. The one-mile coastal/Exposure D condition can control. |
| Clay | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Confirm the address and wind pressures; do not infer a debris-zone requirement from Northeast Florida exposure alone. |
| Collier | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection is generally expected for covered projects across the county. |
| Columbia | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Verify with the authority having jurisdiction; wind-load design still applies even where debris protection does not. |
| DeSoto | Broad or near-countywide mapped WBDR | The county lies at and above the 140 mph transition on the statewide map; treat the result as permit-specific near the contour. |
| Dixie | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Do not assume a countywide impact requirement; check the current local map and coastal conditions. |
| Duval | Coastal-band/address dependent | Coastal and lower inland wind-speed areas can differ. Confirm the one-mile coastal condition and local landmark map. |
| Escambia | Broad mapped WBDR, with edge exceptions possible | Most of the county is shown in or near the high-wind debris region; verify northern/eastern edge locations. |
| Flagler | Coastal-band/address dependent | The coastline and nearby contours make parcel location important; check the current county map. |
| Franklin | Coastal-band/address dependent | Barrier-island, shoreline, and inland locations may receive different answers. Confirm Vult, distance, and exposure. |
| Gadsden | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Opening protection is not shown as a broad countywide requirement on the residential map; verify the project. |
| Gilchrist | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Confirm site design criteria and product wind pressures with the local building department. |
| Glades | Broad mapped WBDR | Opening protection should generally be anticipated, subject to the project and local permit review. |
| Gulf | Coastal-band/address dependent | Coastal proximity and the 130 to 139 mph band can control even where inland areas are outside the 140 mph region. |
| Hamilton | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | No broad countywide WBDR is shown; verify the address and building type. |
| Hardee | Broad or near-countywide mapped WBDR | The county sits at the 140 mph threshold; use the adopted local line and permit determination. |
| Hendry | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection should generally be expected for covered projects. |
| Hernando | Mixed edge/coastal-band dependent | Much of the county is near the 140 mph boundary, while coastal conditions can independently trigger protection. |
| Highlands | Broad or near-countywide mapped WBDR | The county lies at the 140 mph transition; confirm local landmark lines for edge locations. |
| Hillsborough | Broad but mixed near the northern/eastern edge | Most of the county is shown within or near the 140 mph region; address-level confirmation remains essential. |
| Holmes | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | The county is near changing Panhandle wind contours; verify the adopted local map. |
| Indian River | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection should generally be expected for covered work. |
| Jackson | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | No broad countywide WBDR is shown; confirm wind pressures and local requirements. |
| Jefferson | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Verify the parcel and project; a lower mapped wind speed does not eliminate standard wind-load requirements. |
| Lafayette | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Confirm the local map and permit requirements before specifying windows. |
| Lake | Generally below 140 mph; address verification still required | The statewide map places the county below the broad 140 mph trigger, but the exact code definition and local map must be checked. |
| Lee | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection is generally expected for covered projects. |
| Leon | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Do not assume impact windows are legally required countywide; confirm the project’s wind design. |
| Levy | Coastal-band/address dependent | Coastal locations can differ from inland Levy County; confirm the one-mile condition and Vult. |
| Liberty | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Verify the current local wind map and project type. |
| Madison | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | No broad countywide WBDR is shown; confirm wind-load and permit details. |
| Manatee | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection should generally be anticipated, with local confirmation for boundary areas. |
| Marion | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Impact protection is not a countywide presumption; verify the address and any local requirements. |
| Martin | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection is generally expected for covered work. |
| Miami-Dade | HVHZ | Follow HVHZ provisions and use a product/installation approval accepted for the exact opening and jurisdiction. |
| Monroe | Broad mapped WBDR | Opening protection should be expected. Flood, exposure, local product, and permitting requirements may add constraints. |
| Nassau | Coastal-band/address dependent | Coastal Amelia Island and inland locations can differ; use the current local map and building department. |
| Okaloosa | Broad mapped WBDR, with edge exceptions possible | Much of the county is in the high-wind region; confirm inland/northeastern edge locations. |
| Okeechobee | Broad or near-countywide mapped WBDR | The county lies at and above the 140 mph transition; verify adopted local boundaries. |
| Orange | Mixed/partial WBDR | The eastern/southern side can differ from the western/northern side. The address, not “Orlando,” controls. |
| Osceola | Broad mapped WBDR, with a transition near the western/northern edge | Expect opening-protection review for covered projects; confirm the parcel and local line. |
| Palm Beach | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection is generally expected for covered projects across the county. |
| Pasco | Mixed/partial WBDR | The 140 mph contour divides the county, and coastal conditions may also apply. Verify the address. |
| Pinellas | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection should generally be expected for covered projects. |
| Polk | Broad but near the 140 mph transition | Much of the county is in or immediately adjacent to the mapped threshold; local landmark lines control. |
| Putnam | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Confirm the local map and wind pressure requirements before assuming impact protection is unnecessary. |
| Santa Rosa | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection should generally be expected, with confirmation near inland edges. |
| Sarasota | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection is generally expected for covered projects. |
| Seminole | Generally below 140 mph but near the transition | Do not rely on the county label. Confirm the parcel because the 140 mph contour is nearby. |
| St. Johns | Coastal-band/address dependent | Coastal and inland locations differ. Confirm distance from the coastal mean-high-water line, exposure, and Vult. |
| St. Lucie | Broad mapped WBDR | Approved opening protection is generally expected for covered projects. |
| Sumter | Generally below 140 mph but near the transition | Verify the adopted local map and project requirements. |
| Suwannee | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Opening protection is not a broad countywide presumption; wind-load design still applies. |
| Taylor | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Confirm the address and current coastal criteria; do not use an older internet wind-zone graphic as the permit basis. |
| Union | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Verify project-specific wind pressures and local enforcement. |
| Volusia | Mixed/partial WBDR | Coastal and southern/eastern areas can differ from inland/northern areas. Use Volusia’s current map or building department. |
| Wakulla | Generally below mapped WBDR trigger | Confirm current wind speeds and any coastal project requirements with the local jurisdiction. |
| Walton | Mixed/partial WBDR | The 140 mph contour divides the county; coastal and western locations generally face stricter conditions. |
| Washington | Generally below 140 mph but close to Panhandle contours | Confirm the adopted local landmark map rather than relying on a countywide statement. |
Use a four-step process. First, identify the authority having jurisdiction: a city building department may issue the permit even when the property is in a named county. Second, ask for the adopted Risk Category II wind-speed and wind-borne debris map for a one- or two-family home. Third, obtain the site’s ultimate design wind speed and exposure and ask whether the parcel is inside the WBDR or HVHZ. Fourth, require the contractor’s proposal to list the product approval, sizes, positive and negative design pressures, anchorage, substrate, permit, and inspections.
Do not use a marketing map as the final answer. Statewide graphics are helpful for orientation, but local officials establish contour locations using roads, canals, rivers, lakes, and other landmarks.7
Florida Building Code, Existing Building §707.4 requires replacement garage doors, exterior doors, skylights, and windows to comply with the structural provisions of the Building Code, but it includes a narrow opening-protection exception.5
For certain one- and two-family dwellings built under codes other than the Florida Building Code, replacement glazing in a wind-borne debris region may avoid the opening-protection requirement when the aggregate glazing replaced in any 12-month period does not exceed 25% of the dwelling’s total glazed-opening area. The replacement components still must be designed for wind pressures for an enclosed building. A separate HVHZ exception applies to certain one- and two-family dwellings constructed under codes before September 1, 1994, again subject to the 25% limit.5
This is not a general permission to split a full-house project into artificial phases. Eligibility depends on the building’s code history, dates, aggregate glazed area, component type, permit record, and local interpretation. Ask the building official for a written determination before ordering a non-impact replacement in a WBDR.
A building-code requirement and an insurance credit are different questions. An insurer can price the home based on documented wind-mitigation features even when the building department did not require the owner to retrofit every opening.
Florida’s current mitigation form classifies the home based on its weakest protected opening and requires supporting photographs or documentation. A single unprotected window, door, skylight, or garage opening can reduce the opening-protection classification.4 If insurance savings are part of the buying decision, send the proposed scope to the agent before signing and ask what documentation the carrier will need after completion.
Not automatically. Florida maintains a statewide Product Approval database, and Miami-Dade operates a separate Product Control approval system. The approval has to cover the proposed unit, size, configuration, pressure, anchors, substrate, and installation. In the HVHZ, the local building department determines whether the submitted approval package is acceptable.8, 9
The safest bid is not the one that simply says “Miami-Dade approved.” It is the one that lists the actual FL number or NOA number and identifies how that approval applies to each opening.
If your address falls in the HVHZ, a broad WBDR, or a mixed county near a contour, obtain a written opening schedule rather than a generic price-per-window quote. The schedule should show the required pressure and approval number for each window, door, and skylight. Then use Where to Buy Impact Windows in South Florida, and How to Vet an Installer to compare contractors on equal terms.
No. Coastal counties can include several wind-speed and exposure conditions. The one-mile coastal rule may apply in a narrow band, while a 140 mph contour can create broader coverage. Confirm the parcel on the adopted map.
Not as a blanket statement. Orange County is crossed by relevant wind-speed transitions, and jurisdiction and address matter. A contractor should determine the site criteria and confirm them during permit review.
Do not rely on the city name alone. Hillsborough County has broad high-wind coverage with transition areas, while nearby Pasco is mixed and Pinellas is broadly within the mapped WBDR. Verify the exact property.
Miami-Dade and Broward are the HVHZ. Covered work must follow the applicable HVHZ provisions, but approved shutters or coverings may be an alternative to impact glazing in some designs. The permit documents control.
Potentially, if the window satisfies wind-pressure requirements and the shutter system is separately approved, designed, permitted, and installed to protect that opening. Ask the local building department and insurer before ordering.
Yes. The Ninth Edition becomes effective December 31, 2026. Projects filed near the transition should confirm which edition applies and whether the local jurisdiction has published implementation guidance.
Accuracy date: September 5, 2026. Codes, program funding, license status, and insurance rules change. Confirm current requirements with the authority having jurisdiction before you rely on them.
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