Direct answer
Yes, for permanently installed storm shutters. Palm Beach County’s Building Division lists storm shutters among its residential permit types, and its checklist asks for complete building layouts and installation schedules with egress doors identified, plus a State Product Approval for the specific shutter. Cities such as Boca Raton issue their own shutter permits. Find out first whether the property is in unincorporated Palm Beach County or in a city.
Disclaimer
This article is general information about permitting and code-enforcement processes. It is not legal advice, not a substitute for advice from a Florida-licensed attorney, and not a guarantee of any result, timeline, or fee. Permit Busters, LLC is not a law firm and does not appear as your legal representative. Building and code rules vary by county and municipality and can change. Confirm current requirements, forms, and fees with the building or code office that has jurisdiction over the property, and consult a Florida attorney and, where construction work is required, a Florida-licensed contractor.
Este artículo es información general sobre procesos de permisos y cumplimiento del código. No es asesoramiento legal, no sustituye el consejo de un abogado con licencia en Florida y no garantiza un resultado, un plazo ni un costo. Permit Busters, LLC no es un bufete de abogados y no comparece como su representante legal. Las normas de construcción y de código varían según el condado y el municipio y pueden cambiar. Confirme los requisitos, formularios y tarifas vigentes con la oficina de construcción o de código que tenga jurisdicción sobre la propiedad, y consulte a un abogado de Florida y, cuando se requiera obra, a un contratista con licencia en Florida.
Step 1: Confirm who issues the permit
The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser says the first two digits of a Parcel Control Number identify the county or municipality. If they are 00, the property is in unincorporated Palm Beach County, and the County’s Planning, Zoning and Building (PZB) Building Division issues the permit. Any other number means a municipality, such as Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, or Jupiter, with its own building department. See Which Department Issues Your South Florida Permit and Palm Beach County permit help.
Unincorporated Palm Beach County
PZB’s permit-type list, dated April 27, 2011, and still posted by PZB, places storm shutters under Type 2(A) permits for one- and two-unit homes and Type 2(B) for commercial and larger residential buildings. For storm shutters, its Type 2(A) application sufficiency checklist, an older form dated 2005 that PZB still posts, asks for:
- complete building layouts and installation schedules with egress doors identified; and
- a State Product Approval with the specific product identified.
The checklist also lists a completed application, and an Owner/Builder Affidavit if the owner is acting as contractor; the County says an owner-builder must appear personally to apply.
Palm Beach County’s local amendments to the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), section 107.3.4, say products regulated by Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G20 must be reviewed and approved in writing by the designer of record before they are submitted for approval. PZB’s older product approval guidance, revised February 19, 2013, and still posted, says the same. It adds that when the product approval includes detailed drawings, as shutter approvals often do, the design and installation criteria must be clearly identified and keyed to the site-specific plan. It also says copies of the manufacturer’s installation instructions are required for inspectors in the field, so the inspector can match the product installed to its instructions, and that if no Florida product approval exists for a required product, local product approval may be requested case by case. Confirm current requirements with PZB.
PZB’s Permit Center processes applications for the unincorporated area, and applications can be filed online through the ePZB portal. Its Vista Center is at 2300 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach, and the listed phone is 561-233-5100.
Example: City of Boca Raton
Boca Raton offers an over-the-counter permit for windows, doors, or impact shutters on single-family homes. Its affidavit says plans examination is not required under certain conditions, citing section 107.1 of the Florida Building Code and the City’s building regulations. The City’s affidavit lists the permit application, contractor registration or an owner-builder disclosure statement, and a recorded Notice of Commencement above the value the City lists. The applicant attests that:
- the installation matches the product approval or Notice of Acceptance submitted;
- changes after permit issuance require a revision submittal;
- they have read the City’s memorandum dated January 1, 2018, saying the wind speed used for single-family homes is 170 mph, and that structures are Exposure C unless Exposure D applies; and
- a complete, legible product approval or Notice of Acceptance must be on site for inspection.
Boca Raton also says that if an opening is being altered, the permit goes back to structural review. Other cities have their own checklists. See Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Jupiter.
Check the product approval before you buy
Florida’s statewide product approval system is searchable on the Florida Building Commission’s website. Before you buy shutters, confirm the product has an approval for your use, and keep a copy of the approval and installation instructions for the inspector. For windows and doors that replace shutters, see window and door permit services.
If signed and sealed plans are required, they must be prepared by a Florida-licensed engineer or architect. Permit Busters, LLC can help coordinate that step.
If shutters were installed without a permit
Unpermitted shutters can come up in a sale or an inspection. The usual path is an after-the-fact permit with the product approval and an inspection. See after-the-fact permit services and Replaced Windows or Doors Without a Permit?.
HOA approval is separate
Association approval is not a building permit. If the property has an HOA or condo association, getting its approval is the owner’s responsibility.
Get help with a shutter permit
Permit Busters, LLC can help you find out whether the County or a city issues your permit, assemble the layouts and product approval, and track the permit through inspection. Approval always rests with the city or county. Call (954) 616-5823, email info@permitbusters.com, or book an appointment. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Permit Busters, LLC is based in Lauderhill, FL 33351.
FAQ
Do I need a permit for hurricane shutters in Palm Beach County?
Yes, for installed storm shutters. Palm Beach County’s Building Division lists storm shutters among its residential permit types, and cities such as Boca Raton issue their own shutter permits. Check whether the property is in unincorporated Palm Beach County or a city first.
What does Palm Beach County ask for on a shutter permit?
PZB’s Type 2(A) checklist asks for complete building layouts and installation schedules with egress doors identified, and a State Product Approval with the specific product identified, along with the application and an owner-builder affidavit if applicable.
How do I know if the County or a city issues my permit?
Check the Parcel Control Number. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser says a PCN beginning with 00 is unincorporated Palm Beach County. Any other first two digits identify a municipality with its own building department.
Do shutters need product approval in Palm Beach County?
Yes. The County asks for a State Product Approval for the specific shutter, reviewed and approved in writing by the designer of record before submittal. The manufacturer’s installation instructions must be available to inspectors in the field.
Can I get a shutter permit over the counter in Boca Raton?
For single-family homes, Boca Raton offers an over-the-counter permit for windows, doors, or impact shutters. The City asks for the application, contractor registration or owner-builder disclosure, and a signed affidavit, and requires the product approval on site for inspection.