Windows, Shutters, Doors and Security Bars

Based on a Binding Interpretation of 8th Edition Florida Building Code (2023), Section 110.8.1 issued by Building Officials Association of Florida and ratified by Florida Building Code Commission on 01-26-2026, all installation of windows and doors in threshold buildings will require a threshold inspection by a State of Florida certified Special Inspector in addition to a special inspection plan issued by the engineer of record.

Threshold Building Definition:

• Any Building which is greater than three stories.
• Any Building which is greater than 50 feet in height.
• Any Building that has an assembly occupancy classification as defined in the FBC which exceeds 5000 square feet in area and an occupant content of greater than 500 persons. 

Due to this interpretation, building department requirements for documentation have changed to the following for window or door permit installation in threshold buildings.

• Building data to be able to determine if the building qualifies as a threshold building. FBC 2023 Section 107.2.1
• Location of the units where the windows or doors are being installed. FBC 2023 Section 107.2.1
• Wind calculations for all openings related to the new installation. FBC 2023, Section 107.3.5 (8), Section 1620 and ASCE7-22, Chapter 30.
• Wood buck calculations when the buck thickness is 1 ½ inches or greater. FBC 2023, Section 1710.
• Threshold Building Affidavit, FBC 2023, Section 110.8.1.
• Special Inspector form from a State Certified Special Inspector for windows and doors installation (buck and fasteners), FBC 2023, Section 110.8.1.
• Threshold inspection plan outlining scope of work and required verification procedures and inspections, FBC 2023, Section 110.8.1 by the design professional of record.
• Signature and seal:
• Threshold Building Affidavit and Special Inspector form shall be signed and sealed by a professional engineer or registered architect certified as Special Inspector of Threshold Buildings (threshold inspector).
• All other permit documents can be signed and sealed by a professional engineer or licensed architect without the threshold inspector certification. FBC 2023, Section 107. 

The following items are required for new windows, mullions and glass doors. All four items are required; incomplete and illegible applications and documents will not be accepted.

Note: There is an additional form required if you apply as an Owner-Builder.

• A completed Building Permit Application (yellow form):
  • Category 82 and/or 83 marked (commercial and residential)
  • Total area (square feet) of windows or glass doors being installed
  • If sub-permit, include the master permit number in the application
  • A completed Contact Sheet.
• Permit plans/drawings must contain the information below:
  • Location of window, mullion, and/or glass door
  • The sizes and product approval numbers of each window/door
  • The sizes and product approval numbers of all mullions (if applicable)
  • The required positive and negative pressures of each window/door being used, typically located on your product approval documents under the Design and Pressures Rating (psf).

• The current Notice of Acceptance (NOA) of each window/glass door or mullion used. You may search the Product Approval database for approval numbers, products, certificates and listings that have been approved for use on buildings in both Miami-Dade County and throughout the country. Florida Building Commission product approvals are acceptable.
  
  If more than one type of product is being used, a separate notice must be filed for each product.

• Applicants must indicate on the permit plans or the Notice of Acceptance, which glass type/thickness and which options are to be used, including mullion sizes and types of connection to be installed; typically located on your product approval documents under the Glass Schedule.

The following items are required for windows, mullions and glass door replacement. All three items are required; incomplete and illegible application and documents will not be accepted.

Note: There is an additional form required if you apply as an Owner-Builder.

• A completed Building Permit Application (yellow form):
  • Category 82 and/or 83 marked (commercial and residential)
  • Total area (square feet) of windows or glass doors being installed
  • If sub-permit, include the master permit number in the application
  • A completed Contact Sheet

• Provide a frontal view (elevation) of each exterior wall having windows, mullion and/or glass door replaced. Show all windows/glass doors in their approximate location and identify which windows are being replaced by providing the following information:
  • The sizes of the window (indicate 2 if two windows are in one opening)
  • The product approval numbers from Miami-Dade County or Florida Building Commission of each window to be replaced
  • If mullions are to be used between double windows indicate the cross-sectional size of the mullion (for example 1x3, 2x4, etc.)
    

• The current Notice of Acceptance (NOA) of each window/glass door or mullion used. You may search our Product Approval database for approval numbers, products, certificates and listings that have been approved for use on buildings in both Miami-Dade County and throughout the country. Florida Building Commission product approvals are acceptable.

New Window/Door Opening
The following items are required to obtain a building permit for new window/door opening.

Note: There is an additional form required if you apply as an Owner-Builder.

• A completed Building Permit Application (yellow form):
  • When/if the scope of work is solely for new opening(s) for windows and glass doors use category 02 (residential) or category 01 (commercial) along with categories 82 and/or 83
  • When/if the scope of work is solely for new opening(s) for doors (no glass) use category 02 (residential) or category 01 (commercial)
  • Total area (square feet) and value of work for windows/doors being installed
  • A completed Contact Sheet

• Choose from the following detail options for your submittal:
  • Standard:
    • Standard Detail for New Window Opening: See detailed guidelines for new windows opening in existing masonry concrete wall
    • Standard Detail for New Door Opening: See detailed guidelines for new door opening in existing masonry or concrete wall.
      
      
  • Custom: Provide your own custom details drawing(s) of the new window/door opening(s). Drawing(s) must be signed and sealed by a design professional (architect or engineer).

• Permit plans/drawings must contain the following information:
  • Location of the new opening(s) for window/door
  • The sizes and product approval numbers of each window/door
  • The sizes and product approval numbers of all mullions (if applicable)
  • The required positive and negative pressures of each window/door being used, typically located on your product approval documents under the Design and Pressures Rating (psf)
  • For door opening(s) only, provide electrical information below:
    • Exterior light and switch location at the door
    • Circuits number for the light, breaker, wire, conduit size, GFCI receptacles for the light(s) and if they are existing or to be installed.

• The current Notice of Acceptance (NOA) of each window/door panel used. You may search the Product Approval database for approval numbers, products, certificates, and listings that have been approved for use on buildings in both Miami-Dade County and throughout the country. Florida Building Commission product approvals are acceptable.

Opening Block-Up
The following items are required to obtain a building permit for "blocking-up" window/door opening(s).

Note: There is an additional form required if you apply as an Owner-Builder.

• A completed Building Permit Application (yellow form):
  • When/if the scope of work is solely for blocking window/door opening(s) use category 02 (residential) or category 01 (commercial)
  • Total area (square feet) and value of work for windows/doors being blocked-up
  • A completed Contact Sheet.

• Choose from the following detail options for your submittal:
  • Standard Detail for Opening Block-Up: See detailed guidelines for window or door block-opening in masonry concrete wall
    
    
  • Custom: Provide your own custom details drawing(s) of the opening(s) block-up. Drawing(s) must be signed and sealed by a design professional (architect or engineer).

• Permit plans/drawings must contain the location of the window/door opening(s) being blocked.

The following checklist of items are required for security bars, grilles, grates or similar devices. All three items are required; incomplete and illegible application and documents will not be accepted.

Note: There is an additional form required if you apply as an Owner-Builder.

• A completed Building Permit Application (yellow form):
  • Category 35 marked
  • A completed Contact Sheet
    
    
• A floor plan drawing, indicating the location and room where the security bars, grilles and/or grates will be installed
  
  
• Choose from the following detail options for your submittal:
  • Standard Details for Security Bars, Grilles and Grates: Guidelines for security bars, grilles and grates installation
  • Custom: Provide your own drawing of the custom details of the security bars, grilles and grates to be installed.

Minimum Opening Area
All emergency escape and rescue openings must have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet. Exception: Grade floor openings must have a minimum net clear opening of 5 square feet.

• Minimum Opening Height: The minimum net clear opening height must be 24 inches
• Minimum Opening Width: The minimum net clear opening width must be 20 inches

Emergency Escape and Rescue Required
Basements with habitable space and every sleeping room must have at least one openable emergency escape and rescue opening. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency egress and rescue openings must be required in each sleeping room but will not be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Where emergency escape and rescue openings are provided, they must have a sill height of not more than 44 inches above the floor.

Operational Constraints
Emergency escape and rescue openings must be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools. Openings for emergency escape and rescue must be operational from the inside. Keys or special tools must not be needed to operate these openings, or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening. If keys or tools were necessary, they might not be readily available in an emergency or panic situation, and an individual might not be able to use them, so the opening would be unusable.

The following checklist of items are required for shutters and storm panels. All four items are required; incomplete and illegible application and documents will not be accepted.

• Read the e-permitting guidelines for accordion shutters and storm panels

Note: There is an additional form required if you apply as an Owner-Builder.

• A completed Building Permit Application (yellow form):
  • Category 101 for removable panels, or category 29 for permanent shutters (commercial and residential)
  • Total area (square feet) of panels or shutters being installed
  • If sub-permit, include the master permit number in the application
  • A completed Contact Sheet
    
    
• A drawing indicating the size and location of the openings to be protected and indicating the mean roof height of the building. If more than one type of storm protection is used, identify which product is used at each opening.

• The current Notice of Acceptance (NOA) of each shutter/storm panel used. You may search the Product Approval database for approval numbers, products, certificates and listings that have been approved for use on buildings in both Miami-Dade County and throughout the country. Florida Building Commission product approvals are acceptable.
  
  If more than one storm panel or method of application is covered on the approval, mark the identifying panel and connection to be used.
  
• Attestation from Homeowner’s Associations: Pursuant to Miami-Dade County Code, permanent storm shutters, sometimes known as accordion shutters, require the expressed approval by the homeowner’s association prior to permit issuance.
  
  Note that zoning review and approval will be required for the installation, repair, or replacement of permanent storm shutters on commercial buildings including condominiums and apartment buildings.

The following checklist of items are required for stand-alone permits (no master) for exterior door(s) replacement such as wood, metal, steel, and other materials not made of glass but may contain small portions thereof (less than 50%). All three items are required; incomplete and illegible application and documents will not be accepted.

Note: There is an additional form required if you apply as an Owner-Builder.

• A completed Building Permit Application (yellow form):
  • Category 104 (commercial and residential)
  • Total area (square feet) of door(s) being replaced
  • A completed Contact Sheet.
    
    
• Provide a frontal view (elevation) of each exterior wall having door(s) replaced. Show all doors in their approximate location and identify which doors are being replaced by providing the following:
  • The sizes of the door(s)
  • The product approval numbers from Miami-Dade County or Florida Building Commission of each door to be replaced.
    
    
• The current Notice of Acceptance (NOA) of each door used. You may search our Product Approval database for approval numbers, products, certificates and listings that have been approved for use on buildings in both Miami-Dade County and throughout the country. Florida Building Commission product approvals are acceptable.

The following checklist of items are needed for approval of exterior doors, glass block, or skylight systems as part of a master permit. All three items are required; incomplete and illegible application and documents will not be accepted.

• A completed Application for Shop Drawing (blue form):
  • Indicate master permit number and description
  • A completed Contact Sheet
    
    
• A drawing indicating the size, location, mean roof height and product approval number of the exterior doors, glass block or skylight system to be installed.
  
  
• The Notice of Acceptance (NOA) of each exterior doors, glass block, or skylight system used. You may search the Product Approval database for approval numbers, products, certificates and listings that have been approved for use on buildings in both Miami-Dade County and throughout the country. Florida Building Commission product approvals are acceptable.

The following checklist of items are required for stand-alone (no master) permits for garage door replacement. All three items are required; incomplete and illegible application and documents will not be accepted.

Note: There is an additional form required if you apply as an Owner-Builder.

• A completed Building Permit Application (yellow form):
  • Category 22
  • Total area (square feet) of garage door(s) being installed
  • A completed Contact Sheet.
    
    
• Provide a frontal view (elevation) of each exterior wall that is to have garage door(s) replaced. Show all doors in their approximate location and identify which doors are being replaced by providing the following:
  • The sizes of the garage door(s)
  • The product approval numbers from Miami-Dade County or Florida Building Commission of each garage door to be replaced.
    
    
• The current Notice of Acceptance (NOA) of each garage door used. You may search the Product Approval database for approval numbers, products, certificates, and listings that have been approved for use on buildings in both Miami-Dade County and throughout the country. Florida Building Commission product approvals are acceptable.

The following checklist of items are required for approval of garage doors (residential) or overhead sectional doors (commercial) as part of a master permit. All three items are required; incomplete and illegible application and documents will not be accepted.

• A completed Application for Shop Drawing (blue form):
  • Indicate master permit number and description
  • A completed Contact Sheet
    
    
• A drawing indicating the size, location, mean roof height and product approval number of the garage doors/overhead sectional doors to be installed
  
  
• The Notice of Acceptance (NOA) of each garage door/overhead sectional door used. You may search the Product Approval database for approval numbers, products, certificates and listings that have been approved for use on buildings in both Miami-Dade County and throughout the country. Florida Building Commission product approvals are acceptable.