Updated November 4, 2026
Why permits matter
Replacing windows and doors is regulated work. A permit puts your project on record and lets the building department inspect it. Your insurer, a future buyer or a grant program may ask to see it. Be cautious of any contractor who says a permit is not necessary, which Florida's licensing agency lists as a warning sign (DBPR tips).
Who issues your permit
If your home is in unincorporated Pinellas County, the county handles it through an online portal. Homes inside a city use that city's building department. Pinellas County says to contact your city if your property is within one (Pinellas County permit page).
Pinellas County reports typical review of about 14 days for residential permits. Express permits are available online to licensed contractors. Owner-builders apply in person for Express permits.
What the county window and door form asks for
Pinellas County has a dedicated Window/Door Replacement and/or Impact Shutter Permit Form (see the form). It asks for:
- A layout diagram for each floor, with every replaced unit marked and numbered
- The size and type of each unit (for example single hung or sliding glass door)
- The exposure category (B, C or D), based on distance from open water
- A schedule listing each product as impact or non-impact, with its Florida Product Approval number or NOA number
The form also says the chosen products must exceed the design pressures calculated for the home under the Florida Building Code. Your contractor should handle those calculations.
What is a Florida Product Approval or NOA?
Products used in Florida buildings must be approved for code compliance. The state's Florida Building Code Online site has a Product Approval search where you can look up an FL number. A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) is another accepted form of approval on the Pinellas form.
The approval lists sizes, glass, and how the unit must be anchored. Your installer should follow it exactly.
The wind-borne debris region and older homes
The code defines the region by wind speed and distance from the coast. The City of Dunedin's form states that all of Pinellas County is within it (form).
That same form describes an exception for one- and two-family homes permitted before March 1, 2002. Within any 12-month period, replacement windows and doors do not have to include opening protection if the replaced glass is no more than 25 percent of the home's total glazed opening area. The new units must still be designed for the wind pressures of an enclosed building. The form cites Section 707.4 of the Florida Building Code, Existing Building.
Each building department applies the rules to your specific project, so confirm with yours. Using this exception does not give the opening-protection credit that full impact products would.
Beach areas
The county form notes that properties under the Pinellas County Gulf Beaches coastal construction control rules may need glazing that meets sea turtle nesting requirements where required. If you live on a beach, ask your contractor and building department about it early.
Your checklist
- Confirm whether the county or your city issues the permit.
- Ask for FL or NOA numbers on the quote.
- Check your contractor's license at MyFloridaLicense.com.
- Ask who pulls the permit and who schedules inspections.
- Keep copies of the permit and approvals for insurance.
Common paperwork mix-ups
- Wrong decimal on the approval number. The county form asks for the specific product number, including the decimal.
- Mismatched diagram and quote. The numbers on the layout diagram should match the schedule and your quote.
- Wrong exposure category. The county form defines Exposure D as within 600 feet of open-water shoreline, Exposure C as 600 to 1,500 feet, and Exposure B as 1,500 feet or more. Your contractor should check this with the county's map tool.
- Assuming one office covers everything. The county and each city have their own processes.
Ask your contractor to show you the submitted permit package before the first inspection.
Why the installation has to match the approval
A product approval is not just a stamp on the window. It describes the tested assembly, including how it is anchored to the wall. If the installation differs, the test results may not apply. That is why inspectors compare what is on the wall to the approval documents. Ask your installer to keep a copy of the approval with the job file, and keep one yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pull the permit myself?
Owner-builders can apply in person in some cases, according to Pinellas County, but you take on responsibility for the work. Ask your building department what applies to you.
What if my product has no approval number?
Ask for the approval before you sign. Permit forms in Pinellas ask for an FL or NOA number for each product.
How long does a permit take?
Pinellas County lists about 14 days for typical residential review. Cities vary. Ask your contractor and building department.