Impact doors in Florida: ratings, permits, costs, and what you can get back
The short version
- An impact door is a whole door system (panel, glass, frame, hardware) tested for missile impact and wind pressure. You verify it with a Florida Product Approval number or a Miami-Dade NOA.
- In Florida's wind-borne debris regions, glass openings must be protected, either by an impact-rated product or by approved shutters. Whether your address is in that region depends on wind speed maps and distance to the coast.
- Expect a permit. Brevard County requires one for exterior door replacement and asks for the product approval with the application.
- Rough 2026 cost: about $2,000 to $6,000 installed for a single impact entry door and $3,500 to $6,000 for a standard 8-foot sliding glass door, per one Florida installer's published price guide. Estimates, not quotes.
- Qualifying impact doors and garage doors bought July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029 can count toward the sales tax refund (up to $500).
What makes a door impact-rated
"Impact door" isn't a marketing term in Florida. It means the door system was tested to resist wind-borne debris and wind pressure. Florida's sales tax law uses a clear definition: an exterior door system "designed to resist wind and wind-borne debris forces" that is rated for impact resistance and wind pressure under the most recent version of ASTM E1886 and E1996, AAMA 506, or the Florida Building Code's TAS 201, 202, and 203 (s. 212.08(21), F.S.; DOR TIP 26A01-09).
Two things follow from "system":
- Glass alone isn't enough. The frame, anchors, and locking hardware are part of what was tested. A laminated-glass door installed with the wrong anchors isn't installed per its approval.
- Every piece of an entry counts. Sidelights and transoms are separate openings. If they're glass, they need protection too.
Each approved door also has a design pressure (DP) rating, the wind pressure it's rated to handle. The DP your opening needs depends on your location, the height and exposure of the opening, and its position on the house. Your installer or the permit plans should show the required DP and the door's rating side by side.
HVHZ, wind-borne debris regions, and what code requires
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) | Miami-Dade and Broward counties only. Stricter design and testing rules apply there (FBC definition). |
| Wind-borne debris region | Under the current 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code: areas within 1 mile of the coastal mean high-water line where the ultimate design wind speed is 130 mph or more, plus any area where it is 140 mph or more (Florida Building Commission research report, 2025). |
| Opening protection | In wind-borne debris regions, exterior glazed openings must be protected from wind-borne debris, either by impact-rated products or by an approved covering such as shutters (Florida Building Code, Residential, R301.2.1.2, as quoted by the City of Rockledge). |
A few practical points:
- Brevard and Volusia are not in the HVHZ. Many coastal parts of both counties fall in the wind-borne debris region, but the line depends on the wind speed maps and distance to the coast. Your building department can tell you for your address.
- Replacements are held to current code too. The City of Rockledge, in Brevard, tells applicants that any new opening installation must meet the newest Florida Building Code rules for impact-rated openings, and that a non-impact product may be installed only if the opening has shutters or other rated protection (Rockledge requirements sheet). Other departments may word it differently, so ask yours.
- The 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code takes effect December 31, 2026. Permit applications filed on or after that date must meet it (Miami-Dade notice). If you're close to that date, ask your installer which edition your permit will fall under.
Checking a product approval
Florida requires state or local approval for products that make up the building envelope, including exterior doors, windows, shutters, and impact protective systems (Rule 61G20-3.001, F.A.C.). There are two common kinds of approval:
- Florida Product Approval (an "FL" number). Local building departments must accept a state-approved product used within its approval limits, without asking for more testing (Florida Building Commission memo).
- Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). A county approval built for the HVHZ. Many manufacturers carry both. Miami-Dade itself also accepts Florida Building Commission approvals (Miami-Dade permitting page).
To check a door yourself, ask the installer for the FL number and look it up in the state's product approval search. The listing shows whether it's approved inside or outside the HVHZ and links to installation instructions and limits of use, including sizes and design pressures. Keep a copy. You'll want it for your wind mitigation inspection.
Permit basics
Using Brevard County as an example (Residential Doors/Windows/Shutters permit page, checked October 23, 2026):
- A permit is needed to install or replace exterior doors, windows, garage doors, or hurricane shutters on a one- or two-family home. The door between the house and the garage also needs one.
- The application needs the Florida Product Approval information (or a product approval summary sheet) and the manufacturer's installation instructions for each product, plus a floor plan showing where each goes.
- A recorded Notice of Commencement is required when the job value is over $5,000.
- Licensed window and door, glass and glazing, general, building, and residential contractors, among others, can pull the permit. Owners can act as their own contractor under the owner-builder rules in s. 489.103, F.S.
- County fees start with a $25 application fee and a $75 plan review fee for the first $1,000 of job value, plus $3.25 per additional $1,000, and small state surcharges.
Cities inside Brevard and Volusia run their own building departments, so check with the one that covers your address. A contractor who suggests skipping the permit is a red flag. The permit and final inspection are also what your insurer, a future buyer, and grant programs will look for.
State rules put exterior doors and hurricane protection devices within the scope of the window and door installation specialty license, and general, building, and residential contractors can do this work too (Rule 61G4-15.100, F.A.C.). You can look up any contractor at MyFloridaLicense.com.
What impact doors cost
There's no official price list. These are published estimates, and real quotes vary a lot with size, glass, frame material, design pressure, and how much wall and trim work the job needs.
| Door | Installed price range (estimate) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single impact entry door | $2,000 to $6,000 | Armor Pro (installer price guide), updated Aug 7, 2026 |
| Entry door with one sidelight | $3,500 to $7,000 | Armor Pro |
| French door pair | $4,000 to $8,000 | Armor Pro |
| Sliding glass door, 8 ft, 2 panels | $3,500 to $6,000 | Armor Pro |
| Sliding glass door, 12 ft, 3 panels | $6,000 to $9,000 | Armor Pro |
| Hurricane-proof sliding glass door (national average, door price) | $1,000 to $3,000, up to $7,000 for larger 3-panel units, plus $300 to $600 labor | HomeGuide, Feb 5, 2026 |
Read these as a starting point, not a benchmark. Armor Pro sells and installs impact products, so treat its guide as one company's pricing. It says its figures include the door, installation, permits, and disposal of the old door, with stucco, trim, and structural work typically extra at $200 to $1,000 per opening. HomeGuide's figures are national and its sliding door prices exclude labor. Neither is specific to Brevard or Volusia. We'll publish local ranges once we have enough real quotes to report honestly.
What usually moves a door quote:
- Width and number of panels (sliding doors are often the most expensive single opening on a house)
- Frame material (fiberglass, aluminum, steel, vinyl) and finish for salt air
- Glass options such as insulated or low-E glass on top of the laminated layer
- Required design pressure
- Stucco, framing, and trim repair around the opening, which some quotes leave out
Sales tax refund, wind mitigation, and My Safe Florida Home
Sales tax refund (s. 212.08(21))
Impact-resistant doors and impact-resistant garage doors are two of the three "home hardening products" in the law, along with impact windows. Garage doors can also qualify under ANSI/DASMA 115. If you own an eligible homesteaded, site-built home with a just value of $700,000 or less, you can apply to the Department of Revenue for a refund of the Florida sales tax paid on qualifying products bought between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2029, up to $500 per owner and one property (TIP 26A01-09). How the tax shows up on a contractor's invoice matters a lot. Our sales tax refund guide covers who qualifies, the receipt problem, and the form.
Wind mitigation opening protection
Florida's wind mitigation form (OIR-B1-1802, Rev. 04/26) rates opening protection by the weakest glazed opening. That includes glass entry doors, sliding glass doors, and garage doors with glass. Solid entry and garage doors are rated on their own wind pressure rating. One unprotected slider can keep a home with all-impact windows from the top rating. Our wind mitigation guide explains the levels. Ask your insurer or agent what a change would mean for your premium. We can't tell you that.
My Safe Florida Home
Impact-rated exterior doors and garage doors, with or without glass, are among the opening protection improvements the program lists. Grant funding is limited to openings listed in your Initial Inspection Report, and you don't have to upgrade every opening (My Safe Florida Home support center). See our My Safe Florida Home guide for the current status and steps. HardenScout isn't part of the program.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is the Florida Product Approval or NOA number for each door, and does it cover my opening size and required design pressure?
- Does the quote include the permit, the Notice of Commencement, removal of the old door, and stucco, framing, and trim repair?
- Are the sidelights and transoms impact-rated too?
- Will the invoice show the product cost and the Florida sales tax separately so I can claim the refund?
- What license do you hold, and will you pull the permit in your company's name?
- Will I get the approval documents and final inspection record for my wind mitigation inspection?
Common questions
What makes a door "impact-rated" in Florida?
The door system, meaning the panel, glass, frame, and hardware together, has passed missile impact and cyclic wind pressure testing under standards the Florida Building Code recognizes, such as ASTM E1886 and E1996 or Florida TAS 201, 202, and 203. In practice you confirm it by looking up the product approval: a Florida Product Approval (FL number) or a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA).
Do I need a permit to replace an exterior door in Florida?
Usually, yes. Brevard County, for example, issues a specific permit for installing or replacing exterior doors, windows, garage doors, and shutters on one- and two-family homes, and asks for the product approval and installation instructions for each product. Check with your city or county building department, since requirements vary.
Do impact doors qualify for the Florida sales tax refund?
Yes, if they meet the law's definition. Impact-resistant doors and garage doors are two of the three "home hardening products" in s. 212.08(21), F.S. The owner of an eligible homesteaded, site-built home with a just value of $700,000 or less can apply for a refund of up to $500 of the sales tax paid on qualifying products bought July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
Does an impact door help with a wind mitigation inspection?
It can. The opening protection question on Florida's wind mitigation form (OIR-B1-1802) rates the home by its weakest glazed opening, so an unprotected sliding glass door or glass entry door can hold down the rating even if every window is protected. Solid doors are rated separately. Ask your insurer what any rating change is worth on your policy.
Is a Miami-Dade NOA better than a Florida Product Approval?
Not automatically. Both are product approvals. A statewide Florida approval marked "approved for use in the HVHZ" has been tested to the same High Velocity Hurricane Zone standards as an NOA, according to the Florida Building Commission. What matters for your home is that the product is approved for where you live and for the design pressure your opening needs.
Sources
- Section 212.08(21), Florida Statutes (2026) and Florida Department of Revenue TIP 26A01-09. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Florida Building Commission, Investigation of the Wind-borne Debris Regions in ASCE 7-22 (2025), for the current 8th Edition definition. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Florida Building Code, Section 202 definition of the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, via UpCodes. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Miami-Dade County, Florida Building Code 9th Edition code change notice, and windows, shutters, doors permit requirements. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Rule 61G20-3.001, F.A.C., the Florida Building Commission memo on state approvals and NOAs, and the Florida product approval search. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Brevard County, Residential Doors/Windows/Shutters permit application, and City of Rockledge, Windows, Doors and Shutters requirements. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Rule 61G4-15.100, F.A.C. and s. 489.103, F.S. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26). Checked October 23, 2026.
- My Safe Florida Home, Improvement 1.0, Opening Protection. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Cost estimates (not official, not local): Armor Pro Windows & Doors, impact door cost guide, May 1, 2026, updated Aug 7, 2026; HomeGuide, sliding glass door prices, Feb 5, 2026. Checked October 23, 2026.