Palm Beach County, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Shutters (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- $50,000+ permit, $750,000+ home value
- Applies to
- New site-built single-family homes
- Zone
- Wind-borne debris region only
- Effective
- Permits applied on/after July 1, 2008
- Enforced by
- PBC Building Division / Code Enforcement
Summary
Unincorporated Palm Beach County requires impact-rated shutters or glazing on new site-built single-family homes worth $750,000+ in the wind-borne debris region under the county's Florida Building Code amendments.
105.15 Opening protection. When any activity requiring a building permit that is applied for on or after July 1, 2008, and for which the estimated cost is $50,000 or more for a site built single-family detached residential structure that is located in the wind borne debris region as defined in this Code and that has an insured value of $750,000 or more, or, if the site built single-family detached residential structure is uninsured or for which documentation of insured value is not presented, has a just valuation for the structure for purposes of ad valorem taxation of $750,000 or more; opening protections as required within this Code or Florida Building Code, Residential for new construction shall be provided.
Full Breakdown
For any building permit applied for on or after July 1, 2008, opening protection (shutters or impact-rated glazing) is mandatory for a site-built single-family detached home in the wind-borne debris region if the permitted work costs $50,000 or more and the home's insured value is $750,000 or more (or, if uninsured, its ad valorem just valuation is $750,000 or more). Homes below that valuation, or outside the wind-borne debris region, are not subject to this specific trigger, though the Florida Building Code's own baseline wind provisions still apply statewide.
Violations & Fines
Building Division will not approve plans or issue the permit without compliant opening protection specified; work proceeding without an approved permit is subject to stop-work orders and code enforcement action by Palm Beach County Code Enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Palm Beach County home need hurricane shutters?
What counts as opening protection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida hurricane preparedness overview
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