Miami-Dade County, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Shutters (2026)

8425. A manufacturer or installer without a state Building Commission approval can instead apply to the Building and Neighborhood Compliance Department for a local product approval, submitting plant methods, personnel, equipment, and control procedures for review; once granted, that approval is "valid countywide" under Section 8-40(a)(4), covering both the incorporated municipalities and the Unincorporated Municipal Service Area. On the retail side, Section 8A-6 treats selling shutters without disclosure as an unlawful, deceptive trade practice. Retailers must post a sign within 100 feet of the sales area quoting the county's required language, which states plainly that shutters became subject to impact and wind load tests on September 1, 1994, that some products for sale may not meet those tests, and that the installation of shutters requires a permit from the buyer's building department.

The same disclosure must appear in the retail sales contract, shutters that have not passed the tests must be separately labeled as such, and compliant products must come with a copy of the Office of Building Code Compliance's letter of acceptance. The County Manager can sue for injunctive relief plus costs and attorneys' fees to enforce Section 8A-6.