Escambia County, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Shutters (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger date
- Permits applied for on/after July 1, 2008
- Cost threshold
- $50,000.00 or more
- Insured value threshold
- $750,000.00 or more
- Roof-only work
- Excluded from the requirement
- Inspection check
- Plan match + manufacturer instructions, Sec. 14-186
- Penalty for violation
- 2x the applicable permit fee
Summary
High-value new construction in Escambia County's wind-borne debris region must include hurricane opening protection under Sec. 14-126: permits applied for on or after July 1, 2008 for a site-built single-family home costing $50,000.00 or more, insured for $750,000.00 or more, must provide code-required shutters or impact protection for every opening.
When any activity requiring a building permit, not including roof covering replacement or repair work associated with the prevention of degradation of the residence, that is applied for on or after July 1, 2008, and for which the estimated cost is $50,000.00 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 $750,000.00 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 $750,000.00 or more; opening protections as required within this Code or Florida Building Code, Residential for new construction shall be provided.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 00 or more). Once those thresholds are met, the opening protections required by the county's code or the Florida Building Code, Residential, for new construction must be provided; there's a carve-out for single-family homes permitted strictly under the Florida Building Code, which are not required to comply with this particular section. Sec. 14-186 covers how installed protection gets checked: where impact-resistant coverings or systems are installed to meet code requirements, the building official schedules inspections to confirm the system shown on the plans was actually installed and that it was installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and its product approval.
The same confirmation step appears in the swimming pool and general inspection sequence at Sec. 14-173(a)(12), which requires the permit holder to schedule an inspection of any impact-resistant coverings or systems installed on the job, checked against the same two points: plan conformance and manufacturer installation instructions.
Violations & Fines
Installing opening protection, or any other work regulated by the code, in a manner that doesn't conform to the approved construction documents or the manufacturer's product approval is a code violation under Sec. 14-211, subject to a notice of violation ordering correction under Sec. 14-212. Sec. 14-213 lets the county attorney sue to restrain or correct the violation if it isn't promptly fixed, and Sec. 14-214 fixes the penalty at two times the applicable permit fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which homes in Escambia County must have hurricane shutters or impact protection?
Does re-roofing trigger the hurricane shutter requirement?
How does the county confirm hurricane shutters were installed correctly?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Escambia County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Escambia County to another location·View the Florida hurricane preparedness overview
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