Fact-checked October 17, 2026

Florida Building Code for impact windows: the 2026 guide

What the code requires for impact windows today (8th Edition, 2023), what changes when the 9th Edition takes effect December 31, 2026, what is not law, and what to verify before you order or permit a window project.

Effective date

December 31, 2026

Current edition

8th Edition (2023)

Best next step

Verify the specific permit

The short answer

Florida's official code resources identify the 9th Edition (2026), and the Commission's schedule identifies December 31, 2026 as its effective date. Until then, the 8th Edition (2023) remains the statewide code edition.

The edition date alone does not tell you which window is legal for a particular opening. The local building department reviews the permit using the property's location, wind design, exposure, building type, opening size, installation details and exact product approval.

Do not choose a product from a broad marketing claim such as “code approved.” Match the exact model, dimensions, glass, frame, anchoring and design pressure to its Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance.

The rules in force today (8th Edition, 2023)

Florida Building Code for impact windows: HVHZ vs. wind-borne debris region

The Florida Building Code does not have one impact-window rule for the whole state. It has two regimes, and the address decides which one applies. Confirm the code edition and section numbers that govern your permit with the building department, especially for permits filed close to December 31, 2026.

Requirement	High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ)	Wind-borne debris region outside the HVHZ
Where	Miami-Dade and Broward counties	Areas within 1 mile of the coast where the ultimate design wind speed is 130 mph or more, and anywhere it is 140 mph or more — for example Palm Beach County
Design wind speed	FBC §1620.2, Risk Category II: 175 mph in Miami-Dade, 170 mph in Broward	From the FBC wind speed maps (ASCE 7) for the site; counties publish parcel lookups
Opening protection	FBC §1626: envelope components pass large-missile testing (TAS 201/203) up to 30 ft above grade and small-missile testing above 30 ft, or are protected by an approved external device	FBC §1609.1.2 and FBC-Residential R301.2.1.2: glazed openings impact-resistant or protected by an impact-resistant covering (ASTM E1996/E1886, TAS 201/202/203 or AAMA 506); large missile within 30 ft of grade
Product approval	A current product approval explicitly approved for HVHZ — either a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or a Florida Product Approval listed as "Approved for use in HVHZ: Yes"	A current Florida Product Approval covering the product and configuration being installed

NOA vs. FL#: the two approval routes

Under section 553.842, Florida Statutes, windows, exterior doors and impact protective systems need a product approval. A Florida Product Approval (an “FL#”) is issued through the statewide system under Rule 61G20-3 and can be looked up on floridabuilding.org. A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) comes from Miami-Dade County's Product Control Division, which the statute names as an approved evaluation entity. Either way, the approval covers specific sizes, glass, anchoring and design pressures — not a brand. Inside the HVHZ, an FL# must be listed as approved for HVHZ use.

The permit is where the code is enforced

Replacing windows or exterior doors takes a building permit from the city or county building department. The application typically includes a window and door schedule, the approval documents with the applicable options marked, and the wind-load design pressures for each opening. A recorded Notice of Commencement is required when the job value exceeds $5,000. Inspectors check the anchoring before it is concealed, and the final inspection closes the permit. Our impact window installation guide walks through each step.

Sources: Florida Building Code, Building, 8th Edition (2023), Sections 1601.1, 1609.1.2, 1620.2 and 1626; Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Section R301.2.1.2; section 553.842, Florida Statutes; Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building, Wind Speed Maps page (wind-borne debris region definition); City of Miramar Windows & Doors Application Package (REV 12/2024). Accessed October 17, 2026.

Replacing only some of your windows?

This guide covers the Florida Building Code requirements for impact windows as a whole: wind zones, testing and product approvals. If your question is how many windows you can replace before the rest of the code applies to your project, that is the partial repair and replacement threshold, explained separately in our guide to the Florida 25% rule for window replacement.

Confirmed vs. misunderstood

Four facts that prevent expensive mistakes

The effective date is confirmed

Florida Building Commission materials list December 31, 2026 for the 9th Edition. Always confirm how a permit already in process will be treated by the local authority.

HB 911 did not become law

The 2026 bill proposing new impact-resistant requirements for certain multifamily and hotel buildings died in committee on March 13, 2026. It must not be described as an enacted requirement.

Existing windows are not all ordered replaced

A code-edition change is not a statewide replacement mandate. A permit, alteration, damage repair or defined project scope can trigger requirements; the facts of the project matter.

Approval is configuration-specific

An NOA or Florida Product Approval applies to documented configurations and limits. Brand name alone does not establish compliance for every size, glass option or installation.

Before you buy: permit-ready checklist

1Measure the rough opening and confirm the proposed unit size.
2Get the required positive and negative design pressures for each opening.
3Match the exact product configuration to a current NOA or Florida Product Approval.
4Confirm the frame, glass, mullions, anchors and substrate are covered.
5Ask the local building department which code edition applies to the permit.
6Keep the approval documents and installation instructions with the permit package.

Plan around the project, not a scare tactic

Need product help before the code changes?

In-stock products can shorten procurement time. Factory-made products typically take 4–8 weeks. In either path, compliance still depends on the exact approval and permit—not on how fast the product arrives.

Important

This guide is general information, not a permit decision or legal advice. The authority having jurisdiction and the approved construction documents control each project.

Frequently asked questions

When does Florida's 9th Edition Building Code take effect?

The Florida Building Commission lists December 31, 2026 as the effective date for the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code. Confirm the edition that applies to a specific permit with the local building department before ordering products.

Does the new code automatically require every Florida homeowner to replace existing windows?

No. A new code edition does not create a blanket order for every homeowner to replace existing windows. Requirements depend on the project, permit date, location, building type, wind design and the scope of work.

Did HB 911 become law in 2026?

No. Florida legislative records show that HB 911 died in the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee on March 13, 2026. Its proposed multifamily and hotel requirements should not be presented as enacted law.

What does the Florida Building Code require for impact windows?

It depends on the wind zone. In the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone — Miami-Dade and Broward counties — FBC Section 1620.2 sets Risk Category II design wind speeds of 175 mph (Miami-Dade) and 170 mph (Broward), Section 1626 requires large-missile impact testing (TAS 201/203) up to 30 feet above grade and small-missile testing above that, and each product needs a current product approval explicitly approved for HVHZ — either a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or a Florida Product Approval listed as "Approved for use in HVHZ: Yes". Elsewhere in the wind-borne debris region (for example Palm Beach County), FBC Section 1609.1.2 and Residential Section R301.2.1.2 require glazed openings to be impact-resistant or protected by an impact-resistant covering tested to ASTM E1996/E1886 (or TAS 201/202/203 or AAMA 506), with the large-missile test within 30 feet of grade, and the product needs a current Florida Product Approval. Every window and exterior door needs a product approval under section 553.842, Florida Statutes, and a building permit.

What should I verify before buying impact windows?

Verify the opening size, design pressure, product approval or Miami-Dade NOA, installation method, permit requirements and whether the approval is valid for the exact product configuration. A licensed contractor or local building department can confirm project-specific requirements.