Replacing impact windows or doors in Miami-Dade and want the permit fast? You are not alone. The rules are unique here, and a small paperwork miss can stall your project. In this guide, you will learn exactly which approvals you need, the fastest review paths, and how to submit a perfect package that moves through on the first try. Let’s dive in.
Know Miami-Dade requirements
Miami-Dade sits inside Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so products must meet stricter testing and approvals. The county’s Product Control Section issues Notices of Acceptance, known as NOAs, and keeps the official product-approval database for windows, doors, shutters and systems. You can review NOA details and the approval process on the county’s Product Control page. Review the county’s Product Control resources to confirm NOA basics and the product database.
- Products must comply with TAS 201, 202 and 203 protocols or show an NOA that allows HVHZ use. You can read more about debris impact standards and HVHZ testing in the state’s overview of debris impact standards.
- A Florida Product Approval can also work if it explicitly allows HVHZ use and lists limits of use like design pressures and anchorage. The county’s windows and doors page explains how reviewers check these items during review and inspection.
Helpful links:
- Miami-Dade Product Control and NOAs: Product Approval and Product Control
- HVHZ testing basics: Debris Impact Standards and TAS protocols
- County checklist and rules: Windows, Shutters, Doors and Security Bars
Choose compliant products first
The fastest permit starts with the right product. Before you buy, verify:
- The product has a current Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval that allows HVHZ use.
- The approval number is correct and current in the county database.
- The configuration you plan to install matches the approval’s limits of use, including glass type and thickness, mullion sizes and design pressures (psf).
- You have the manufacturer’s installation instructions and the NOA installation details you will follow.
Inspectors compare the design pressures on your plans to the values in the NOA, so show these clearly on your submittal.
Use the fastest permit path
For many residential exact changeouts, Miami-Dade’s FastTrack pathway is your shortest route. It is designed for like-for-like replacements of windows, single-entry doors and garage doors.
What you need for FastTrack:
- Completed building permit application.
- Window and Door Legend tied to floor plan/elevations that marks each opening and lists the product approval numbers.
- Notarized FastTrack Owner/Contractor disclosure.
- Current NOA or Florida Product Approval for every product, including installation details and design pressures.
- Assigned licensed contractor at the time of filing. FastTrack will not accept “to be determined.”
- Proof of ownership and required contact sheet.
Get the full checklist and forms on the county’s Windows, Shutters, Doors and Security Bars page.
Check city programs
If your property is inside a municipality, you may apply through the city instead of the county. Some cities offer express options. For example, the City of Miami’s Homeowner’s Express Review can provide same-day review for eligible non-structural small projects like window placements. Always confirm whether you apply through your city portal or the county portal.
Consider private providers
Florida law allows licensed private providers to perform plan review and inspections. For single-trade work like window and door replacements, statute timelines can significantly compress the government portion of the process. Under F.S. 553.791, single-trade plans can trigger a 5 business day local review window after the private provider submits the affidavit, and inspections follow short statutory timeframes. Learn how this works in Florida Statute 553.791. You must file specific notices and forms with your application when using a private provider.
Submit a perfect package
A complete, accurate submittal is the single best way to avoid corrections and delays. Build your packet using the county checklist:
- Current NOA or Florida Product Approval for every product. Include the exact options you will install and highlight design pressures.
- Window and Door Legend, plus floor plan/elevations that label each opening and list the approval number for that opening.
- Manufacturer installation instructions and the NOA installation details you will follow.
- Structural, engineer-sealed drawings only if you are creating or enlarging openings, or deviating from standard NOA details.
- Notarized FastTrack Owner/Contractor disclosure if using FastTrack.
- HOA or condo approval attestation if required for your community.
- Proof of ownership and the county contact sheet.
Use the county’s checklist and forms here: Windows, Shutters, Doors and Security Bars.
Avoid common delays
Protect your timeline by watching for these frequent issues:
- Missing or expired NOA or incorrect approval numbers on plans.
- Design pressures and glass options not shown on the submittal.
- Treating a new or enlarged opening as a simple replacement without sealed structural drawings.
- FastTrack filings without an assigned contractor or with an incomplete notarized disclosure.
- Missing HOA or condo approval where required.
- Choosing products approved only to ASTM standards without HVHZ approval for Miami-Dade use.
You can prevent most of these with a pre-submittal check using the county’s guidance and checklist linked above.
Know realistic timelines
Plan-review speed depends on scope and completeness. Miami-Dade notes initial review cycles typically range from about 24 hours to 10 business days for standard reviews, with extra time added if corrections are required. See the county’s Plan Review overview for details on timelines and expedited services.
- FastTrack can shorten the process for eligible residential exact changeouts when the packet is complete.
- Municipal express programs, like the City of Miami’s, may offer same-day review for small non-structural projects.
- Private providers can compress government review and inspection steps under statutory timelines. Read F.S. 553.791 to see how the process works and ask your provider about typical turnarounds.
Get help before you file
A short pre-submittal conversation can prevent a full correction cycle. Miami-Dade offers a Homeowner and Small Business Permitting Assistance service to confirm what your counter will require. Book time and prepare your package using the county’s guidance: Homeowner & Small Business Permitting Assistance.
Budget for fees
Permit fees vary by scope and can change. The county posts updates on its Building Permit Fees page, including notices of revisions. Check this page as you budget so fees do not surprise you.
A smoother path to your goals
Whether you are upgrading a Miami-Dade home you plan to sell or improving a new purchase, a compliant, fast permit keeps your project on schedule. If you are moving between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach or Broward, a coordinated plan can help you time improvements and your next move with confidence. If you want a trusted real estate partner to guide the strategy for selling or buying in South Florida and to connect you with reputable resources, reach out to Alicia Adams for a thoughtful, concierge experience.
FAQs
What is a Miami-Dade NOA for impact windows?
- A Notice of Acceptance is the county’s product approval that shows a window or door is approved for specific use in the HVHZ, including limits like design pressures and installation details, as outlined on Miami-Dade’s Product Control and windows and doors pages.
How does FastTrack permitting work for window changeouts?
- FastTrack is a county pathway for residential exact changeouts of windows, single-entry doors and garage doors; it requires a complete packet plus an assigned contractor and a notarized disclosure at filing, using the checklist on the county’s windows and doors page.
Can I get same-day review for impact windows in the City of Miami?
- The City of Miami’s Homeowner’s Express Review can offer same-day review for eligible non-structural small projects like window placements; confirm eligibility and required documents with the city program before you go.
How do private providers speed permits in Miami-Dade?
- Under Florida Statute 553.791, licensed private providers can perform plan review and inspections for single-trade work; once the provider submits the affidavit, the local authority has shortened review windows, and inspections follow statutory timelines.
Which documents prevent delays in a Miami-Dade window permit?
- Include current NOAs or Florida Product Approvals, a Window and Door Legend tied to plans, design pressures and glass options on the drawings, manufacturer installation instructions, any required sealed structural drawings, HOA approval if applicable and all FastTrack forms when using that path.
