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PermitRoadmap

Do I need a permit for window or exterior door replacement in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County?

Permit may be required

It depends. Whether window or exterior door replacement needs a permit in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County comes down to the details of your project.

Replacing windows or exterior doors, including garage doors, generally requires a permit in Florida even when the new unit is the same size, because the opening must meet current wind-load requirements. Each product must carry a valid Florida Product Approval, or a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance in High-Velocity Hurricane Zones. A few jurisdictions allow narrow same-size, glass-only exceptions.

Get the checklist for your window or exterior door replacement in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County. A free check first, then a free printable Permit Prep Pack.

Local detail for Unincorporated Miami-Dade County: Permits for unincorporated Miami-Dade County are handled by the county RER Building Division. Additional RER office at Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, 11th Floor, Miami, FL 33128 (305-375-2877).

Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Miami-Dade County

Like-for-like replacement usually does not waive the permit in Florida. The product approval must match the wind-load rating for your specific address. Replacement windows and doors must be impact rated, or protected by approved shutters, and must carry product approval documentation for HVHZ use. A unit that is fine elsewhere in Florida can be rejected here. Miami-Dade County's Notice of Acceptance, the NOA, is the product approval most commonly demanded here, and contractors are expected to supply the NOA number with the application. Your city issues the permit, not the county. Miami-Dade County's own building department serves the unincorporated area, while each municipality runs its own building department, and the county Board of Rules and Appeals interprets the code across all of them. Replacing a whole window assembly, or a door together with its frame, requires a permit. Replacing only window glass panes, or exterior door slabs without the frame, is exempt under the county's minor repair list. The county's HB 803 page lists windows and doors as structural work that always requires a permit, even for projects under $7,500. Cutting a new opening or blocking one up needs a building permit using the county's standard opening details or sealed drawings.

Documents you may need

  • Permit applicationLikely required
  • Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA for each unitLikely required
  • Window and door layout or opening scheduleSometimes required
  • Notice of commencement (for work over the statutory value)Sometimes required
  • Product approval or Notice of Acceptance documentation for HVHZ rated materialsSometimes required
  • Building Permit Application (yellow form), Category 82 and/or 83 for windows and glass doors or Category 104 for exterior doorsLikely required
  • Elevation of each wall showing the units being replaced with sizes and product approval numbersLikely required
  • Current Notice of Acceptance for each window, door, or mullionLikely required

Possible inspections

  • In-progress fastening and flashing inspection
  • Final inspection
  • Buck and fastener or installation inspection

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for window or exterior door replacement in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County?
It depends. Whether window or exterior door replacement needs a permit in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County comes down to the details of your project. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
Who issues the permit in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County?
The local building department for Unincorporated Miami-Dade County handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.

PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.