Impact Windows & Doors in Fort Lauderdale
Broward County's largest city with diverse residential markets from oceanfront high-rises to established inland neighborhoods. HVHZ-compliant impact installations for every property type and exposure.
Fort Lauderdale is the largest city in Broward County and one of the most diverse residential markets in South Florida. From the oceanfront high-rises along the beach to the single-family neighborhoods of Victoria Park, Rio Vista, and Coral Ridge, and from the Intracoastal waterway estates to the suburban communities west of I-95, Fort Lauderdale encompasses a wide range of home styles, exposures, and impact product requirements. Understanding how these variables interact is essential to selecting the right products and completing a code-compliant installation.
All of Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale, falls within the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) as defined by the Florida Building Code. This means that impact doors and windows installed in Fort Lauderdale must meet the same rigorous testing and product approval standards as those in Miami-Dade County. Products must carry approvals demonstrating compliance with HVHZ large and small missile impact testing, and the installation must follow the approved specifications. While Fort Lauderdale and Broward County have their own permitting processes and building departments, the underlying code requirements for impact product performance are identical to Miami-Dade.
Broward County Permitting: What Makes It Different
While the HVHZ code requirements are the same across Broward and Miami-Dade counties, the permitting process in Fort Lauderdale operates through Broward County's system rather than the Miami-Dade County system that many South Florida contractors are most familiar with. Broward County has its own product approval process that runs parallel to the Miami-Dade NOA system. Products can be approved for use in Broward through a Broward County Notice of Acceptance or by demonstrating equivalency through the Miami-Dade NOA, which is widely accepted in Broward.
The City of Fort Lauderdale Building Department handles permits for residential impact window and door replacements within city limits. Your contractor submits the application through the city's online permitting portal along with product approval documentation, a site plan identifying all openings, and engineering calculations where required. The plan review process evaluates compliance with the Florida Building Code HVHZ provisions, and the timeline is generally comparable to other large South Florida municipalities, typically ranging from five to fifteen business days for standard residential replacements.
Neighborhood Considerations Across Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale's residential neighborhoods vary significantly in their architectural character, wind exposure, and impact product needs. Here is how the city's most prominent residential areas align with product selection:
Salt Air Exposure Along the Coast
Fort Lauderdale's seven miles of Atlantic beachfront and extensive Intracoastal Waterway system mean that a large percentage of the city's residential properties are exposed to salt-laden air. The corrosive effects of salt are not limited to oceanfront homes. Properties along the Intracoastal, the New River, and the canal systems throughout the eastern part of the city all experience elevated salt exposure that accelerates the deterioration of inferior frame finishes and hardware.
For coastal and waterfront Fort Lauderdale properties, insist on impact products with marine-grade aluminum frames and AAMA 2605 powder coatings. Hardware components should be stainless steel rather than zinc-plated. Even with premium materials, a regular maintenance routine of fresh water rinsing at least monthly is important to prevent salt buildup in tracks, weep holes, and around hardware that can degrade performance over time. Properties further inland, west of the Intracoastal, face reduced salt exposure and have more flexibility in frame material selection, with both aluminum and high-quality vinyl being viable options.
Insurance Savings and Investment Considerations
Fort Lauderdale homeowners benefit from the same Florida wind mitigation insurance credit program available throughout the HVHZ. When all glazed openings in a home are protected with impact-rated products, the property qualifies for maximum wind mitigation credits that can significantly reduce the windstorm portion of the annual insurance premium. Given Fort Lauderdale's proximity to the coast, the potential savings from full impact protection are meaningful and contribute directly to the return on investment.
The Fort Lauderdale real estate market increasingly expects impact windows and doors as a baseline feature in quality homes. Properties with full impact protection sell more readily and command stronger prices than comparable homes relying on hurricane shutters or no protection at all. For buyers evaluating homes in Victoria Park, Rio Vista, or Coral Ridge, the presence of impact products signals a well-maintained home and eliminates a major capital expense the buyer would otherwise need to plan for. For a comprehensive breakdown of typical costs by product type and home size, see our cost guide.
Get a Free Estimate in Fort Lauderdale
National Glass serves Fort Lauderdale and all of Broward County. Contact us for a free, no-obligation estimate on impact doors and windows for your home.