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Hurricane-rated windows & doors · Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach
The High-Velocity Hurricane Zone covers only Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Inside it, a window or door needs an approval rated for HVHZ use -- a Miami-Dade NOA, or a Florida Product Approval specifically listed for HVHZ.
NOA vs. Florida Product Approval
A Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) is issued by Miami-Dade County's own Product Control Section after testing to Miami-Dade's protocols, and it is accepted for use in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) -- Miami-Dade and Broward counties only. A Florida Product Approval (an "FL" number) is issued through the statewide system at floridabuilding.org and is valid anywhere in Florida, but inside the HVHZ it only counts if that specific FL# is listed as rated for HVHZ use. A generic statewide approval that is not HVHZ-listed does not meet code for an opening in Miami-Dade or Broward.
Miami-Dade and Broward are the only Florida counties in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone under FBC 1609.1.1.
Issued by the county's Product Control Section after testing to Miami-Dade's own protocols.
Issued through floridabuilding.org; valid everywhere, but only for HVHZ if listed as HVHZ-rated.
Ask for the current NOA or HVHZ-listed FL# number for the exact product going into your home, not a brochure claim.
Two counties, not all of South Florida
The HVHZ is not "South Florida" in general -- it is a specific, narrower designation. Florida Building Code 1609.1.1 sets the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone as Miami-Dade County and Broward County only. Palm Beach County and the rest of the state fall outside the HVHZ and use the standard statewide wind-load provisions instead.
That distinction matters because it decides which approval an exterior opening -- a window, door, or shutter -- needs to carry before it can be installed and pass inspection.
How they differ
It depends on the county, not the product brand
If the project is in Miami-Dade or Broward County, every exterior opening needs an approval rated for HVHZ use -- either a current Miami-Dade NOA, or a Florida Product Approval that is specifically listed as valid for HVHZ. A window or door that only carries a generic statewide FL# approval, with no HVHZ listing, does not satisfy that requirement.
If the project is in Palm Beach County or elsewhere outside the HVHZ, a standard statewide Florida Product Approval is the normal path, and a Miami-Dade NOA (which also satisfies the statewide standard) works as well. Either way, the approval has to match the exact product -- its size, configuration, and design pressure rating -- not just the product family.
Interactive checklist
Check off what you have already confirmed. What is left unchecked is worth asking the contractor or supplier before signing.
Our process
Elbaz Construction holds Florida license CBC1265280, a certified building contractor license, and installs hurricane-rated window and door systems across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. On every HVHZ project we confirm the specific NOA or HVHZ-listed approval for the products going in before they are ordered, and that number goes on the permit set, not just the proposal.
Tell us about your project and we will confirm which approval path applies before you commit to a product.
Completed impact window and door installations
These are certified photographs of completed Elbaz Construction impact window and door installations across South Florida. Tap a photo to enlarge.
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Questions
Rules vary by address and scope. For your property, call 754-236-0675.
Only Miami-Dade and Broward counties, under Florida Building Code 1609.1.1. Palm Beach County and the rest of Florida are outside the HVHZ and use the standard statewide wind-load provisions.
No. A Miami-Dade NOA is issued by Miami-Dade County's own Product Control Section after testing to the county's protocols. A Florida Product Approval (FL#) is issued through the statewide system at floridabuilding.org. An NOA is valid for HVHZ use; an FL# only counts in the HVHZ if that specific approval is listed as HVHZ-rated.
Only if that specific FL# is listed as approved for HVHZ use. A generic statewide approval with no HVHZ listing does not satisfy the requirement for an exterior opening in Miami-Dade or Broward.
No. Palm Beach County is outside the HVHZ, so a standard statewide Florida Product Approval is the normal path there. A Miami-Dade NOA also works, since it meets the statewide standard too.
Both Miami-Dade NOAs and Florida Product Approvals carry expiration and renewal dates. Ask for the current approval number for the exact product and size being installed, and confirm it has not expired before it goes on the permit application.
Your details are with the Elbaz Construction team and we will come back to you, usually the same or next working day. If it is urgent, call (754) 236-0675.
Keep reading
ServiceHurricane-rated window systemsHow Elbaz installs impact-rated windows and doors across South Florida.GuideWhole-home renovationHow a full renovation is sequenced, permitted, and budgeted.GuidePermit guide: three countiesWhich parts of a remodel need a permit in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.Sources
General information about Florida Building Code and product-approval requirements as of November 2026, not legal or engineering advice. Confirm the current approval number and HVHZ listing for your specific product with your contractor and local building department before permitting.
Planning impact windows or doors?
We check the current NOA or HVHZ-listed approval for the specific windows and doors going into your home, in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, before they are ordered.
