Roll-down hurricane shutters in Florida: how they compare, code, costs, and credits
The short version
- Roll-down shutters live in a box above the opening and come down by crank or motor. They are the fastest permanent shutter to close and usually the most expensive.
- Like any shutter used for code or insurance credit, they need a Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA, and installing them usually needs a permit.
- 2026 published estimates: roughly $20 to $50 per square foot manual and $50 to $175 electric (HomeGuide), or $25 to $60 (Angi, Tampa). Accordion shutters run about $15 to $30 and storm panels about $5 to $20.
- Motorized shutters need a battery backup or manual override for power outages.
- Shutters can earn wind mitigation opening protection credit, but they do not qualify for the sales tax refund.
Roll-down vs. accordion vs. panels
| Roll-down | Accordion | Storm panels | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Slats roll into a box above the opening; lowered by crank or motor | Folding blades stack beside the opening and slide across on tracks | Aluminum or steel panels stored off the house and bolted or slid into tracks before a storm |
| Time to close | Fastest, often a switch or a few turns per opening | Fast, done by hand at each opening | Slowest; panels have to be carried, lifted, and fastened |
| Storage | None, stays on the house | None, stays on the house | Needs garage or shed space |
| Look when open | Box above the opening | Stacked blades and tracks on both sides | Tracks or anchors only |
| Installed cost per sq ft (2026 estimates) | $20 to $50 manual, $50 to $175 electric (HomeGuide); $25 to $60 (Angi Tampa) | $15 to $25 (HomeGuide); $15 to $30 (Angi Tampa) | $5 to $20 (HomeGuide); $10 to $20 (Angi Tampa) |
Roll-downs make the most sense where speed and convenience matter: wide sliders and lanai openings, second-story windows you can't safely reach with a panel, or an owner who travels during hurricane season. Accordions cost less and still stay on the house. Panels are the budget choice if you have storage and the time and strength to put them up.
If you're weighing shutters against impact glass, see our impact doors guide. Shutters protect only when closed. Impact glass is always on, which matters if you're away when a storm turns.
Code and product approval
In Florida's wind-borne debris regions, exterior glazed openings must be protected from debris, either by impact-rated products or by approved coverings such as shutters (Florida Building Code, Residential, R301.2.1.2, as quoted by the City of Rockledge). Under the current 8th Edition (2023) code, those regions are areas within 1 mile of the coast where the design wind speed is 130 mph or more, plus anywhere it's 140 mph or more (Florida Building Commission report). The 9th Edition takes effect December 31, 2026 (Miami-Dade notice).
Shutters and other impact protective systems are on the list of products that need state or local approval in Florida (Rule 61G20-3.001, F.A.C.). Ask for the Florida Product Approval (FL) number and look it up in the state product approval search. The approval tells you the maximum size and design pressure, how the shutter has to be anchored, and whether it's approved for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward). A shutter installed outside its approval limits may not pass inspection or count on a wind mitigation report.
Permit basics
Brevard County requires a permit to install hurricane shutters on one- and two-family homes. Its application asks for the product approval and the manufacturer's installation instructions, a floor plan showing where each shutter goes, and a recorded Notice of Commencement if the job is over $5,000 (Brevard County permit page, checked October 23, 2026). Cities run their own building departments, so check with the one for your address. Rockledge, for example, accepts non-impact windows and doors when the opening has shutters or other approved protection (Rockledge requirements sheet).
Brevard lists storm shutter, window and door, glass and glazing, and several other contractor types as able to pull this permit. Look up any contractor's state license at MyFloridaLicense.com. Motorized shutters add wiring, so ask who will do the electrical work and under which license.
What they cost
These are published estimates, not local quotes. Size, opening count, manual vs. motor, slat material, design pressure, and access (second story, stucco work) all move the price.
| Estimate | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manual roll-down, per sq ft | $20 to $50 | HomeGuide (national) |
| Electric roll-down, per sq ft | $50 to $175 | HomeGuide (national) |
| Roll-down, per sq ft | $25 to $60 | Angi, Tampa, updated Mar 19, 2026 |
| Typical whole shutter job, any type | $1,845 to $5,491 (average $3,595) | Angi, Tampa |
| Permit fees | $150 to $200 (Angi, national); $50 to $200 (HomeGuide) | Angi, HomeGuide |
For a rough feel: a common 24 by 42 inch window is about 7 square feet, so at $25 to $60 per square foot a roll-down over that window is roughly $175 to $420. A wide sliding door is several of those in one opening. Brevard County's own permit fees for this work start at a $25 application fee plus a $75 plan review fee for the first $1,000 of job value and $3.25 per additional $1,000 (Brevard County).
Power outages and getting out
Storms knock out power, often before you've closed up. HomeGuide notes that electric roll-down shutters should include a battery backup or a manual crank. Confirm which one you're getting, where the crank lives, and that each person in the house knows how to use it.
Shutters also affect how you get out in an emergency. The Florida Building Code lets covers sit over bedroom escape windows only if they can be released or removed from inside without a key, tool, or special knowledge (R310.4, as quoted by Miami-Dade County). A Florida Building Commission binding interpretation allows shutters to be closed over exits during the threat of a storm as long as the home still has a means of escape (Petition 50, issued under an earlier code edition). In practice, plan to keep at least one way out you can open from inside, and ask your installer about inside release options for bedroom windows.
Wind mitigation, My Safe Florida Home, and the tax refund
| Program | Do roll-down shutters count? |
|---|---|
| Wind mitigation inspection (insurance credits) | Yes, if rated and covering the openings. The form rates opening protection by the weakest glazed opening (OIR-B1-1802). Keep the product approval and permit records for your inspector. See our wind mitigation guide. |
| My Safe Florida Home grants | Shutters are an allowed opening protection improvement when your inspection report lists the opening. The program won't pay to swap compliant shutters for impact windows (program support center). See our My Safe Florida Home guide. |
| Sales tax refund, s. 212.08(21) | No. The law covers impact-resistant windows, doors, and garage doors, not shutters (statute; TIP 26A01-09). See our sales tax refund guide. |
Ask your insurer or agent what a better opening protection rating would mean for your premium. We can't tell you that.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is the Florida Product Approval number, and does it cover each opening's size and design pressure?
- Manual or motor? If motor, is there a battery backup or a manual override, and is it included in the price?
- Who does the electrical work, and is it in the permit?
- Does the price include the permit, Notice of Commencement, and any stucco or trim repair?
- How will we get out if the shutters are closed and the power is off?
- Will I get the approval documents and final inspection record for my wind mitigation inspection?
- What does the warranty cover on the motor, slats, and installation, and for how long?
Common questions
Can I open electric roll-down shutters when the power is out?
Only if the system has a way to. Motorized roll-down shutters should come with a battery backup or a manual override such as a hand crank, according to HomeGuide's 2026 cost guide. Ask which one your quote includes, and make sure at least one way out of the house is not blocked by a shutter you can't open from inside.
Do hurricane shutters qualify for Florida's new sales tax refund?
No. The refund in s. 212.08(21), F.S. covers impact-resistant windows, impact-resistant doors, and impact-resistant garage doors. The Florida Department of Revenue's guidance (TIP 26A01-09) does not include shutters. If you want the refund, it applies to impact windows and doors, not to shutters over existing glass.
Do shutters count for a wind mitigation discount?
They can. The opening protection section of Florida's wind mitigation form (OIR-B1-1802) accepts shutters as well as impact glass, as long as they are rated and cover the openings. The home is rated by its weakest glazed opening, so every glass opening has to be covered to get the best rating. Your insurer decides what any rating is worth.
Do I need a permit to install roll-down shutters?
In most places, yes. Brevard County, for example, requires a permit to install hurricane shutters on one- and two-family homes and asks for the product approval and installation instructions. Motorized shutters may also need electrical work by a licensed contractor. Check with the building department for your address.
Sources
- Florida Building Commission, Investigation of the Wind-borne Debris Regions in ASCE 7-22 (2025). Checked October 23, 2026.
- Miami-Dade County, Florida Building Code 9th Edition notice and security bar installation brochure (R310.4 text). Checked October 23, 2026.
- Florida Building Commission, Binding Interpretation, Petition 50 (R310.4, storm shutters over exits). Checked October 23, 2026.
- Rule 61G20-3.001, F.A.C. and the Florida product approval search. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Brevard County, Residential Doors/Windows/Shutters permit application, and City of Rockledge, Windows, Doors and Shutters requirements. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Section 212.08(21), Florida Statutes (2026) and Florida Department of Revenue TIP 26A01-09. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26). Checked October 23, 2026.
- My Safe Florida Home, Improvement 1.0, Opening Protection. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Cost estimates (not official): HomeGuide, hurricane shutters cost, Feb 5, 2026; Angi, hurricane shutter costs in Tampa, Mar 19, 2026; Angi, hurricane shutters cost guide, 2026. Checked October 23, 2026.