Hurricane Window Installers: 12 Checks Before You Sign

The 12 Pre-Signing Checks for Hurricane Window Installers

1. Check 1: License Type Covers Window Work — Ask the installer exactly which license they hold. Per the DBPR CILB FAQ, window installation requires a general, building, or residential contractor license, or a local license that specifically includes window installation in its scope. A certified glass and glazing specialty contractor also qualifies. If the installer holds only a painting or handyman license, they are not authorized for this work under Florida law. Ask to see the physical license card before the conversation goes any further.
2. Check 2: Verify the License on DBPR and Check for Complaints — Seeing a license card is not enough, verify it yourself. Visit the Florida DBPR contractor lookup and search the license number. Confirm the license is active, not expired or suspended, and that it matches the contractor's name. The DBPR also lets you view complaint history. An active license with no disciplinary action is the baseline. Do this step yourself; do not rely on a screenshot the installer provides.
3. Check 3: License Number on Proposal, Contract, and Vehicle — Florida DBPR CILB rules require every registered or certified contractor to include their license number on any building permit application, offer of service, business proposal, bid, contract, advertisement, sign, and on any vehicle displaying the contractor's name. If the written estimate you received does not show a license number, that is a red flag on its own. Ask the installer to correct it before you proceed. A contractor who is proud of their license will have no objection.
4. Check 4: Liability Insurance Minimums and Workers' Comp — General and building contractors must carry at least $300,000 in liability insurance and $50,000 in property damage insurance. Other contractor categories must carry at least $100,000 in liability and $25,000 in property damage. All active licensees must also maintain workers' compensation coverage or a valid exemption. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as an additional insured for the duration of the project. Without workers' comp, an injured crew member on your property can become your legal problem.
5. Check 5: Contractor Pulls the Permit, Not You — A licensed hurricane window installer must pull the building permit in their own name. DBPR warning signs include an installer who suggests the permit is not necessary or that it's cheaper if you obtain it yourself. If you pull the permit as an owner-builder under Florida Statute 489.103(7), you take on direct, onsite supervisory responsibility for all non-licensed work and must personally sign the permit application. That shifts enormous legal liability to you. Learn more about what the permit process involves in our Broward County impact window permit guide.
6. Check 6: Product Approval Paperwork and the Marketing Rule — Florida Statute 553.842(5) prohibits marketing any window as hurricane, windstorm, or impact protection unless it carries a valid Florida product approval or a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). Ask your installer for the product approval number for every window being installed. You can look it up on the Florida Building Commission database. Our guide on Florida product approval vs. Miami-Dade NOA explains the difference between these two designations and what each one covers for your specific county.
7. Check 7: Deposit Size and the 30/90-Day Rule — Florida Statute 489.126 states that a contractor who receives more than 10 percent of the contract price as an initial payment must apply for permits within 30 days and begin work within 90 days after permits are issued, absent just cause or a written agreement for a longer period. DBPR also identifies wanting all or most of the money upfront as a warning sign of an unlicensed or unscrupulous contractor. Keep your initial payment at or below 10 percent whenever possible, and get the permit application timeline in writing.
8. Check 8: Lien-Law Notice in the Contract — Florida Statute 713.015 requires that direct residential contracts over $2,500 include the Construction Lien Law notice. This notice informs you that suppliers and subcontractors who are not paid by your contractor can place a lien on your home, even if you already paid the contractor in full. Read this notice carefully. It must appear in the contract itself, not just as a verbal disclosure. If it is missing, ask the contractor to add it before you sign. An installer who is unfamiliar with this requirement is a concern.
9. Check 9: Lien Releases Before Final Payment — Even with the lien-law notice in your contract, you remain exposed until you collect signed lien releases from every party who served a Notice to Owner, including subcontractors and material suppliers. Florida Statute 713.015 specifically recommends requiring a written release of lien from anyone who served a Notice to Owner before any payment is made. Make collecting these releases a condition of your final check. For a deeper look at how professional impact window installation is structured from permit to closeout, see our overview of the full process.
10. Check 10: Recovery Fund Notice in the Contract — Florida Statute 489.1425 requires residential contracts over $2,500 to include a statement about the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund. This fund provides limited compensation to homeowners harmed by the actions of a licensed contractor. If the notice is missing, the DBPR can fine the contractor up to $500 for a first violation and $1,000 per subsequent violation. More importantly for you, its absence signals that the contractor is not well-versed in Florida law, which raises questions about the rest of the job.
11. Check 11: 3-Day Cancellation Right If Signed at Home — If a hurricane window installer visits your home and you sign the contract there rather than at their place of business, Florida Statute 501.025 gives you the right to cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing. This is your legal cooling-off period. The contractor is required to tell you about this right, and the contract must contain cancellation instructions. If the installer pressures you to waive this right or rushes you past this clause, take that as a serious red flag and use the 3-day window to reassess.
12. Check 12: Pre-1978 Home: Lead-Safe Certification — The EPA identifies window replacement as a common activity that creates hazardous lead dust and paint chips in homes built before 1978. The EPA recommends that owners of these homes hire a lead-safe certified contractor under the Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program. Ask any installer working on an older South Florida home, whether in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, to confirm their RRP certification before work begins. Exposure during installation can affect your family and the crew.