Quick answer: in Florida, buy shutters by their approval number, not their marketing. Look up the FL number on the state’s Florida Building Code Online site, check that it covers your wall type and opening size, and, in Miami-Dade or Broward, that it’s approved for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone.
Florida’s product approval system is public: an approved shutter has an FL number, and the approval documents can be looked up on the state’s Florida Building Code Online site [1]. That matters because hurricanes here are not hypothetical: Hurricane Irma came ashore in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm in 2017, and in the Middle and Lower Keys most homes were badly damaged or destroyed [2].
At a glance
- Where to check approvals
- Florida Building Code Online, Product Approval [1]
- High Velocity Hurricane Zone
- Miami-Dade and Broward counties [6]
- Irma's Florida landfall
- Florida Keys, Category 4, 2017 [2]
- Storm tides can reach
- 20 feet or more [3]
- Leading cause of hurricane deaths
- Storm surge [3]
How we chose
- A Florida approval you can look up (FL number) or, where noted, the maker’s impact-test claim with a pointer to its approval documents [1][4][5][6].
- Do-it-yourself friendly, with published installation instructions.
- Recall check: no CPSC recalls found for these brands (checked 2026-11-02) [7].
Our picks
Best for: Miami-Dade and Broward homes with concrete block walls
Storm-Busters Clearview 16 mm Polycarbonate Storm Panel
Its Florida evaluation covers both the High Velocity Hurricane Zone and the rest of the state, and the maker is in Melbourne, Florida. Clear panels mean you're not sitting in the dark.
- Product evaluation report 2108 for FL 15877, HVHZ and non-HVHZ, under the 2023 (8th edition) Florida Building Code [4]
- Panelmate studs drilled 3 inches into concrete or block [8]
- 4 inches of overlap on every side of the opening [8]
Safety check: Florida product evaluation by a licensed professional engineer (FL 15877). No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Storm-Busters says the buyer must confirm the installation meets local codes. The instructions are written for masonry walls.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Large picture windows where you want daylight
Palram StormLite Multiwall Polycarbonate Hurricane Shutter
Comes in full 4 x 8 ft sheets with a 10-year warranty and holds both a Florida approval and a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance.
- 16 mm triple-wall polycarbonate, 4 x 8 ft [5]
- Florida Building Code FL 8947 [5]
- Miami-Dade NOA 17-0830-09 [5]
- 60% light transmission [5]
Safety check: Florida and Miami-Dade approvals per Palram. No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Mounting hardware isn't on the product page; follow Palram's installation guide and the approval's limits.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Sliding glass doors and lanai openings
Hurricane Fabric AstroGuard
A fabric panel instead of rigid sheets, which can make wide openings easier to cover. DIY kits come with the hardware.
- Resin-coated ballistic nylon [6]
- Large Missile Impact Test rating, per Hurricane Fabric [6]
- Rated A-1 for the Florida wind mitigation inspection form, per Hurricane Fabric [6]
- DIY kits include clips, anchors and bits [6]
Safety check: Impact rating as claimed by Hurricane Fabric; its FAQ points to downloadable approval PDFs by state rather than listing numbers. No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Light gets through, but you can't see out. Get the approval PDF for your county before buying.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Homes outside Miami-Dade and Broward that want a view
Hurricane Fabric AstroFlex
See-through polypropylene fabric with the same large-missile claim, for the rest of Florida.
- Polypropylene fabric, reinforced seamed edge [6]
- Large Missile Impact Test rating, per Hurricane Fabric [6]
Safety check: Impact rating as claimed by Hurricane Fabric. No CPSC recall found (checked 2026-11-02).
Watch out: Not allowed in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward), per Hurricane Fabric [6].
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Buying guide
- Look up the FL number on the Florida Building Code Online product approval site and open the approval documents [1].
- Match the approval to your house: opening size, wall type (block, wood frame) and wind zone.
- Install anchors before the season, then label and store each panel flat [8].
- Keep the paperwork for each opening: the approval document and the product label.
Sources
- Florida Building Code Online (DBPR): Product Approval
- NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Irma (AL112017)
- NOAA National Hurricane Center: Storm Surge Overview
- Florida Building Code Online: Product Evaluation Report 2108, Storm Busters 16MM Clearview (FL 15877)
- Palram: StormLite Multiwall Polycarbonate Hurricane Shutters
- Hurricane Fabric: Frequently Asked Questions
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls database
- Storm-Busters: Clearview installation instructions
Common questions
What is a Florida product approval number?
It's the FL number given to a product approved under the Florida Building Code. You can look it up on the state's Florida Building Code Online product approval site to see the approval documents and the limits they cover.
What is the High Velocity Hurricane Zone?
A wind zone in the Florida Building Code that covers Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Some shutter products, such as AstroFlex, aren't allowed in it, so check before you buy if you live in either county.
Do I need a permit to install hurricane shutters in Florida?
Ask your city or county building department before you drill permanent anchors, and keep the product's approval document for the inspector.