So you’ve done some research into impact window prices. You’ve looked at the different options and even gotten quotes from a few different impact window installation companies. There’s just one problem: You have to get your new windows approved by the HOA you live in, and you know they’re going to be difficult about it (when aren’t they difficult about anything?).
But here’s the question you have: Can your HOA actually block you from installing new impact-rated windows and doors for your home so it’s protected from the next big storm? While in previous years they could, that is no longer the case.
Since the passing of the Florida House Bill 293, which was approved by the Governor in May of 2024, Homeowner’s Associations are no longer permitted to prevent the installation of hurricane protective measures.
What Is Florida House Bill 293, and What Does It Have to Do with Impact Window Installation?
Florida House Bill 293 was a piece of legislation put before the Florida House and Senate that requires HOAs to “adopt hurricane protection specifications; requires such specifications conform to applicable building codes; prohibits board or committee of association from denying application for installation, enhancement, or replacement of certain hurricane protections; authorizes requirement to adhere to certain guidelines regarding external appearance of structure or improvement on parcel.”
In short, the express purpose of the bill was to codify into law a requirement for HOAs to allow homeowners to install hurricane impact protection, such as hurricane windows. So no, an HOA cannot outright block you from installing impact windows. However, they can set limitations on your new windows.
What Restrictions CAN an HOA Put on My Impact Windows?
While your HOA cannot outright stop you from installing new impact windows, their rights to control, as noted in the Florida Statutes subsection 720.3035: “shall be permitted only to the extent that the authority is specifically stated or reasonably inferred as to such location, size, type, or appearance in the declaration of covenants or other published guidelines and standards authorized by the declaration of covenants.”
To oversimplify this, and we aren’t lawyers, the HOA is required to spell out what their restrictions for hurricane protective measures are in their declaration of covenants document, that restriction can’t simply be ‘impact windows aren’t allowed,’ but rather in the nature of the style of protection appearance-wise such as the color of the window, window glass, and use of window grids or other aesthetic features.
Of course, this control only applies so long as said restrictions don’t violate local building code ordinances. An HOA couldn’t prohibit, for example, the use of Turtle Glass if you lived in an area where Turtle Glass is required because your home is located near a wildlife nesting area.
What Happens if My HOA Doesn’t Have Published Standards for Impact Windows?
The new rules requiring that HOA codify their hurricane impact protection limitations have been in place for two years now. So, your HOA should have published rules you can look at to determine if the impact windows you want to install will meet them or not.
If you cannot find these rules, it may be necessary to contact your HOA and ask them for a copy of their regulations for installing impact windows pursuant to The 2025 Florida Statutes Subsection 720.3035: Architectural Control Covenants; Parcel Owner Improvements; Rights and Privileges.
It may just be that the rules are difficult to find. If they haven’t published formal rules yet, try working with your HOA to hammer out some guidelines you can follow to ensure that your new impact windows are HOA/deed restriction compliant and bring your HOA into compliance with the Florida Statutes.
If the HOA tries to block you from getting impact windows arbitrarily without providing an avenue for choosing ones of the right color and style to match their deed restrictions, ask for clarification on the reasons for the denial, document all of your communications with your HOA, and reach out to an attorney specializing in property rights or HOA-adjacent litigation. It may also help to reach out to the authorities to report the violation of your rights as a homeowner.
What Requirements Must a Window Meet to Be Impact-Rated?
To be compliant with the Florida Building Code (FBC) windows openings in wind-borne debris regions (WBDs) a window must be constructed to be able to pass large missile impact testing standards such as Large Missile Impact Test D, which is used to certify windows for high velocity hurricane zones.
Windows that are unable to pass the large and small missile impact tests mandated by your local building codes are not sufficient to protect the home from common hurricane conditions and cannot be considered impact-rated, even if they have on-paper stats that would match those of a certified impact window.
That’s why it’s important to work with reputable impact window installers who know the products on the market and only install real impact-rated windows that have gone through thorough testing.
Get Impact Window Installation from a Reliable Source!
Need new impact windows that you can count on to protect your home for decades to come? Reach out to Karoly Windows & Doors!
We won’t just provide you with top-class impact windows, we’ll install them expertly and help you deal with your HOA to get deed restriction-compliant impact windows so you’re more likely to get the rubber stamp on your windows than the runaround!
Request a quote today to get started!
