TL;DR: After a Florida window or door project is inspected and approved, the permit moves to a closed or finaled status in the local building department's records. That record is permanent and public. You should retain the permit card, final inspection sign-off, and product approval documents because they matter for wind mitigation reports, insurance credits, and future property sales.
What You Need
Before walking through the closeout sequence, gather these items so you can verify each stage:
- The permit number issued at the start of the project
- Contact information for your local building department (municipality or county, depending on your jurisdiction in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, or St. Lucie counties)
- Copies of any product approvals or Notices of Acceptance referenced on the permit
- The contractor's name and license number, which should appear on the permit application
If your contractor handled permitting, ask them for copies before the project officially closes. Retrieving documents after the fact is possible but takes more time.
Step 1: Final Inspection Is Requested
Once all windows and doors are installed, the licensed contractor is responsible for scheduling a final inspection with the building department. In Florida, no permit can close without at least one inspection confirming the work meets the approved plans and applicable Florida Building Code provisions.
For impact window and door projects, inspectors typically verify that the installed units match the product approvals listed on the permit, that anchoring meets the engineered drawings, and that any required waterproofing or flashing conditions are addressed. The specific checklist varies by jurisdiction.
If the inspector finds deficiencies, a correction notice is issued and a re-inspection must be scheduled before the permit can close. This is normal and does not indicate a failed project permanently.
Step 2: Inspector Approves and Signs Off
When the inspector approves the installation, they record the approval in the building department's system. In many South Florida jurisdictions this is now done electronically. The permit status changes from "active" or "open" to "final" or "closed" in the public record.
Some jurisdictions also issue a physical inspection card notation or a digital record that the homeowner or contractor can download. Ask for a copy at this stage.
Step 3: The Permit Becomes a Permanent Public Record
Closed permits in Florida are retained as permanent public records by the local building department. Anyone, including a future buyer, real estate agent, or insurer, can search the permit history for your property address.
A properly closed permit signals that the work was code-compliant at the time of installation. An open or expired permit, on the other hand, can complicate a property sale, delay a wind mitigation inspection, or raise questions during an insurance underwriting review.
If you are unsure whether a prior contractor closed a permit on your property, you can search your municipality or county building department's online portal, or call their records desk directly.
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Step 4: Collect and File Your Closeout Documents
After the permit closes, assemble a physical and digital file with the following:
- Permit application and permit card showing the permit number, scope of work, contractor license, and jurisdiction.
- Final inspection record confirming approval date and inspector notation.
- Product approval documentation, including any Florida Product Approval (FL number) or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) that applied to your specific windows or doors.
- Approved shop drawings or installation diagrams if they were part of the permit package.
- Manufacturer warranty documentation for the installed units.
Store copies in at least two locations, such as a home filing cabinet and a cloud folder. These documents support wind mitigation inspections, which may affect homeowner insurance premiums in Florida depending on your carrier and policy terms. See also 9 details to review before approving window shop drawings for context on what those drawings contain.
Step 5: Request a Wind Mitigation Inspection If You Have Not Already
A wind mitigation inspection is a separate process from the building permit, performed by a licensed inspector or engineer. The inspector reviews your windows, doors, roof, and other features and completes a standardized form (OIR-B1-1802) that your insurer uses to calculate wind premium credits.
Closed permit documentation, product approval numbers, and installation records directly support the wind mitigation inspector's findings. Without them, the inspector may be unable to confirm the impact rating of your openings, which may reduce or eliminate any wind mitigation credit you might otherwise qualify for, subject to your carrier's review.
Schedule this inspection after the building permit closes and your contractor has provided all documentation. If you are planning a window replacement or windows and doors replacement project and have not yet started, ask your contractor at the estimate stage how they handle documentation handoff at closeout.
Common Mistakes
Assuming the permit closes automatically. Permits do not close themselves. If a final inspection is never scheduled, the permit remains open or eventually expires as abandoned, which creates a cloud on your property record. Confirm closure with your contractor and verify it in the building department portal.
Discarding the permit card after construction. Some homeowners treat the posted permit card as job-site paperwork and throw it away at cleanup. That card contains the permit number and scope description, both useful for future reference.
Confusing inspection approval with project warranty. A passed inspection confirms code compliance on the day of inspection. It is not a manufacturer warranty or a contractor workmanship guarantee. Keep warranty documents separately.
Not verifying the contractor's license on the permit. Florida requires that the contractor of record hold the appropriate license for the scope of work. If your permit lists an unlicensed individual, the permit may be invalid regardless of inspection status. You can verify licenses at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website.
Waiting too long to request documents. Building departments retain records, but locating older documents can take weeks. Request copies from your contractor before they close out the job and demobilize.
Bottom Line
A closed permit is a permanent, searchable record that confirms your impact window or door installation was inspected and approved under the Florida Building Code. Your job after closeout is to collect the permit record, final inspection approval, and product documentation, and keep them accessible. Those documents support the wind mitigation inspector's findings, which may qualify the property for wind mitigation credits depending on the insurer and policy terms, as well as future sale disclosures and any re-inspection that might occur years later.
If you are starting a new project and want to understand how permitting fits into the overall installation process, request an estimate and ask your contractor to walk through the permit and documentation workflow for your specific jurisdiction.
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Request a written estimate that identifies the quoted assembly, opening, design pressure, product approval, exposure, installation scope, and applicable project requirements.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Florida building department keep closed permit records?
Florida public records law generally requires local governments to retain building permit records permanently or for very long retention periods, though exact schedules vary by jurisdiction. As a practical matter, most South Florida county and municipal portals show permit history going back at least 10 to 20 years online. For older records, a written public records request to the building department is the standard method.
Can an open or expired window permit affect a home sale in Florida?
Yes. A buyer's title search or pre-closing inspection often reveals open or expired permits, which can delay or complicate closing. The seller or their contractor typically must resolve the open permit, either by completing the required inspection or by applying for a permit revision, before the sale can proceed without a contractual carve-out.
What if my contractor never scheduled a final inspection and has since gone out of business?
You would need to contact the local building department directly. In some cases the department will allow a homeowner to convert the permit to an owner-builder permit to complete the inspection process, though requirements vary by jurisdiction and project scope. A currently licensed contractor may also be able to assume the permit, but that requires that contractor's agreement and the department's approval.
Do closed permits show up on a wind mitigation inspection automatically?
No. A wind mitigation inspector will look for physical evidence of impact-rated openings and may ask to see supporting documentation. Having your closed permit number, product approval FL numbers or NOA references, and inspection records available during that inspection helps the inspector make accurate findings that may support a wind mitigation credit, subject to your carrier's review and policy terms.