Contractors · 8 min read
What to look for in a hurricane shutter contractor
Licensing, insurance, permits, deposits, and the specific red flags that show up in Florida shutter contracts.
License first, everything else second
In Florida, shutter and impact-window work requires either a Certified or Registered Contractor license. Verify it yourself at MyFloridaLicense.com — don't take a contractor's word, and don't trust a screenshot. Specialty Structure Contractor (SCC) or General Contractor (CGC) are the most common qualifying licenses. Handymen and unlicensed crews routinely advertise this work; their installs won't pass inspection and won't earn insurance credits.
Insurance and bonding
Ask for current Certificates of Insurance for general liability ($1M minimum) and workers' comp. Have them emailed directly from the insurer's portal, not forwarded from the contractor. If a worker is hurt on your property and the contractor lacks comp, you're the next deep pocket.
Permits are non-negotiable
Shutter and impact-window installs always require a permit in Florida — there is no "too small" exception. The contractor pulls the permit in their name, not yours. If they ask you to pull it as an "owner-builder," they're shifting liability and probably aren't properly licensed for the work.
Deposit limits
Florida law caps residential roofing and shutter deposits at 10% of contract value (or $1,000, whichever is less) for many specialty contractors. Custom-fabricated products can justify higher deposits, but anything above 30% before measurement should trigger questions. Never pay the full balance until permit is closed.
Red flags in the contract
Watch for: blank product model fields, missing NOA/FL approval numbers, no permit responsibility clause, no warranty terms in writing, AOB (assignment of benefits) clauses for insurance work, and any language allowing the contractor to substitute products without your approval. A clean Florida shutter contract is usually 4–8 pages, not one.