Before hiring an impact window contractor in Florida, verify the active license on the DBPR website, get proof of liability and workers compensation insurance, confirm the products carry a Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval valid in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, and confirm the contractor pulls the permit, handles engineering, and schedules the final inspection.
- Look up the license yourself on myfloridalicense.com - do not accept a number read out over the phone.
- Hollywood is in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so every window and door needs an approval valid for that zone.
- The contractor should pull the permit under their own license and close it with the final inspection.
- Get the scope, payment schedule and change-order terms in a written contract before any deposit.
- Ask who prepares the engineering and who handles lien releases at the end of the job.
1. Start with the license - and verify it yourself
Anyone installing impact windows in Florida needs an active state license, and you can check it in about two minutes. Search the company name or license number on the Florida DBPR portal at myfloridalicense.com.
Look at three things: the status (it should read active), the license type, and the name on the license. A CGC number means a certified general contractor; glazing and specialty licenses exist too. What matters is that the name on the license matches the company on your proposal and on the permit.
Green Contractors FL, for example, is a family-owned licensed and insured general contractor under CGC1535102, working out of 4624 Hollywood Blvd #203 in Hollywood.
2. Ask for insurance certificates, not reassurance
Window replacement involves heavy glass, ladders and open walls. Ask for documents, not verbal promises.
- General liability insurance covering damage to your home during the work.
- Workers compensation for the crew that will be on your property.
- A certificate that comes from the insurance agent, with current dates on it.
If a contractor hesitates at this request, that answer is your answer.
3. Check the product approval numbers, not just the brand
Broward and Miami-Dade counties sit inside the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) of the Florida Building Code, the strictest wind standard in the state. Hollywood homes are in that zone, so the products themselves must be approved for it.
Before you sign, ask for:
- The Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval (FL) number for each product being installed.
- The design pressure ratings assigned to your specific openings, not a generic brochure figure.
- Confirmation that the glass is large missile impact rated laminated glass.
- Who prepares the engineering and window schedule that the building department reviews.
This matters most on wide openings. A patio slider or a front entry carries different loads than a bedroom window, which is why impact windows and doors are specified opening by opening, and why impact doors often need their own approval documents.
4. Find out who pulls the permit - and who closes it
Replacing windows and doors in South Florida is permitted work. A licensed contractor pulls that permit under their own license, schedules inspections, and closes the permit out at the end.
Two things to confirm in writing: that the contractor files the permit application and that they handle the final inspection. An open permit can resurface years later when you sell or refinance.
Green Contractors FL handles the permitting, the engineering and the final county inspection as part of the job, which is the arrangement you want in place before any materials are ordered.
- You are asked to pull an owner-builder permit for work a crew will perform.
- The license number belongs to a different company than the one on your contract.
- A large cash deposit is requested with no written scope or payment schedule.
- No NOA or FL approval numbers can be produced for the products quoted.
- Pressure to sign the same day before you have read the contract.
5. Read the contract and the payment terms
Under Florida law, a contractor who collects more than 10% of the contract price as a deposit must apply for the permits within 30 days and begin work within 90 days of the permits being issued. Use that as your benchmark when a deposit is requested.
Your contract should spell out:
- Scope per opening: sizes, product series, glass type, frame color and finish.
- What is included: removal and disposal of old units, caulking, stucco and interior patching.
- Payment schedule tied to milestones such as permit issuance, delivery and installation.
- Change orders in writing before extra work happens.
- Lien releases at final payment, along with the Notice of Commencement process.
- Lead times, since impact units are built to order and permits take time.
6. Look at the local track record
Local matters here because the HVHZ paperwork and each city building department have their own rhythm. Check that the company has a real local address, read recent reviews, and ask whether they have worked in your neighborhood.
Green Contractors FL holds 5.0 stars from 44 Google reviews and does impact windows and doors installation in Hollywood as well as nearby Hallandale Beach, Dania Beach, Davie and Fort Lauderdale.
7. Ask the insurance and financing questions early
After the permit is closed, a wind mitigation inspection (form OIR-B1-1802) documents your new openings for your insurer. Ask your own insurance carrier which credits apply to your policy before you budget around any savings.
On cost, ask what financing the contractor actually participates in. Green Contractors FL offers a free in-home consultation and 100% financing, no money down, including PACE financing, with approval decided by the lender. If you are comparing full-home projects, the hurricane windows page explains how openings are grouped into one permit.
Your pre-hire checklist
Keep this table next to the proposals you are comparing - it lines up each item with where you confirm it and what a clean answer looks like.
| What to verify | Where you check it | What you want to see |
|---|---|---|
| License | myfloridalicense.com | Active status, name matching your contract |
| Insurance | Certificate from the insurance agent | General liability and workers compensation, current dates |
| Product approval | NOA or FL number on the proposal | Valid in the HVHZ, large missile impact rated glass |
| Design pressures | Engineering and window schedule | Ratings assigned opening by opening |
| Permit | Permit application and contract | Contractor as applicant, final inspection included |
| Deposit and payments | Written contract | Milestone schedule, 10% deposit rule as your benchmark |
| Closeout | Final payment paperwork | Lien releases, closed permit, wind mitigation inspection |
- License verified as active on myfloridalicense.com, name matching the contract.
- Liability and workers compensation certificates received from the agent.
- NOA or FL approval numbers and design pressures provided per opening.
- Contractor named as the permit applicant, with the final inspection included.
- Written contract with scope, payment milestones and change-order terms.
- Lien release process confirmed for final payment.
- Realistic lead time and installation window in writing.
Ready to compare a quote that checks every box
If you want a proposal that already includes the license, the product approvals, the engineering and the permit, call Green Contractors FL at (786) 519-0391 or request a free in-home consultation. A family-owned team will measure your openings in Hollywood and put the numbers in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a Florida impact window contractor is licensed?
Search the company name or license number on the Florida DBPR portal at myfloridalicense.com and confirm the license is active and matches the name on your contract. Green Contractors FL is licensed and insured under CGC1535102.
Does the contractor need to pull the permit for impact windows?
Yes - window and door replacement is permitted work, and a licensed contractor should apply for the permit under their own license. Being asked to pull an owner-builder permit for crew-installed work is a red flag.
What product approval should impact windows have in Hollywood, FL?
Hollywood is in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so each window and door needs a Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval valid in that zone, with design pressures matched to your specific openings.
How much of a deposit is normal in Florida?
Under Florida law, a contractor who takes more than 10% of the contract price as a deposit must apply for permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days of permit issuance. Always get the payment schedule in writing.
Will new impact windows change my homeowners insurance?
A wind mitigation inspection (form OIR-B1-1802) documents your new impact openings for your insurer. Ask your own carrier which credits apply to your policy before budgeting around them.