Protect the building. Prepare the people.
Hurricane protection includes shutters, impact-resistant windows and exterior doors, and the building maintenance that helps keep wind and rain outside. A shutter that cannot close, a loose anchor, or a neglected roof deserves attention well before an approaching storm.
In Century Village West Palm Beach, begin with your own association’s documents and specifications. A neighboring association’s approval is not approval for your building.
Choose protection that fits the building and the resident
| Option | Questions to ask before choosing |
|---|---|
| Accordion or roll-down shutters | Can the resident operate and lock them? What happens if a motor fails or power is out? Who services tracks, locks, and hardware? |
| Removable storm panels | Where will panels be stored and labeled? Who can safely lift and install them? Are all fasteners available? |
| Impact-resistant windows and doors | Does the exact approved assembly suit this opening and building? Who maintains seals, frames, and operating hardware? |
| Other approved systems | Does the proposed fabric, shutter, or other system meet the applicable requirements for its particular installation? |
Request the product approval and installation instructions. Palm Beach County’s product-approval guidance covers windows, exterior doors, shutters, and roofing. Ask the contractor and permitting authority to confirm suitability for the actual opening, height, attachment, and building conditions.
“Impact-resistant” is a performance description to verify, not a substitute for checking the product and installation. Ordinary glass, insect screens, and window film should not be assumed to provide approved hurricane protection.
What must the board do?
Under Florida Statutes §718.113(5), boards must adopt code-compliant hurricane-protection specifications for each building, potentially including style and color. This applies regardless of the condominium’s age.
Association installation or an owner-installation requirement generally needs approval by a majority of voting interests. Exceptions apply when the declaration assigns the association responsibility for protection or protected exterior openings, or already requires owners to install protection. An owner-installation vote has recording and delivery requirements.
Conforming owner installations cannot be refused where approval is required, although a unified appearance may be required. Existing compliant protection of the same type generally cannot be replaced compulsorily unless its useful life has ended or replacement is necessary to prevent damage. Work under this subsection is not a material alteration.
Unless the declaration provides otherwise, owners do not bear removal/reinstallation costs needed for association-responsible maintenance. Association operation of owner protection without permission is limited to necessary property preservation or protection.
A practical installation roadmap
- Document the need. Inventory openings, existing systems, operating problems, and photographs. Ask a qualified professional about deteriorated framing or attachments.
- Clarify the proposal. Specify the exact product, appearance, scope, installation method, warranty, and responsibility for future service.
- Arrange approvals and funding. Present a written proposal, obtain the required decisions, and explain the budget and payment arrangements before committing.
- Verify the contractor and permits. Check the appropriate license and insurance. Ask Palm Beach County Building Division which permits and inspections the specific work requires. Association approval and a building permit serve different purposes.
- Close out the job. Retain permit completion, inspection records, product approvals, warranties, invoices, and operating instructions. Arrange a demonstration for the resident.
Better boards plan ahead. Better preparation protects everyone.
A preseason maintenance checklist
Use this suggested checklist with the manufacturer’s instructions and your association’s maintenance plan.
Shutters, windows & doors
- Test opening, closing, and locking before storm season.
- Look for corrosion, loose parts, damaged tracks, and missing panel hardware.
- Have damaged anchors, frames, glass, or attachments assessed professionally.
- Keep instructions and any emergency manual-operation tools accessible.
- Ask a professional how to preserve required exits when deploying protection.
The whole building
- Schedule roof, flashing, and drainage checks by qualified personnel.
- Address water intrusion and deterioration promptly.
- Review balconies, exterior fixtures, and loose outdoor objects.
- Record deficiencies, assign responsibility, and confirm completion.
- Coordinate protection work with roof, painting, and exterior repair projects.
Residents should not climb roofs or ladders to inspect or install protection. Arrange qualified assistance.
A plan that works for older and seasonal residents
Ask each owner to identify who will deploy the protection, how that person will gain authorized access, and how completion will be confirmed. Arrange assistance early for residents who cannot lift panels, reach locks, or operate a heavy shutter. Do not rely on a neighbor who may also evacuate.
Seasonal owners should leave current contact information and written arrangements with a reliable local service or representative. Boards can circulate reminders and recommended deadlines while defining the association’s actual services clearly.
Ask the insurer what documentation it needs to evaluate any potential wind-mitigation credit. Do not promise a discount or assume that one protected opening qualifies the entire building.
Official resources & related reading
- Florida hurricane-protection statute — §718.113(5)
- Palm Beach County product-approval guidance
- Florida Product Approval — find a product or application
- Palm Beach County Permit Center · 561-233-5100
Reviewed October 17, 2026. Educational guidance; project requirements depend on current law, building conditions, and the association’s governing documents. Consult qualified professionals for your project.
Keep a deployment and maintenance register
For each location or opening, identify the protection type, approved specification, responsible party, operating instructions, service needs, and authorized deployment contact. Record who will assist absent owners or residents who cannot operate the system safely.
- Test operation early enough to arrange repairs before a storm threat.
- Track missing hardware, corrosion, access problems, and professional recommendations.
- Confirm required exit access and safe work limits with qualified guidance.
- Retain product, permit, final-inspection, and warranty records after installation.
Coordinate with unit alteration procedures and permits. A readiness checklist does not establish authority to enter a unit, charge an owner, or require a replacement; review the applicable law and declaration.
Connected emergency and community resources
Authority matters: Florida law establishes statutory duties; governing documents define association authority subject to law; contractual duties come from applicable agreements. UCO procedures address separate UCO functions. The added registers and workflows are Board Synergy recommended practices, not official emergency orders or prescribed statutory forms.