Is Lee County in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone?
No. Lee falls under the standard code path, sized to the ASCE map its LDC adopts.
What wind speed applies to my Lee County home?
160 mph for most of the county; Sanibel and a strip of Bonita Springs along the Gulf are 170 mph.
Does every Lee home need protected openings?
Yes, or approved shutters. Lee's code maps the whole county as a wind-borne debris region.
Which cities need turtle glass?
Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, and Bonita Springs' barrier island require tinted glass at 45% VT or lower where seen from the beach.
How hard did Ian hit Lee County?
The NHC counts 5,369 structures destroyed and 14,245 with major damage, with 36 of the 41 U.S. surge deaths in Lee.
Hurricane windows or impact windows: any difference?
Same thing. Whatever it is called, a Lee permit needs the unit's approval number.
Who pulls the Lee permit?
We do. Each city, town, and village has its own portal: EnerGov, CityView, iWorQ, Gov-easy, or a city form.
How do I find the wind speed for my address?
The Property Appraiser's GIS layer shows the Risk Category II speed for each parcel. We read it before sizing.
Large or small missile test for Lee glass?
ASTM E1996 splits it by height. A ground-floor Cape Coral slider takes the large-missile test; a seventh-floor Fort Myers Beach condo window takes the small one.
Does Lee accept a Florida Product Approval?
Yes, every Lee permit desk takes a state approval number, and a Miami-Dade NOA works too if its size and pressure fit the opening.
Do Lee impact doors swing out?
Hinged ones swing outward. Our hinged impact doors (French and entry doors) swing out. Sliding glass doors and garage doors don't swing.
What do impact doors cost in Lee?
One French door: $2,800–$4,000. A French pair: $3,800–$7,000. Two-panel sliders: $2,500–$3,500, adding $600–$800 for every extra panel.
Do Lee insurers discount impact windows?
§627.0629 requires carriers to file mitigation credits. After we finish, a licensed inspector completes the 1802 form you send your agent.
Is My Safe Florida Home taking applications?
Its help page said so on October 20, 2026. Lee owners begin with a free home assessment; grants go as high as $10,000.
May a Lee association veto impact glass?
Boards in Cape Coral or Bonita may require a frame color or style. State law keeps them from refusing protection that meets code.
When does Lee need a notice of commencement?
State law requires a notice of commencement over $5,000. Cape Coral's checklist still lists $2,500, so we record one whenever the city asks.
