A city built on canals

Lighthouse Point is a small city in northeast Broward County, about two and a half square miles, with Hillsboro Beach just across the Intracoastal Waterway. Most of the city was built along canals dug in the 1950s and 1960s, which is why so many homes here have water out back and a boat at the dock, with ocean access through the Hillsboro Inlet.

That layout shapes the work. The rear elevation of a canal-front house is usually where the largest glass is: sliding doors to the pool deck, a wall of windows toward the dock. Those openings face open water and take the most wind, so they get the closest attention when we size products.

HVHZ rules apply to every opening

Broward County is one of only two counties in Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. In Lighthouse Point, every window and door we install is approved for HVHZ use, usually documented with a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). An impact product approved only for use outside the HVHZ cannot be permitted here.

Each opening is matched to an approved product rated for its size and its design pressure. Waterfront elevations, corners, and second floors typically see higher pressures than the street side of the same house, so one home can call for more than one product configuration.

Permitting with the City of Lighthouse Point

The City of Lighthouse Point requires a building permit to replace windows, doors, garage doors, and front doors. The city treats retrofit work (a new unit in the same size and location) differently from openings that change size or move, and the application requirements differ between the two. We tell you early which category your project falls into, because enlarging an opening for a wider slider is a different scope from a straight replacement.

We prepare the application with the opening schedule and product approvals, submit it to the city’s Building Department, respond to plan review, and schedule inspections. You can follow each step in your client portal.

Condos and associations

If you live in a condominium or a community with an association, expect to need its approval before replacing exterior windows or doors. Get the association’s specifications for frame color, glass, and product type, and we will design to them.

What we install in Lighthouse Point

• Impact windows, including architectural and oversized glass for water-facing rooms
• Sliding glass doors and folding doors to the pool and dock
• Entry doors, pivot doors, and French doors
• Glass railings and balconies
• Frameless showers and other interior glass

Salt air is hard on hardware and finishes, so on canal and Intracoastal homes we specify frames, finishes, and fasteners for coastal exposure. Nearby, we also work in Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach.

Lighthouse Point questions

Do I need a permit to replace windows in Lighthouse Point?

Yes. The city requires a permit to replace windows and exterior doors, including garage and front doors. We prepare and submit it for you.

Can I make a window opening bigger for a sliding door?

Often, yes, but it is no longer a like-for-like retrofit. Changing the size or location of an opening has different permit requirements and may involve structural work, so we scope it as its own item from the start.

Do products need a Miami-Dade NOA?

Lighthouse Point is in Broward County, inside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so products must be approved for HVHZ use. That is usually shown with a Miami-Dade NOA, which we include with the permit application.