✳ Sarasota pricing guide · Hurricane shutters

What do hurricane shutters cost in Sarasota?

Most homeowners spend about $2,000 to $8,000 to protect the whole house, according to national cost data. Simple storm panels start at $5–$15 per square foot installed. Accordion shutters run $15–$25, manual roll-downs $20–$50, and motorized roll-downs $50–$175 per square foot. We couldn't find published Sarasota-specific shutter prices, so these ranges are national. The local factors that move them are below.

Impact windows are the premium answer to storm protection, and our windows & doors pricing guide covers them. Shutters are the other answer: usually far cheaper up front, and they count as opening protection for insurance. Here's what each type costs and what to watch for around here.

Typical prices (national ranges, installed)

Aluminum or steel storm panels	$5–$15 per sq ft · $35–$105 per 24×42 window
Clear polycarbonate panels	$10–$20 per sq ft · $70–$140 per 24×42 window
Fabric storm screens (removable)	$5–$15 per sq ft · $35–$105 per 24×42 window
Accordion shutters	$15–$25 per sq ft · $105–$175 per 24×42 window
Bahama or colonial shutters	$20–$50 per sq ft · $140–$350 per 24×42 window
Manual roll-down shutters	$20–$50 per sq ft · $140–$350 per 24×42 window
Motorized roll-down shutters	$50–$175 per sq ft · $350–$1,225 per 24×42 window
Stainless steel mesh storm screens	$85–$150 per sq ft · $595–$1,050 per 24×42 window
Whole-house, typical range	$2,000–$8,000 (avg. ~$4,700)

Figures are from HomeGuide's 2026 shutter guide. Fixr's data lands in the same place: $2,500 to $8,000, averaging about $5,200 for accordion shutters on a 2,500 sq ft single-story home. It runs as high as $15,000 for custom roll-downs on a two-story house. The only number that counts is the written quote.

What moves the price

Type and how fast you want to deploy. Panels are the cheapest, but someone has to put them up before every storm and store them the rest of the year. Accordion and roll-down shutters stay on the house and close in minutes.

Number and size of openings. Sliding glass doors and lanai openings are big, and big openings cost more. HomeGuide puts patio-door shutters at $10–$55 per square foot. Odd shapes and second-floor windows add custom work and ladder time. Fixr says custom sizes add 10% to 20%.

Motors and wiring. Motorized roll-downs need an electrician for the switches. HomeGuide puts that at $40–$100 an hour. Ask for a battery backup or a manual crank, because the power is usually out when you need them.

Timing. Installers book up from June through November. HomeGuide notes that installation can cost less outside hurricane season. Order in spring.

Sarasota and Manatee notes

Permits apply. Permanent shutters are permitted work in Florida. HomeGuide puts permits at $50–$200 and Fixr at $45–$140. Sarasota County's permit guidelines list hurricane shutters — all types — as work that requires a permit, and motorized units need an electric permit on top of that. A real quote includes the permit and the final inspection, and that paperwork is what your insurer will ask for.

Use the product approval, not the sales pitch. Shutters should carry Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA for the size being installed. Sarasota and Manatee are outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward), but coastal homes here can still fall under the building code's wind-borne debris requirements. The installer or the county building office can tell you which rating your address needs. HomeGuide is clear that window film isn't an approved form of hurricane protection in Florida, whatever the brochure says.

Insurance credits are the law. Florida Statute §627.0629 requires insurers to offer discounts for opening protection, among other wind-mitigation features. To claim it, you'll need a wind mitigation inspection after the install. The credit varies by insurer, so ask your agent which opening-protection rating they need before you choose a product.

There may be grant money. My Safe Florida Home, run by the state Department of Financial Services, offers free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants. The grant pays $2 for every $1 you spend, up to $10,000, for recommended improvements, and opening protection is one of the eligible improvements. There are conditions. The home's original permit has to predate 2008, the insured value has to be $700,000 or less, and the grants are prioritized by income and age. The grant only covers the openings the program's inspector recommends. Check before you sign a contract.

HOAs can't just say no. Under Florida's 2024 HOA law (§720.3035), accordion, roll-down and fixed shutters and polycarbonate panels all count as hurricane protection. HOAs have to publish specifications and can't deny an application that meets them. They can require a uniform color or style, so get the specs first.

Salt air. Near the water, aluminum tracks and hardware corrode and stick. Ask what the finish is, whether the fasteners are stainless, and what the yearly service includes.

How to pick a pro

Hire a licensed contractor who pulls the permit and gives you the product approval numbers in writing. Ask:

What is the Florida Product Approval or NOA number for each shutter on this quote?
Does the price include the permit, the final inspection, and the hardware for every opening?
What's the lead time from deposit to install, and what's the deposit?
For motorized units, what's the backup if the power is out?

Red flags

Be wary of a big deposit with no fabrication date, and of a quote with no product approval numbers. Be equally wary of a door-to-door pitch the week a storm is named. Shutters ordered then won't be on your house in time anyway.

Common questions

How much do hurricane shutters cost for a whole house?

National data puts most whole-house jobs at about $2,000 to $8,000. Plywood or panel setups sit below that, and motorized roll-downs on large or two-story homes can reach $15,000. Your number depends on the type and how many openings you have.

Are shutters cheaper than impact windows?

Usually, by a lot. HomeGuide puts most shutters at $35–$350 per window installed. Impact windows cost far more. Our windows & doors guide has the local ranges. Impact windows add more resale value and need no deployment.

Do hurricane shutters lower my insurance in Florida?

They can. Florida law requires insurers to offer credits for opening protection. You'll need a wind mitigation inspection after a permitted install, and the amount varies by insurer.

Can my HOA ban hurricane shutters?

Not if they meet the HOA's published specifications. Florida's 2024 law requires HOAs to adopt hurricane protection specifications and approve conforming applications. They can still regulate color and style.

Do I need a permit for shutters in Sarasota?

For permanently installed shutters, yes. Your contractor should pull the permit and schedule the final inspection, and that paperwork supports your insurance credit.

Can I get a grant for shutters?

Possibly. My Safe Florida Home offers matching grants up to $10,000 for recommended opening protection on eligible homes built before 2008. Start with their free inspection.

Ready to call?

Every pro on our windows & doors page lists a real phone number: tap it and you reach the business itself. No forms, no middleman, no lead fees. Most are window and door installers, so ask whether they install shutters before you book a quote.

Browse 14 windows & doors pros

Sources

Guide updated October 2026. Prices are national planning ranges from the sources above, not quotes. Every pro sets their own prices.