🪟 Window / Door Replacement
Replacing existing windows or exterior doors in the same opening (in-kind swap).
Permit requirements for Window / Door Replacement differ by state and city. The table below summarizes the rule in each covered state — open a state for full detail, fees, and official sources.
| State | Permit? | Authority | Typical fee | Timeline | Go / No-Go | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often Over-the-Counter. | SF: same-day Over-the-Counter in-kind replacement. | Generally allowed | Changing the opening size or adding egress windows requires a permit; replacement must meet the energy code. Exempt: In-kind replacement (same size/location) typically needs no permit. |
| Texas | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Generally allowed | Enlarging openings or adding egress windows requires a permit. Exempt: In-kind same-size replacement generally needs no permit. |
| Florida | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Restricted | In the HVHZ (Miami-Dade, Broward) windows within 1 mile of the coast must be impact-rated / Florida Product-Approved. Enlarging openings needs a permit. Exempt: In-kind same-size replacement generally needs no permit. |
| New York | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Generally allowed | Enlarging openings or changes to means of egress need a permit (NYC PE/RA filing). Exempt: In-kind same-size replacement generally needs no permit. |
| Pennsylvania | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. |
| Illinois | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is usually permitted via an expedited process; enlarging openings requires a full permit. |
| Ohio | Conditional | city | Columbus minimum permit fee $125 where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. |
| Georgia | Conditional | city | Atlanta minimum permit cost $150 plus $25 fee where a permit is required. | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. |
| North Carolina | Conditional | city | Building permit (alteration) where required; verify with the city. | Often 1–2 weeks; many window jobs are issued without plan review. | Generally allowed | Raleigh lists windows/doors/siding as alterations needing a permit; in-kind replacements in the same opening are commonly exempt. Exempt: In-kind replacement in the same opening is often exempt. |
| Michigan | Conditional | city | Building permit (alteration) where required; verify with the city. | Often 1–2 weeks; many window jobs are issued without plan review. | Generally allowed | Replacing windows/doors in the same opening is typically exempt; enlarging an opening or cutting a new one requires a permit. Exempt: In-kind replacement in the same opening is often exempt. |
| New Jersey | Conditional | city | Construction permit where required; verify with the city. | Often 1–2 weeks; many same-opening swaps are exempt. | Generally allowed | Same-size window/door swaps are exempt; enlarging an opening (new header/lintel) requires a UCC permit. Pre-1978 homes trigger EPA Lead RRP rules. Exempt: In-kind replacement in the same opening is exempt (ordinary maintenance). |
| Virginia | Conditional | city | Building permit where required; verify with the city. | Often 1–2 weeks; many same-opening swaps are exempt. | Generally allowed | Same-size window/door swaps are exempt; converting a window to a door or enlarging an opening requires a permit. Exempt: In-kind replacement in the same opening is exempt (ordinary repair). |
| Washington | Conditional | city | Usually no fee for in-kind swap; permit needed if opening is enlarged. | In-kind swaps typically need no review. | Generally allowed | Replacement windows should meet U-factor requirements when the energy code is triggered. Exempt: Same-size, in-kind replacement is generally exempt. |
| Arizona | Conditional | city | Usually no fee for in-kind swap; permit needed if opening is enlarged. | In-kind swaps typically need no review. | Generally allowed | Replacement products should meet energy-code U-factor when the code is triggered. Exempt: Same-size, in-kind replacement is generally exempt. |
| Massachusetts | Conditional | city | Usually no fee for in-kind swap; permit needed if opening is enlarged. | In-kind swaps typically need no review. | Generally allowed | Replacement products must meet energy/stretch-code U-factor when the code is triggered. Exempt: Same-size, in-kind replacement is generally exempt. |
| Tennessee | Conditional | city | Usually no fee for in-kind swap; permit needed if opening is enlarged or under stricter local codes. | In-kind swaps typically need no review; Nashville requires a permit for window/door/exterior changes. | Generally allowed | Replacement products must meet energy-code U-factor when the code is triggered. Exempt: Same-size, in-kind replacement is generally exempt under the baseline code. |
| Indiana | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. |
| Missouri | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | Varies by municipality — in-kind swaps often same-day. | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. Kansas City exempts windows not exceeding 4 ft in load-bearing walls from plan review. |
| Maryland | Conditional | city | — | — | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging openings requires a permit. |
| Wisconsin | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | Varies by municipality — in-kind swaps often same-day. | Generally allowed | Swapping windows or exterior doors in the same opening is generally exempt; enlarging or adding openings requires a permit. |