Impact protection is a code requirement, not an option
Pinellas sits within the wind-borne debris provisions of the Florida Building Code, which means opening protection is a requirement rather than an upgrade for much of the county. That governs product selection, and Clearwater Planning and Development administers the permit and inspection. Flood zone reaches windows mainly through the substantial-improvement threshold on larger projects.
Official sources
Confirm the requirements applying to your address
Citywide guidance cannot tell you the wind pressures applied to your parcel, whether your openings are standard sizes, or the condition of the framing behind them. Confirm the first with the city and the rest with whoever measures for the order.
Research date
Sources reviewed June 22, 2026. External requirements and maps can change.