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Senate wants to require shutters in wind zones

Many homes over $300, 000 would be affected.

By Jennifer Liberto, Times Staff Writer
Published April 28, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - The Senate unanimously passed a bill Friday that would require coastal homeowners in homes worth $300, 000 or more to install shutters if they want to get a building permit for any reason starting in 2008.

The mandate would affect those who live in homes with $300, 000 taxable value located in the wind-debris zone, which is most of Pinellas County, parts of western Hillsborough County and most homes west of U.S. 19 in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Anyone who wants to build a fence or renovate their kitchen would have to buy impact-resistant windows or aluminum, vinyl or Kevlar shutters, according to the sponsor of the provision Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge.

"If we have any more hurricanes that come with the same intensity, but the path is just off 50 miles (from earlier near-misses), we've got $36- to $38-billion worth of damage to look forward to again, and it will bankrupt this state, " Posey said. "It will do irreparable harm to the citizens of this state. And the only thing we can do to stop that is, with mitigation, beat the storms to the unprotected property."

The measure's future in the House is unclear; Rep. Ellyn Bogadanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, said Friday that the House has not considered the concept.

The average cost of installing basic aluminum shutters for a 2, 000-square-foot-home with 300 square feet of windows is about $3, 900, according to a legislative analysis.

Posey said on the Senate floor that discounts on insurance premiums that insurers must give for window protections would pay for the initial cost of the shutters over a five-year period. He suggested people could take out a loan to pay the installation cost and pay back the loan with the discounts they get back on their insurance premiums.

The Senate attached the provision by a voice vote to a bill that ordered the Florida Building Commission to review electrical codes for swimming pool construction.

Another amendment to require policyholders of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to also install shutters to retain coverage by the state-run insurer failed.

Staff Writer Tom Zucco contributed to this report.

[Last modified April 27, 2007, 22:42:05]