Do I Need a Permit for a Door Replacement?
Usually not for like-for-like interior or exterior door swaps — but permits are required when the replacement changes the opening size, affects fire ratings, or alters egress. The common triggers: widening openings for accessibility, replacing fire-rated doors in garages or multifamily corridors, and entry-door replacements in hurricane regions (wind-borne debris and pressure ratings).
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Typically exempt
Swapping a door slab in the existing frame, replacing an entry door with the same size, and interior door replacements — no structural change, no code change. Maintain the fire rating where required (the garage-to-house door must be fire-rated — replacing it with a hollow-core door is a code violation regardless of permits). Keep weatherstripping and threshold details right — door leaks are flashing and seal failures.
When permits are required
Enlarging or adding openings (structural headers, shear-wall impacts — an engineer's review), fire-door replacements in rated assemblies (the door, frame, and hardware must carry the listing as a system — the permit verifies it), accessibility widenings (32-inch minimum clear width — the door, frame, and hardware all count), and hurricane-region entry doors (impact ratings and pressure capacities per the Florida Building Code or local wind code — product approvals required).
Egress and security
Egress doors: single-operation hardware (no double-cylinder deadbolts on egress doors — the key-trapped-inside scenario kills), landing and stair requirements at exterior doors, and the door's swing direction in commercial egress paths. Security upgrades (multi-point locks, reinforced frames) are typically permit-exempt but must not compromise the fire or egress function. When in doubt, the building department answers in a phone call.
The bottom line
Like-for-like door swaps are usually exempt — permit new or enlarged openings, fire-door replacements (listed assembly), and hurricane-region entry doors. Never downgrade a required fire rating.
Torch Engineering PLLC · (480) 490-0064 · info@torchengineering.com — PE stamping backed by Apex Grid Engineering.