The full timeline at a glance
From the day you request a quote to the day your shutters pass final inspection, plan on roughly 3 to 8 weeks for a typical Orlando home. The actual installation — the crew at your house — is usually just 1 to 3 days. Most of the calendar time is the stuff around the install: getting the quote, pulling the permit, and waiting for your products to be made or delivered. Here is how each stage breaks down.
Stage 1: Quote and decision (a few days to 2 weeks)
This part is up to you. Request quotes, compare them, and pick your style. Homeowners who get two or three written quotes usually feel much better about their decision — and it only takes a week or two. If you are torn between styles, our types comparison and accordion vs roll-down guide can help you narrow it down before the installer even arrives. Our installer guide shows what a good quote looks like, and our cost guide gives you ballpark numbers to plan with.
Stage 2: Permits (a few days to 3+ weeks)
Your installer submits the permit with the product approvals and opening plan. In quiet months, simple residential shutter permits in Orlando and Orange County can clear in days. In spring — when everyone is rushing to beat hurricane season — review times stretch. This is the stage most likely to surprise you, which is why starting early matters. Our permits guide covers the process in detail.
Stage 3: Product lead time (1 to 6 weeks)
Stock-size panels and common accordion systems may be available quickly. Custom colors, odd-sized openings, and motorized systems are made to order and take longer — typically a few weeks, more during peak season. This is the other big variable. Ask your installer for the current lead time on your specific products before you sign, and get it in writing.
Stage 4: The installation itself (1 to 3 days)
Here is the good news: the noisy part is short. Typical install times for an average single-family home:
- Storm panels (tracks and hardware): 1–2 days. The panels themselves go up later, by you, before each storm.
- Accordion shutters: 1–2 days.
- Roll-down shutters: 2–3 days, a bit more if motors and wiring are involved.
- Bahama or colonial shutters: 2–3 days.
- Fabric screens (tracks and hardware): 1–2 days.
Bigger homes, two stories, and hard-to-reach openings add time. A good crew protects your landscaping, cleans up daily, and walks you through operating everything before they leave.
Stage 5: Final inspection (a few days)
The building department inspects the finished work and signs off the permit. Your installer schedules this. Keep the signed permit card with your product approvals — your wind mitigation inspector and future buyers will want to see them. If the inspector flags anything small, the installer fixes it and calls for a re-inspection, which usually adds only a few days.
What slows projects down
- Storm-season rush: March through May is the busiest stretch. Quotes, permits, and installs all take longer.
- HOA approval: if your HOA's architectural review only meets monthly, add that wait to your plan. Get HOA sign-off early — our HOA guide explains the process.
- Custom work: arched windows, extra-large openings, and custom colors add manufacturing time.
- An actual storm: if a hurricane is approaching, crews pivot to emergency work and new installs pause. Another reason to start early.
How to get it done before June 1
Hurricane season starts June 1. Work backward: if you want protection in place by then, request quotes no later than February or March. Fall and winter are the sweet spot — faster permits, shorter product lead times, and easier scheduling. Our timing guide lays out the full seasonal calendar.
Start your timeline today
The best time to start was last fall; the second-best time is now. Send the free quote form below and we will give you a realistic schedule for your home — quote, permit, products, and install — in writing.