Permits & windstorm · Galveston, TX
Windstorm certificates and permits for Galveston shutters
Galveston County is one of the Texas coastal areas where the Texas Department of Insurance issues windstorm certificates. Settle the certificate, the city permit and the product paperwork before installation starts, not after.
Tell us about your projectWhat a WPI-8 is
A WPI-8 is the certificate of compliance the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) issues to show that a property, repair or addition on the Texas coast meets building code requirements. TDI's fact sheet lists Galveston County among the areas where homeowners need one, and TWIA says a certificate must be provided before a property can be eligible for TWIA windstorm coverage.
WPI-8 or WPI-8-E: timing matters
A WPI-8 covers work in progress: a TDI windstorm inspector or an appointed Texas-licensed professional engineer inspects while the work is underway. A WPI-8-E covers completed work and is handled by a Texas-licensed professional engineer. TDI notes that a finished structure is harder to inspect and may cost more, so ask about the route before installation is booked.
Does shutter work need an inspection?
Not every job does. TDI's exemption list includes repairing or replacing decorative shutters and replacing window or door glass. That is not the same as installing hurricane protection, so do not assume an exemption. TDI advises contacting its windstorm inspections office before work starts. Ask TDI or a windstorm inspector about your specific project and get the installer's answer in writing.
The city permit is a separate step
The City of Galveston Building Division handles building permits and inspections. Its page says inspections are requested online and that the contractor is responsible for calling for required inspections. Ask the Building Division whether your shutter project needs a permit at your address, and who on the installer's side will apply.
Bedroom windows and escape openings
The City's window and sliding-door compliance form cites the 2021 International Residential Code rules for emergency escape and rescue openings. If shutters will cover bedroom windows or a door used as an exit, ask the installer how someone inside can get out when the shutters are closed, and what the code and the product instructions require.
Product documents describe the product
TDI uses product evaluations to check that products comply with TDI-adopted building specifications and are installed to resist wind load; current reports are listed on its Windstorm System. TDI does not approve or endorse products. Ask which evaluation or test report applies to each proposed model and opening size. It does not replace a property certificate.
Three records, three different questions
A product report describes what a specific product was evaluated or tested for. A city permit covers the proposed work at your address. A WPI-8 or WPI-8-E certifies the work on your property. Ask your installer which of the three they handle, in writing, before you sign.
Build your opening list
Questions to settle before work starts
Is an inspection needed?
Ask TDI or a windstorm inspector about your project. Record who answered and when.
Which certificate route?
Agree whether inspection happens during the work (WPI-8) or after it (WPI-8-E), and who pays.
Who books inspections?
Name the person responsible for any city permit, city inspections and windstorm inspections.
Which product documents?
Match each proposed model, opening size and mounting method to its evaluation or test report.
What do you receive at the end?
List the certificate, permit records, product documents and warranty you should get at handover.
What each document tells you
On phones, each row is shown with its column labels.
| Consideration | What it answers | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Product evaluation or test report | What the specific product was evaluated or tested for, within stated limits. | Does it match the proposed model, dimensions, mounting and conditions? |
| City permit and inspections | What the City requires for the proposed work at your address. | Is a permit needed, who applies and who calls for inspections? |
| WPI-8 or WPI-8-E certificate | Whether the work on the property meets applicable windstorm building code requirements. | Is one needed, which route applies and when must the inspection happen? |
Official sources
Reviewed 2026-10-14
- TDI: Do you need a windstorm inspection?
Designated catastrophe area, WPI-8 and WPI-8-E routes, who inspects, exemptions.
- TDI: WPI-8 fact sheet (PDF)
Lists Galveston County; advises contacting the inspections office before work.
- TDI: Windstorm inspections and certificate search
Certificate search and current product evaluations on the Windstorm System.
- TDI: Product evaluations
Purpose of evaluations; TDI does not approve or endorse products.
- TWIA: Windstorm certification
Certificate needed before a property is eligible for TWIA coverage.
- City of Galveston Building Division
Permits, online inspection requests and contractor responsibility for inspections.
- City of Galveston: windows and sliding glass door compliance form (PDF)
Cites 2021 IRC emergency escape and rescue opening rules.
Common questions
Is Galveston in the Texas windstorm certification area?
Yes. TDI describes 14 coastal counties and part of Harris County east of Highway 146 as a designated catastrophe area, and its WPI-8 fact sheet lists Galveston County.
Do hurricane shutters need a WPI-8 in Galveston?
Ask before work starts, because TDI says not every job needs an inspection. Its exemptions mention decorative shutters, not hurricane protection, and TDI advises contacting its windstorm inspections office before starting work.
Who can inspect a shutter installation for a WPI-8?
A TDI windstorm inspector or an appointed Texas-licensed professional engineer while work is underway; for completed work (WPI-8-E), a Texas-licensed professional engineer. TDI does not regulate inspection rates.
Can I get a windstorm certificate after the shutters are installed?
Yes, through TDI’s WPI-8-E route for completed construction, but TDI notes it may cost more because a finished structure is harder to inspect. Ask about certification before installation is booked.
Does “TDI approved” mean my home is certified?
No. TDI says it does not approve or endorse products. A product evaluation describes a product; a WPI-8 or WPI-8-E concerns the work on your property.
How can I check whether a property already has a windstorm certificate?
Use TDI’s online certificate search for WPI-8 and WPI-8-E certificates. For WPI-8-C certificates TWIA issued for work completed between January 2017 and May 2020, TDI points to TWIA’s lookup tool.