Updated August 2026. A pet door is still an opening. If the rest of the house is going impact, a cheap flap in a wall or door is a hole in the envelope. Statewide Windows & Doors will spec an approved pet-door assembly when you want the dog to keep using the yard without punching a non-rated hole in a new impact door.

Quick answer

Use a pet door only if that exact assembly has a Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval for the size and design pressure on that opening, and it is installed as tested. “Hurricane-proof” is marketing. The tested system plus the install is what the inspector and the carrier care about. If you cannot produce the approval, do not cut the hole.

What has to be true

  • Approval: NOA or FL# on the actual unit, not a generic “impact pet door” listing.
  • The host door or wall: Cutting a non-rated pet door into a rated entry door can void the door’s approval. Ask before you cut.
  • Locking panel: A storm panel or lock-off you can drop before a hurricane. Convenience flaps are not the storm rating by themselves.
  • Water and bugs: Seals and a threshold detail. Florida rain will find a cheap flap.

When a pet door is a bad idea

  • The only product on the bid has no approval number
  • You would be cutting a new impact entry that was just tested as a solid slab
  • The dog is large enough that the opening is basically a small door with no panel
  • You are in HVHZ and the building official will not accept that assembly

In those cases, keep the impact door whole and use a schedule, a fenced run, or a human at the door.

FAQ

Are impact-rated dog doors hurricane-proof?

No product is hurricane-proof. An approved assembly is tested for wind-borne debris and pressure. Ask for the approval that matches your opening. If the company cannot show it, it is not an impact pet door.

Does a pet door hurt security?

A small flap with no lock-off is an invitation. Spec a locking panel and a unit sized for the dog you have, not a giant opening “for later.”

Will this hurt energy bills?

A leaky flap will. Insulated flaps and a closed panel when you are away help. It will not match a solid door.

What size should I get?

Measure shoulder height and width of the pet that actually uses it. Bigger is not better on an impact opening.

Related: front entry impact doors and questions to ask before you hire.

Want the pet door in the same spec as the windows?

Call Statewide Windows & Doors at (561) 816-4010 or request a free estimate. Bring the dog’s measurements and a photo of the door or wall you want cut.