NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database · public county data, not a national estimate
Patio enclosure cost in Florida — building a new screen enclosure, pool cage, or lanai — is licensed specialty work, engineered to wind-load code and permitted, priced by size and design.
Plan it — not an emergency.
Common causes:
• Enclosure size and design
• Aluminum frame and structural engineering
• Wind-load code and permitting
• Screen type and any roof or panels
• An aluminum structure built without a license or permit
• A design not engineered for the wind zone
• Skipping the required inspections on a structure
• Building or replacing a screen enclosure or pool cage is licensed specialty structural work — verify the license and permit; a simple rescreen of an existing frame is not
How much does a new screen enclosure cost?
Building a new screen enclosure, pool cage, or lanai is priced by size and design, and it's more than a rescreen because it's a structure. In Florida, these aluminum enclosures are engineered to wind-load code, permitted, and inspected — licensed specialty contractor work. The frame, footings, and any roof drive the cost along with the screen.
Do I need a permit to build a screen enclosure?
Yes — a new screen enclosure or pool cage is a permitted structure in Florida, engineered to meet wind-load requirements, and built by a licensed specialty contractor. It's not a DIY or handyman project. That engineering and permitting is exactly what makes it stand up to storms, so it's worth having done correctly.
New screen enclosure / pool cage: $6,000–$14,000 (typical ~$10,000)
Building an aluminum screen structure is licensed specialty work — engineered to wind-load code, and permitted.
Curated Florida 2026 estimate — installed cost for a typical FL single-family home, not a bid.
This trade spans two license realities in Florida. Building or replacing an aluminum screen enclosure, pool cage, or lanai structure is licensed specialty contractor work — these are engineered structures that must meet wind-load code. Rescreening an existing frame, replacing awning fabric, or fixing an awning motor is generally not a licensed trade. Verify a specialty license for structural aluminum work.
Different scopes here carry different permit and license needs — ask who holds which before work starts.
Basis: FL Stat. 489 (DBPR / CILB aluminum specialty) for building a screen enclosure or aluminum structure · rescreen/repair unregulated.
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Bugs Getting Through Screen · Lanai Rescreen Cost · Pool Cage Rescreen Cost
Covered: Lee · Pinellas · Sarasota · Charlotte · Hillsborough · Manatee | As of 2026-07-15 | Local numbers appear only when the sample is large enough to protect privacy.