Business owners in Irvine who want to tint their storefront windows run into a pretty frustrating dilemma. You can move forward with the installation and face expensive violation fees, or you can spend weeks (maybe months) working through the building codes that change depending on which city department picks up the phone or what your property manager tells you. Most shop owners believe that a basic window film installation won’t need formal approval. They schedule the work and get it done, and a few days later, a stop-work order arrives in the mail. Worse than that, some business owners discover after the installation that their lease actually needs architectural committee approval on top of the city permits!
Skipping the permit process can cost you tons of money fast. Unpermitted window tint comes with fines each day that just add up, and when the inspector shows up, you’ll be forced to remove all that brand-new film you just paid for. Your business insurance may also refuse to cover the work that didn’t get approved first. Either way, your storefront stays way too hot for customers, or it’s stuck in permit limbo.
Commercial window film installations can last 10 to 15 years when they’re done to code. Let’s talk about how to get tint on your Irvine storefront – the right way!
The Benefits of Window Tinting for Businesses
Businesses all over Irvine install window tint for a few reasons, and most of them relate to day-to-day comfort and efficiency in the workspace. Orange County deals with intense sun all year long, and window tint happens to be one of the best ways to take care of the problems that are caused by constant, direct sunlight.
Glare is one of the most common complaints from business owners. A customer walks into your retail store or sits down at a table in your restaurant, and suddenly they’re squinting or holding their hand up just to block that harsh afternoon sunlight. Window tint makes the entire environment more comfortable for everyone inside, and customers can see what they’re doing without fighting against bright light over and over.
Retail business owners have just as much at stake when they protect what they sell. Clothing stores can’t afford to have their inventory fade right there on the display racks. Furniture showrooms face the same problem – the fabric samples and wood finishes will lose their color over time. Untreated windows let UV rays pass straight through, and the damage piles up day after day.
Temperature control is another big factor, and it matters for your wallet. Restaurants with large windows that face the street usually get extra heat during lunch and dinner service. That extra warmth forces your air conditioning system to work much harder and means your energy bills just go up month after month. Window tint blocks a substantial chunk of that solar heat before it even gets inside the building.
Privacy is a big deal for some businesses. Medical offices and professional service providers want to block the view from outside. But they don’t want to sacrifice the natural light when they do it. Window tint works great for this. It keeps the space bright and open, and at the same time, it makes client interactions much harder to see for anyone walking by on the street.
These benefits are why you’ll find window film on a lot of storefronts around Irvine. When you see what makes it a smart choice, the whole permitting process for it starts to make a lot more sense.
Permits You Need for Commercial Tinting
Most storefronts in Irvine are going to need a permit if you want to add any window tint. The City of Irvine Building & Safety Department processes permits for commercial properties in the area. You can reach them at 949-724-6222, and they’ll be able to talk to you about what you need for your building.
Most commercial buildings are going to need a permit if you want to change the windows in any way. Retail shops need one, office buildings need one and restaurants and other service businesses need them as well. Window tinting actually qualifies as a modification to the property, and it’s the reason why most commercial building owners have to go through the permit process.
Small interior changes that don’t change how the building looks from the outside will sometimes get a pass from the city. Temporary window coverings that peel off clean without any adhesive might not need approval either. Just know that these exceptions are pretty narrow, and most window tinting projects won’t fall under them.
You’re going to face real consequences if you install tint on your commercial building without a permit. The city can fine you once they find out about the unpermitted work. They can also force you to remove the tint, and you’ll lose every dollar that you spent on the installation and the benefits that you wanted in the first place. Cities are pretty strict about their building codes because these requirements are there to protect property owners and the public.
Business owners should contact the Building & Safety Department before they start any window tinting project on their commercial property. The staff there can talk to you about what needs to be submitted for approval, and they can tell you if your particular project could be a rare exception.
How to Prepare for Your Tinting Permit
After you’ve figured out what you need, the next part is to collect your paperwork and submit your application to the city. You’re going to need a few documents on hand to get you started with the process. First up, you’ll need the specifications for your windows and the VLT percentages for whatever tint you’re planning to install.
The city will also need information about whoever you hire as your contractor. They want to verify who’s actually going to take care of the installation work on your property. You can submit your application online through the city’s portal or visit the planning department in person during their normal business hours.
For timelines, every application is going to be a little different in how long it takes. Most of them will take a few weeks or so to hear back with an approval. Fees are based on the size and scope of your project, though they’re usually pretty affordable for most commercial properties.
Local contractors who work in Irvine regularly have another big advantage – they already know the permit system inside and out. Most of them can take care of a large part of the paperwork on your behalf, save you time, and help you avoid small errors that might hold up your approval.
Always submit your plans to the city first, well before you buy any materials or schedule the installation date. Cities will sometimes request changes to the submitted plans, and the last thing anyone wants is to spend money on expensive tinting film only to learn later that a different product is actually needed to meet the requirements.
Property Rules Beyond the City Permits
City approval is one part of the process if you want to tint your business windows. Plenty of commercial properties in Irvine have one more layer of approval that you’ll need to get through first – and that’s going to come from either your property management company or your homeowners association.
Most shopping centers and commercial complexes around here have their own architectural review boards. These boards review any changes you want to make to the exterior of your building, and they do this so the entire property has a uniform appearance. Window tint is one of the aspects they care about because it can change the way your storefront looks from the outside quite a bit.
Private architectural standards can be more restrictive than city ordinances, and it makes everything more of a headache to work through. Your property management agreement might spell out which tint colors you can use or cap how reflective your film can be. Sometimes the property owner wants every storefront in the shopping center to match. I’ve even come across properties where reflective films are banned because the management wants a particular look and feel for the entire property.
The property management approval is one area where lots of business owners run into problems. You could have all your city permits lined up and ready to go. But you can still face problems if you don’t get the green light from your property manager first. Installing window tint without their approval actually breaks your lease agreement. It’s a separate issue from any city code violations, and it can mean financial penalties or other consequences that are written right into your lease.
Transform Your View with Professional Tinting
A storefront tint permit is one more box to check on your to-do list. But it’s also the best way to protect the time and money you invest in your business space. File for your permit at least a few weeks before you’re ready to install it, and you’ll have plenty of breathing room if any questions pop up or if something needs to be tweaked along the way.
Window film with the right permits in place means you can get the benefits (less glare, lower energy bills and better privacy) and you won’t have to worry about any problems during inspections or when your lease is up for renewal.
At OC Tint Shop, we’ve helped dozens of Irvine businesses work through their permit paperwork and finish installations that meet the local codes (and usually exceed them). Our team takes care of commercial window film projects all across Orange County, so we’re very familiar with what the city wants to see and how to make it happen without any issues. You might want to cut down on the heat in a storefront with afternoon sun exposure, or maybe you need more privacy for your client meetings – whatever the case is, we can talk about the whole process from the permits through to the installation day.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation, and we can go over how window tinting can upgrade your business space as we make sure everything meets code and lasts for years.