Window Replacementin Burbank, CA
Window replacement in Burbank comes with a City application: its schedule asks each window's size, whether the location needs tempered glass, U-value, SHGC and whether a bedroom needs egress. In a pre-1978 home, EPA's lead rule always covers a paid window job. In fire zones the City recommends multi-pane glass with a tempered pane.
Burbank's windows are older than most owners realize. The 2024 Census estimate puts about 49 percent of the city's 46,928 homes before 1960 and about 70 percent before 1980, and the glass in them has lived through a climate where NOAA counts 53.9 days a year at 90 degrees or higher. A window job here touches paint, stucco, a permit form and, in the foothills, a fire map.
This page covers the City's window application, fire zone glass, lead-safe work, bedrooms, the valley climate, frames and stucco, and cost. Prices and the install sequence are on our window replacement page, and our other work in town is on the Burbank overview.
What Burbank's window application and retrofit list say
Where windows permits come from in Burbank: City of Burbank Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division (Permit Counter).
- Burbank publishes a Window Replacement Permit Application schedule that asks, for each window, the existing and new size, whether the location is hazardous (tempered glass yes or no), a U-value and SHGC (the form prints .30 and .23), the existing and new window type, and the room, noting that every bedroom must have an egress window.
- The City's Low-Cost Retrofit List recommends that when windows are replaced they be multi-paned with at least one pane of tempered glass, using State Fire Marshal WUI-listed products; the list is a best-practices guide for fire resistance.
- EPA's lead rule never treats window replacement as a minor repair: in a pre-1978 home, window replacement by a paid contractor falls under the Renovation, Repair and Painting rule regardless of the square footage of paint disturbed, unless an inspector, risk assessor or certified renovator has determined the components are free of lead paint (40 CFR 745.82 and 745.83).
Do I need fire-resistant windows if I live in a Burbank fire hazard zone?
The City's Low-Cost Retrofit List, updated January 1, 2026, recommends that replacement windows be multi-paned with at least one pane of tempered glass, using State Fire Marshal WUI-listed products. According to the City, the list is a best-practices guide for resisting ignition and is not a permit requirement. Whether Chapter 7A of the building code reaches a window-only job in Burbank is a question we could not settle from the pages we read, so ask Building & Safety.
Which lots are in a zone? Section 9-1-7-302.1.1 sets Moderate, High and Very High zones, and the Fire Department says the State Fire Marshal updated the map on March 24, 2025. A lot that straddles two or more zones is treated as part of the highest-risk one. In the County's GIS layer of CAL FIRE zones, 12 of 32 evenly spaced sample points inside the city came back Very High and 1 Moderate. That is a sample, not a parcel map, so use the City's Check Your Zone viewer.
A Very High parcel also owes annual brush clearance of 100 feet around structures, which is a Fire Department program separate from the window permit.
What does Burbank's window replacement permit application ask for?
Burbank publishes a Window Replacement Permit Application schedule that asks, for each window, the existing and new size, whether the location is hazardous and needs tempered glass, a U-value and SHGC, the existing and new window type and the room. It notes that every bedroom must have an egress window. The form prints .30 for U-value and .23 for SHGC.
Those columns are why a measured window list comes before a quote. We write the schedule from a site visit, window by window, and the label on the new window has to match the form. Other cities and sources cite different Title 24 values depending on climate zone and code year, so confirm the values with Building & Safety at (818) 238-5220 before ordering, not after delivery.
Fees and review time for a window application are not on the City's permit page, so we do not quote them. The single-family exempt-work sheet lists window awnings but no window replacement, so plan on a permit and ask the counter whether yours is issued over the counter or online.
Lead-safe window replacement in a pre-1978 Burbank house, and the 16 listed properties
EPA's lead rule never treats window replacement as a minor repair. In a pre-1978 home, window replacement by a paid contractor falls under the Renovation, Repair and Painting rule regardless of how much paint is disturbed, unless an inspector, risk assessor or certified renovator has determined that the components are free of lead paint (40 CFR 745.82 and 745.83). About 70 percent of Burbank's homes predate 1980, so the rule reaches a large share of the city's windows.
Ask the firm for its EPA lead-safe certification, how old sashes come out without dropping paint chips into the soil and how the work area is cleaned. Painted wood frames in a house of that age are the thing to ask about, and the answer should be in writing before demolition starts.
Historic review is narrower than many owners expect. The City's May 22, 2026 list names 4 National Register properties, 2 California Register properties and 11 local Burbank Historic Resources and names no historic district, so only a listed house raises the question. If yours is listed, ask Planning at (818) 238-5250 before you change original windows. We did not read the Historic Resource Management Ordinance, so we state no rule.
Bedroom egress and tempered glass: what a Burbank replacement window must do
The City's application says every bedroom must have an egress window, so a bedroom replacement is more than a size match. We did not read the code's dimensions for clear opening and sill height, so we print no numbers. The form asks for the size of each opening and the plan reviewer checks it. If a sash is narrower than the code allows, the opening may need to change, which moves the job from a change-out toward framing and plan review.
Tempered glass is the other column on the form. It asks for a yes or no on whether each location is hazardous, so the list is checked window by window, and the code basis is section 2406 of the building code. We did not read that section's list of locations, so we ask the reviewer about edge cases rather than guess.
The same questions follow into conversions. The City's ADU FAQ says a garage converted to an ADU must have its door replaced with windows, a residential entry door or both, so egress and glazing show up on those plans too; see ADU construction in Burbank.
Which replacement windows suit Burbank's heat, sun and rain?
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the airport station show average highs from 66.1 F in December to 88.9 F in August, 53.9 days a year at or above 90 F and 7.2 at or above 100 F. Freezing lows are almost unknown, at 0.4 days a year. That makes SHGC worth asking about, since the City's form puts it in the same column set as U-value, and a low number blocks more solar heat.
Rain arrives in a short season. The station records 13.91 inches a year, with 11.37 inches, about 82 percent, from December through March and 0.01 inch each in July and August. A window installed in August meets its first storm months later, so flashing and sealant at the sill are checked before the stucco patch, not after. The station sits on the valley floor, so the foothills can differ.
Retrofit or full-frame windows in Burbank: flashing, stucco and doors
A retrofit window sits in the existing frame, and a full-frame window replaces frame and flashing. That choice decides whether stucco and trim must be patched. Many Burbank houses date from the 1940s, so a full-frame job may open a wall that has not been opened since the house was built.
Exterior finishes are regulated. Burbank bans wood shakes and shingles as exterior wall covering on any building, and in the fire zones it also bars wood board, hardboard and engineered wood siding and pressure-treated wood as a wall covering. That text governs what is installed as a wall covering, and we did not confirm how it applies to trim repair around a window, so ask Building & Safety.
Sliding glass doors travel with the window job and raise the same questions: tempered glass, the permit line and the frame material. List them on the same schedule. MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) measures, files and schedules the work, and a licensed specialty subcontractor installs the units; you can ask for that subcontractor's license and certificate of insurance.
How much does window replacement cost in Burbank, and is it worth it?
Regional sources agree more than they disagree. Remodeling magazine's 2025 Cost vs. Value report for Los Angeles lists vinyl window replacement at $23,783 in job cost with 83.2 percent recouped at resale, and wood at $27,913 with 81.9 percent. The public page does not show the size of its reference job. Angi's Los Angeles page, updated July 8, 2026, gives an average of $19,356 and a typical range of $16,359 to $22,377.
We found no Burbank fee schedule or lead-time figure we could source. Custom sizes and fire zone frames take longer to order than stock sizes, and the permit comes first, so the manufacturer's order confirmation gives the real date.
The federal 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, according to the IRS, though many old pages still advertise it. We did not verify any utility or state window rebate, so ask before you count on one.
Window details from Burbank and nearby homes
Three views of the glass, flashing and frames behind replacement windows in Burbank and neighbors such as Sun Valley and Universal City. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
What windows costs around Burbank
Our window replacement page puts vinyl windows at about $550 to $1,200 each installed, and a whole-house job of 10 to 15 windows at about $14,000 to $28,000, with wood and fiberglass above that. Fire zone metal frames, laminated glass, custom arches and stucco patching push the number up. These are Los Angeles area figures from three overlapping sources, not Burbank quotes, and any City fee is a separate line. Windows often go with other work, so see ADU construction in Burbank, the Burbank room addition page and bathroom remodeling in Burbank. Nearby, Glendale windows, Pasadena windows and Los Angeles windows follow their own building departments, and the Glendale overview lists that city's trades. Our post on how to check a contractor license helps you verify the installer.
| What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Vinyl window, installed, each | $550 to $1,150 |
| Wood or fiberglass window, installed, each | $950 to $2,400 |
| Whole house, 10 to 15 windows | $14,000 to $28,000 |
| Glass options, per window | Double-pane $500 to $2,000. low-E $300 to $1,100. tempered $200 to $700. |
| Remodeling Cost vs. Value 2025, Los Angeles | Vinyl $23,783. wood $27,913. |
| New or enlarged egress opening | $3,200 to $6,500 |
Burbank window permit, fire zone and cost questions
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Burbank?
Plan on one. Burbank publishes a Window Replacement Permit Application schedule, and its single-family exempt-work sheet lists window awnings but not window replacement. We found no fee or turnaround, and the City's Tier 1 examples do not name windows, so ask Building & Safety at (818) 238-5220 how your job is issued.
How much does window replacement cost in Burbank?
Regional figures put vinyl windows at about $550 to $1,200 each installed, and a whole-house job of 10 to 15 windows at about $14,000 to $28,000. Angi's Los Angeles page gives a $19,356 average. We found no Burbank survey, so a measured window schedule and a written proposal give the real price.
How much is a permit to replace windows in Burbank?
The City's window permit fee is not published on the pages we read, so we do not quote one. Building & Safety at (818) 238-5220 can give the current figure for your scope. Starting without a permit brings an investigation fee equal to the permit fee, added to it, so check the fee before work begins.
Do I need special fire-resistant windows if I live in a Burbank fire zone?
The City recommends them but its retrofit list is a best-practices guide, not a permit rule. It suggests multi-paned windows with at least one tempered pane, using State Fire Marshal WUI-listed products. In the County's CAL FIRE layer, 12 of 32 sample points inside the city came back Very High, so check your address.
Are double pane windows required for replacement windows in California?
Usually, because the energy code covers replacement windows. Los Angeles's building department cites Title 24, Part 6, section 150.2(b)1B for NFRC-labeled dual glazing in residential buildings of three stories or less. That is a state code section, but we did not confirm how Burbank applies it, so ask Building & Safety before you order.
What do U-factor and SHGC ratings mean on a window?
U-factor measures how much heat passes through the window, and a lower number insulates better. SHGC measures how much solar heat gets in, and a lower number blocks more sun. Burbank's window application asks for both on every window and prints .30 and .23 on the form, so match the NFRC label to what the City asks.
Do I need lead-safe work to replace windows in an older Burbank home?
Yes, in a pre-1978 home, unless a qualified person has found the components lead free. EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule treats window replacement by a paid contractor as covered regardless of how much paint is disturbed. About 70 percent of Burbank's homes predate 1980, so ask for the firm's lead-safe certification.
How long does it take for new windows to be installed?
Install day is short next to the wait before it, and we do not have a sourced lead time. Measuring, the permit application and a custom order come first, and fire zone frames or unusual sizes take longer than stock units. Ask for the manufacturer's order confirmation date, then schedule installation around it.
Are replacement windows worth it?
They recoup a large share of cost at resale. Remodeling magazine's 2025 Cost vs. Value report for Los Angeles shows 83.2 percent recouped for vinyl windows and 81.9 percent for wood. Those are Los Angeles averages, and we do not quote energy savings we cannot source, so weigh comfort, noise and the condition of your existing frames too.
Is the federal tax credit for windows still available?
Not for windows placed in service after December 31, 2025. The IRS says the Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit is not allowed after that date. Many older articles still advertise it. We did not verify any utility or state rebate for Burbank, so ask the utility and the City before you count on one.
Tell us about your Burbank windows
Send the neighborhood, the year the house was built, how many windows and doors you want changed and whether any bedroom or fire zone lot is involved, and we will plan the measuring visit around that.