Storefront Glass Broken? What Seattle Businesses Should Do
Walking up to a shattered storefront is a rough way to start the day. Beyond the mess, you're worried about security, customers, and lost business. This guide covers what to do in the first hours and the days after, with a few Seattle-specific resources many owners don't know about.
1. Put Safety First
If the break-in or vandalism just happened, or someone may still be inside, call 911. Don't go in.
Keep staff and customers away from the glass. Block off the sidewalk area if glass fell outside.
Don't knock out loose glass by hand. Large storefront panes are heavy, and broken pieces can fall without warning.
2. Document the Damage
Before anything gets swept up or covered, take photos and video of the glass, the frame, doors, locks, and anything stolen or damaged. Get both wide and close-up shots. Save security camera footage if you have it. You'll want this for police, your insurer, and any City grant application.
3. File a Police Report
You'll likely need a police incident number for insurance and for the City's repair fund.
Seattle Police allow online reports for property destruction and some other crimes when the incident isn't an emergency, happened within Seattle city limits, and has no known suspects [1].
Online reporting is not for incidents within the past 30 minutes or for a completed or attempted burglary of your business. For those, call 911 or the SPD non-emergency line at 206-625-5011 [1].
If your business is in Bellevue, Tacoma, Kent, Renton, or another city, check with that city's police department for its reporting options.
4. Get an Emergency Board-Up
A broken storefront leaves your inventory, equipment, and building open to weather and theft. A professional board-up closes the opening with cut-to-fit plywood, fastened securely, so you can lock up and limit further damage. Glass breaks at all hours, and that's why True View offers 24/7 emergency board-up.
Keep the board-up invoice and proof of payment. You may need them for insurance or a City grant.
5. Talk to Your Insurer
Commercial property policies vary a lot. When you call your agent or insurer, ask:
Is glass breakage covered, and what's my deductible?
What documentation do you need?
Do you need to inspect before permanent repairs?
Is the emergency board-up covered?
Also check your lease. In many commercial spaces, the lease spells out whether the tenant or the landlord is responsible for storefront glass.
6. Check the Seattle Storefront Repair Fund
If your business is in Seattle, the City's Office of Economic Development runs a Storefront Repair Fund that reimburses eligible small businesses for repairs from vandalism or other property damage. As of the City's June 2026 update [2]:
It covers up to $5,000 per incident, for up to three separate incidents per calendar year.
Eligible damage includes broken or etched windows, doors, locks, signs, fences, and gates.
It's a reimbursement, so you pay for the repair first and then submit paid invoices or receipts.
You'll need a Seattle Police incident number, a City business license, and a Washington UBI number.
The business must be independently owned, located within Seattle city limits, and meet size limits (including no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees).
Damages submitted to insurance aren't covered unless that claim was rejected and closed.
Applications are open through December 2026 or until funds run out.
Read the full eligibility rules on the City's page before you apply. The City also runs a separate Storefront Security Fund for preventive security upgrades [2].
7. Plan the Permanent Replacement
Here's what affects how long a storefront glass replacement takes:
Glass type. Storefront doors and glass near doors are hazardous locations where code requires safety glass, usually tempered or laminated [3].
Custom fabrication. Tempered glass has to be cut to final size and fully fabricated before it's tempered. According to the National Glass Association, cutting or drilling tempered glass afterward will break it [4]. That's why each replacement pane is made to order from exact measurements.
Size and specialty features. Large panes, insulated units, tints, laminated security glass, or etched logos can add lead time.
Frame condition. If the aluminum frame, door, or hardware was damaged too, those parts may need repair or replacement first.
A secure board-up buys you time to get the right glass ordered instead of settling for a rushed fix.
Consider an Upgrade While You're at It
If your storefront has been hit before, ask about laminated glass or security film. Laminated glass is designed to hold together when it breaks. The City's Back to Business program guide lists laminated "shatter-proof" windows and security window film among eligible security measures [5].
FAQ
Can you board up my storefront in the middle of the night?
Yes. True View offers 24/7 emergency board-up in Seattle and nearby cities including Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Kirkland, Tacoma, and Everett.
Who pays for broken storefront glass: tenant or landlord?
It depends on your lease and insurance. Check both, and talk to your landlord early.
Can I get the City grant and an insurance payout for the same damage?
Per the City, the Storefront Repair Fund won't cover damages submitted to insurance unless that claim was rejected and closed [2].
Do you handle full storefront systems, not just glass?
Yes. We repair and replace storefront glass and storefront systems, and we also do commercial tenant improvements.
Get Your Storefront Secured and Repaired
True View LLC is a licensed, bonded, and insured Seattle glass and construction company (WA License TRUEVVL740KR). We provide 24/7 emergency board-up and free estimates for storefront glass replacement, and we reply to estimate requests within 24 hours. Call (206) 699-0604 or email project@trueviewnw.com.
Sources
Seattle Police Department, "Online Crime Reporting." https://seattle.gov/police/need-help/property-crimes/online-reporting
City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, "Storefront Repair Fund" (updated 6/10/2026). https://www.seattle.gov/economic-development/grants-and-funding/back-to-business/storefront-repair-fund
International Residential Code Section R308.4, Hazardous Locations (summarized in Boulder County Publication B-30, "Safety Glazing"). Commercial buildings follow the parallel safety-glazing section of the building code. https://bouldercounty.gov/property-and-land/land-use/building/building-publications/b30-safety-glazing/
National Glass Association / GANA, "FB13-07: The Importance of Fabrication Prior to Heat-Treatment" (PDF). https://www.glass.org/sites/default/files/2021-08/FB13-07_2018_The_Importance_of_Fabrication_Prior_to_Heat-Treatment_0521.pdf
City of Seattle, "Back to Business Program Application Guide" (PDF). https://www.seattle.gov/documents/departments/economicdevelopment/smallbusinesssupport/backtobusiness/applicationguide/backtobusiness_applicationguide_english.pdf
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