Florida Board Up Rules: Insurance Law, Plywood Code, Local Orders and Storms

Will Florida Insurance Law Pay for an Emergency Board Up?

The law does not say a board up is covered. Your policy and your insurer decide that. What Florida law does say is how a claim for emergency work is handled.

Section 627.7152(13) says a policyholder may not assign any post-loss benefit under a residential or commercial property policy issued on or after January 1, 2023, and that an attempt to do so is void^[1]. So on a newer policy a contractor cannot step into your claim and bill your insurer in your place. You deal with your insurer yourself. For residential policies issued from July 1, 2019 to before January 1, 2023, an assignment signed in an urgent or emergency circumstance is capped at the greater of $3,000 or 1 percent of the Coverage A limit^[1].

Section 627.7142, the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights, advises you to make and document emergency repairs needed to prevent further damage, keep receipts, and take photos or video before and after the repairs^[2]. It also advises you to contact your insurer before signing a repair contract, to check for managed repair terms or preferred vendors, and to confirm the contractor is licensed in Florida^[2]. Notice of a claim must reach the insurer within 1 year of the date of loss, and for a hurricane that date is landfall^[3].

What Does the Florida Building Code Say About Plywood and Storm Panels?

In wind-borne debris regions, the Florida Building Code requires glazed openings to be impact resistant or covered by a tested impact-resistant covering, under section 1609.1.2^[4]. An exception lets wood structural panels at least 7/16 inch thick, with no more than 44 inches between lines of fasteners, serve as opening protection on houses with a mean roof height of 33 feet or less where the design wind speed is 180 mph or less^[4]. The panels must be precut, predrilled and fixed with corrosion-resistant hardware permanently installed on the building^[4].

Miami-Dade and Broward form the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone^[5]. Buildings there follow sections 1616 through 1626 instead^[4], and section 1626.1 says glazing must meet impact test criteria or be protected by a device that does^[4]. The plywood exception is not part of that path.

A board up after a break-in, fire or storm is a temporary cover, not code-listed opening protection, and permanent windows and shutters follow the code. Miami-Dade also warns that boarded windows make it harder to get out in an emergency^[7], so leave a way out of every bedroom.

Who Sets the Rules for Securing a Vacant or Damaged Building in Florida?

Cities and counties do. State law, chapter 162, sets up local code enforcement: a board may fine up to $250 a day for a first violation and $500 for a repeat one, and the local government may make the repairs and charge the owner^[8]. The securing standard, the deadline and who does the work are local, and they differ a lot.

Check whose rules apply before anything else. A Lakeland mailing address can sit outside city limits, where Polk County enforces^[14], and unincorporated Miami-Dade has its own rule that a vacant structure may not stay sealed with blocks or storm shutters for more than 180 days unless extended^[15].

Who Has to Secure a Florida Property After a Fire?

The owner does, in Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's guide. It says the owner is responsible for securing the damaged property, tells insured owners to notify their agent promptly that the property needs securing, and tells renters to inform the owner or property manager as soon as possible^[16].

No Florida statute assigns this duty, and fire and police practice is local. Tampa's code treats a structure made dangerous by fire damage as a nuisance^[10]. Wait for the fire department to release the building, then arrange the board up and keep the photos and invoice for your insurer^[2].

When Is Florida Hurricane Season, and What Did Recent Storms Do?

The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30 and peaks on September 10^[6]. Recent storms show why boards go up statewide, not only on the coast.

After a declared emergency, section 501.160 bars unconscionable prices on essential commodities, which include services and lumber, measured against the average of the 30 days before the declaration^[20]. Get a written price before work starts.

What Should a Florida Owner Do First?

• Get out safely, report a break-in to police, and after a fire wait until officials release the building.
• Photograph every damaged opening before it is covered^[2].
• Call your insurer, or note the date of loss, and ask about managed repair terms or preferred vendors^[2][3].
• Check whether the address is in a city or unincorporated county, since that decides the securing rule^[14].
• Keep every receipt and the board-up invoice^[2].

Then send us the address and what is open. See how it works, typical costs, common questions and the areas we cover.