Emergency Board Up in Fort Myers, FL
We board up broken windows, forced doors and storm-damaged openings at Fort Myers homes, condos and storefronts, in Lee County[1]. The city designs openings for 160 mph winds and rates riverfront lots on the Caloosahatchee as its most exposed[2]. The river gauge here hit a record 7.26 feet above the normal high-tide line in Ian and 5.27 feet in Milton[3], so lower doors and windows break from water as well as wind. Send us the address and what is open for a free estimate.
Fort Myers at a glance
- Design wind speed
- 160 mph
- A permanent city-permitted shutter needs a tested rating of at least -60/+60, so plywood is the stopgap[2].
- Riverfront lots
- Exposure D, the highest
- Openings facing the river take about two-thirds more suction than sheltered lots, so boards there need heavier fastening[2].
- City or county
- Look for a P
- A P in the parcel number on your tax bill means city rules apply, otherwise Lee County handles it[4].
- Vacant property
- Broken windows boarded or re-glazed
- Sec. 54-447 puts this duty on abandoned Fort Myers property[5].
- Evacuation time
- Up to 41 hours
- That is how long moving people out of Lee County can take, so book pre-storm boarding early[6].
- Typical cost
- $180 to $900
- Covers plywood over one to a few broken windows or a door at a Fort Myers home or shop.
Request a free estimate
Emergency Board Up in Fort Myers, FL
- We read what broke and where.
- We call you to confirm the details and the price, before any boards go up.
- A technician from our own crew secures the openings and photographs each one.
How Much Does Emergency Board Up Cost in Fort Myers?
An emergency board up in Fort Myers typically costs $180 to $900 to cover one to a few broken windows or a door with plywood, including clearing loose glass.
The building moves the price most here. About 4 in 10 Fort Myers homes are in buildings of five or more units[1], so upper-floor windows and condo association access are common. Riverfront openings need more fasteners[2]. Downtown businesses that want permanent shutters can apply to the Fort Myers CRA, which reimburses up to 75 percent, to a maximum of $100,000 per business, but not for purchases made before approval[7]. More is on our cost page.
Why Riverfront and Low-Lying Fort Myers Take the Hardest Hits
Two things break windows in Fort Myers: wind, and water pushed up the Caloosahatchee. The city puts riverfront lots in Exposure D[2]. On a house under 30 feet tall, minimum window suction there is 61.4 psf against 37.0 psf on a sheltered lot[2], so river-side boards get more bolts. In Ian, NOAA recorded 10 to 12 feet of inundation across parts of Fort Myers[3], so ground-floor doors and storefront glass often need boarding once the water is out.
| Storm | Date | What NOAA recorded |
|---|---|---|
| EF-1 tornado | Dec. 21, 2021 | Dozens of roofs damaged near Fort Myers Villas, one injury from broken glass |
| Hurricane Ian | Sept. 28, 2022 | Record 7.26 ft water level, over 50,000 Lee County buildings damaged |
| Hurricane Milton | Oct. 9, 2024 | 5.27 ft water level, EF-2 tornado, over $77 million in city damage |
It is not only the waterfront. Milton's EF-2 crossed Colonial Boulevard and the Fort Myers Country Club with winds near 130 mph[3].
Who Takes the Report in Fort Myers, the City or Lee County?
Many Fort Myers mailing addresses are in unincorporated Lee County, and that decides which office handles your case. If the parcel number on your tax bill has a P in it, you are in the city[4].
| What you need | Inside city limits | Unincorporated Lee County |
|---|---|---|
| Report a break-in | FMPD non-emergency, (239) 321-7700[8] | Lee County Sheriff, (239) 477-1000[9] |
| A copy of the report | FMPD Records, (239) 321-7665[10] | Sheriff's online forms[9] |
| Report an open building | City Code Enforcement, (239) 321-7940[11] | Lee County Code Enforcement, (239) 533-8895[12] |
| Fines if it stays open | $100 to $500 per citation, daily until fixed[11] | Up to $1,000 a day, $5,000 for a repeat[12] |
Inside the city, doors and windows must be kept weather-tight and secure[11], so an uncovered broken window is a violation on its own.
Can the City of Fort Myers Secure My Building and Bill Me?
Yes. Under Sec. 102-33(c), when a building is a windstorm or fire hazard, the building official can have it secured and record the cost as a code enforcement lien on the property[13]. A building left structurally weaker by damage is unsafe under Sec. 54-157, and the notice warns of a lien of up to $250 a day[14]. Unpaid amounts become a recorded lien after 30 days, though a homestead cannot be foreclosed for them[14].
Once a building is posted unsafe, nobody may enter without the community development director's written permission[14], and it stays empty until electrical and plumbing inspections are reviewed[13].
Fort Myers is outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers only Broward and Miami-Dade[15], so the state's 7/16-inch plywood panel option applies to most houses here, on permanently installed anchors[16]. The statewide rules are on our Florida board-up rules page.
Boarding Up Vacant and Historic Buildings in Fort Myers
About 1 in 5 Fort Myers housing units is vacant[1]. On abandoned property, broken windows must be re-glazed or temporarily boarded[5]. Lenders register it for $200 a year and name a local manager within 20 miles who must secure it[5], and the director can require every opening secured or a security guard[5].
The four historic districts are Edison Park, Dean Park, Downtown and Seminole Park[18]. Removable storm protection gets staff approval, while visible permanent shutters need a certificate of review[18]. After a natural disaster, owners may stabilize right away and seek review later[18]. Broken windows left open count toward demolition by neglect[18].
Fort Myers Neighborhoods Where We Board Up
We work across Fort Myers, from the historic River District downtown[19] and Midtown to Dean Park, Edison Park and Seminole Park[18]. We also cover Dunbar, Velasco Village, Lincoln Park, Franklin Park, Carver Park, Belle Vue Park, Harlem Lake, City View Park, East Fort Myers, the Fort Myers Country Club area and Pelican Preserve.
Nearby, we take jobs in Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers Beach, Estero and Bonita Springs.
ZIP codes: 33916, 33913, 33905, 33901, 33966, 33912, 33907, 33971
Fort Myers Questions
Will My Insurer Pay You Directly for a Fort Myers Board Up?
No, not on a policy issued on or after January 1, 2023. Florida law voids assigning post-loss benefits on those policies[20]. You pay and claim the cost yourself, with our photos and itemized invoice.
How Far Ahead Should I Book Boarding Before a Hurricane Reaches Fort Myers?
Several days. Moving people out of Lee County can take up to 41 hours[6], and roads and crews fill once orders go out. The city puts peak season from August to October[21].
Do Fort Myers Windows Break Outside Hurricane Season?
Yes. From 2016 to 2025 NOAA logged 17 tornadoes, 32 thunderstorm wind reports and 11 hail reports in Lee County[3], and a December 2021 tornado caused an injury from broken glass.
Do I Need a City Permit to Replace a Broken Window in Fort Myers?
Yes. The city lists replacement windows, exterior doors and shutters as permitted work[22], and asks that your contractor pull the permit in its own name, not yours[17].
Does Replacing Several Windows on a Newer Fort Myers Home Trigger Impact Rules?
Yes, on one- and two-family homes built on or after March 2002. Replacing 25 percent or more of the glass area means those new openings need impact glass, shutters or storm panels[23].
Who Do I Call With Questions After a Fire in Fort Myers?
Inside city limits, the Fort Myers Fire Department's non-emergency line is (239) 321-7311[24]. Once fire officials release the property, send us the address and what is open.
How Quickly Does Fort Myers Code Enforcement Check an Open Building?
The city says complaints are generally investigated within two hours of receipt, and emergencies that pose a safety threat are handled right away[11]. Call (239) 321-7940 for an address inside city limits.
Does Fort Myers Charge to Inspect an Unsafe Structure?
No, not the first time. The city does the initial inspection for an unsafe structure report at no charge, then bills $75 for each extra on-site meeting[14].
Near Fort Myers
We also cover Cape Coral, Sarasota in the Southwest Florida area. See all areas, the price table and Florida rules.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 (5-year)
- City of Fort Myers BPI, Window/Door/Shutter Worksheet
- NOAA Storm Events Database, 2016-2025
- City of Fort Myers, Community Development FAQs
- Fort Myers Code of Ordinances, Ch. 54, Art. XII, Secs. 54-445 to 54-448
- Lee County Emergency Management, Plan & Prepare
- Fort Myers CRA, Downtown Storm Mitigation and Resiliency Grant Program
- Fort Myers Police Department, Contact
- Lee County Sheriff's Office
- Fort Myers Police Department, Obtain Copy of Police Report
- City of Fort Myers Code Enforcement Guide, Most Common Violations
- Lee County Code Enforcement
- Fort Myers Code of Ordinances, Sec. 102-33
- Fort Myers Code of Ordinances, Ch. 54, Art. IV, Secs. 54-157 to 54-167
- Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed. (2023), Ch. 2, High-velocity hurricane zone
- Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed. (2023), Sec. 1609.1.2
- City of Fort Myers, Building, Permitting & Inspections
- Fort Myers Code of Ordinances, Ch. 114, Secs. 114-7, 114-71, 114-81 and 114-153 to 114-156
- City of Fort Myers, News Flash
- Florida Statutes sec. 627.7152(13)
- City of Fort Myers, Hurricane Season
- City of Fort Myers, Do I Need Permits?
- City of Fort Myers BPI, Building Checklist New-Addition-Alteration
- City of Fort Myers Fire Department
Checked November 2026. Rules change: confirm with the office named before you rely on one.
Request a free estimate
Emergency Board Up in Fort Myers, FL
- We read what broke and where.
- We call you to confirm the details and the price, before any boards go up.
- A technician from our own crew secures the openings and photographs each one.