Emergency Board Up in Tallahassee, FL

How Much Does Emergency Board Up Cost in Tallahassee?

Emergency board up in Tallahassee typically costs $170 to $870 to cover one to a few broken windows or a door with plywood.

Here the price moves with trees. A limb lying in the opening has to be cut clear first, and a roof hole often needs a tarp on the same visit. A vacant building boarded to the city standard costs more, because each opening takes one unspliced panel, painted to match the building^[3].

Our cost page explains the rest of what changes a price.

What Does Tallahassee's Board-and-Seal Code Require on an Empty Building?

Inside city limits, a building left open by damage or neglect must be secured or boarded^[8]. Article VI of the Land Development Code sets the method^[3]:

• exterior grade plywood over every opening, written as "1½ inch (15/32″)" or thicker^[3]
• no splices or joints over an opening, and no more than six inches past it where there is no casing^[3]
• at least 8d common nails or No. 10 wood screws, no more than 12 inches apart along edges^[3]
• plywood painted to reasonably match the building and kept up while it is boarded^[3]

Keeping a structure boarded past one year is a violation unless the magistrate extends it for good cause^[3]. If the city boards it under an order, the cost becomes a lien on the property^[3], and fines can reach $250 a day per violation^[4].

Why Do Falling Trees Break So Many Tallahassee Windows?

There are 20 miles of canopy road inside city limits and 58 more in the county^[1]. Big oaks over houses mean storms drop limbs through roofs and windows. On May 10, 2024, homes and businesses were damaged by falling trees along Pensacola Street, and warehouses at Railroad Square were severely damaged^[9]. Leon County also logged 385 thunderstorm wind reports and 15 tornadoes from 2016 to 2025^[2], so a broken window can come from an ordinary squall line.

Is Your Address Under the City of Tallahassee or Leon County?

Much of Leon County lies outside city limits, so it matters which side of the line you are on. Inside city limits, the board-and-seal article and city Code Enforcement apply^[3]. In unincorporated areas such as Killearn Lakes, Bradfordville or Woodville, the Leon County Sheriff's Office takes police reports, at (850) 606-3300^[12].

Permits split the same way. Leon County's post-storm guide lists temporary roof tarping as needing no permit, but window or door replacement needs one^[13]. In the city, permanent repairs follow the Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023)^[5]. The state-wide plywood and insurance rules are on our Florida board-up rules page.

Boarding Up Rentals, Vacant Units and Historic Homes in Tallahassee

About 6 in 10 occupied Tallahassee homes are rented, and about a third of units are in buildings of five or more^[14]. So a landlord or manager often has to approve the work. About 12% of units sit vacant^[14], the buildings the one-year limit is written for.

In a historic district the board up is temporary. The permanent fix is what gets reviewed, since installing an exterior window or frame, or filling in a window opening, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness^[15]. We fasten boards so they come off without splitting old casings.

Tallahassee Neighborhoods and Leon County Communities We Cover

We board up across the city, from Downtown, Railroad Square and Cascades Park to Myers Park, Country Club Estates and Indian Head Acres on the southside^[9]. We also cover Seminole Manor, Mabry Manor, Southwood and Lake Jackson, and north to Killearn Lakes, Golden Eagle and Luna Pines^[2]. Outside the city we work in Bradfordville, Woodville, Fort Braden, Miccosukee and Midway in Gadsden County. Farther west, see Pensacola.

ZIP codes: 32301, 32303, 32304, 32305, 32306, 32307, 32308, 32309, 32310, 32311, 32312, 32313, 32317, 32399

Near Tallahassee

We also cover Pensacola, Panama City in the The Panhandle area. See all areas, the price table and Florida rules.