Boca Raton, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Storm Debris (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Declaration of a hurricane warning (Sec. 19-170)
- Solid waste
- Must be removed or secured
- Materials
- Tied, banded, or netted down
- 'Secured' defined
- Fastened covering/netting per the section
- Baseline rule
- Year-round site cleanliness (Sec. 19-169)
Summary
Once the city declares a hurricane warning, Sec. 19-170 requires every active construction site to either remove all stored solid waste or secure it against becoming wind-borne debris, and to tie, band, or net down any stored construction materials so wind can't turn a job site into flying debris.
(1)Upon declaration of a hurricane warning, all solid waste stored upon a construction site shall be removed from the site and disposed of in an approved manner or secured in such a manner as to prevent the waste material from becoming wind-borne debris during a storm.(2)Alternatively, upon declaration of a hurricane warning, construction materials stored on site shall be tied, banded, or placed within secured containers on the ground so as to prevent the materials from becoming wind-borne debris. For the purposes of this section, "secured" shall mean a protective covering or netting adequately sized and fastened on the ground to prevent waste materials and construction materials from becoming wind-borne debris.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 19-170 targets the specific hazard of an active construction site during a storm: loose lumber, debris, and building materials that a hurricane can turn into projectiles. Once a hurricane warning is declared, subsection (1) requires that all solid waste stored on the site be removed and disposed of in an approved manner, or secured so it cannot become wind-borne debris during the storm. Subsection (2) covers construction materials that are staying on site: they must be tied, banded, or placed in secured containers on the ground, and the section defines 'secured' specifically as a protective covering or netting that is adequately sized and fastened to the ground.
This sits alongside the year-round site-debris rule in Sec. 19-169, which already requires every construction site to stay clean and sanitary, provide enough solid waste containers or a roll-off dumpster for the volume generated between pickups, and lets the building official stop work if a site isn't kept clean. Sec. 19-170 layers the storm-specific securing duty on top of that baseline the moment a hurricane warning is declared, shifting the obligation from routine housekeeping to active storm preparation, and it applies to any contractor or owner with an open permit and material staged on the property, not just to occupied buildings.
Violations & Fines
Failing to secure or remove site debris after a hurricane warning is declared is enforced the same way as any other building-code violation: a misdemeanor under Sec. 19-199, with each day the unsecured debris remains a separate offense. The building official can also issue a written stop-work order under Sec. 19-206, and under Sec. 19-169 can already order work stopped for a construction site that isn't kept in a clean, sanitary condition even before a storm is declared.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does my contractor have to do with debris once a hurricane warning goes out?
Can I just leave lumber stacked on my job site during a storm?
Is there a debris rule for construction sites outside of hurricane season?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boca Raton
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Boca Raton to another location·View the Florida hurricane preparedness overview
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Storm Debris in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle storm debris.