Columbia County, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Storm Debris (2026)

Columbia County Code Chapter 90, Article VI, 'Storm Debris Removal and Debris Contractors,' adopted by Ordinance No. 2025-22 on August 21, 2025, regulates for-profit cleanup after hurricanes and other disasters. Section 90-201 defines 'storm debris' as any inorganic or organic refuse material generated by a man-made or natural disaster, wind or flood event, tropical storm, or hurricane, and defines a 'debris contractor' as any person or entity performing disaster debris cleanup on a for-profit basis. Section 90-202(a) makes it unlawful, during any declared state of emergency, for a debris contractor to leave storm debris within county rights-of-way or on any property other than the county's landfill facility or another county-designated disposal location; section 90-202(b) still allows a contractor to dispose of debris by burning or burying it on the property where it originated if that method otherwise complies with applicable law.

Section 90-203 requires every debris contractor to obtain and maintain a valid registration number from the county's emergency management department before performing for-profit removal, with an application listing a designated contact person, a mobile number capable of receiving text messages, an email address, and a registered agent, and registrations run through December 31 of the issuing year. Sections 90-204 through 90-206 require contractors to give property owners written notice of their registration number and hauling obligations, to include debris hauling in every clean-up quote, and to share contracts and work orders with the county on request.

Section 90-208(a) makes a violation a misdemeanor of the second degree under section 1-10, and section 90-208(b) adds liability for the county's cleanup costs and attorneys' fees against a non-prevailing contractor in a civil enforcement action.