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

The county manager may order debris removal from county-owned property, county roads and private roads only after declaring a major or catastrophic disaster, and only on a finding that removal is needed to eliminate an immediate threat to life, public health or safety, to prevent significant damage to county property, or to support the community's economic recovery. Removal priority goes first to clearing county rights-of-way through a 'cut and toss' operation that pushes debris to the roadside so search-and-rescue and repair crews can pass; hazardous trees and limbs on county property come next, but only if the damage was disaster-caused and the tree threatens a structure, an ingress/egress route or a right-of-way.

36(d), Florida Statutes, without it being a trespass, but only after the county manager or a designee determines removal is necessary; hazardous trees or limbs overhanging a private road remain the adjacent owner's responsibility unless they endanger county work crews. Property owners along county rights-of-way and private roads must stage their own debris with its leading edge inside the three-foot roadside shoulder, split into five separate piles: putrescent/household debris, vegetative debris, construction and demolition debris, white goods, and hazardous household or electronic waste. Piles cannot block the roadway, traffic signs or stormwater structures, and must stay clear of power lines, water meters, and within three feet of power poles, fire hydrants, parked vehicles, mailboxes or fences.

Once the county announces its last removal pass, residents are responsible for anything left over through their normal predisaster collection service. Anyone whose curbside pile is found not to be disaster debris has twenty-four hours after notice to remove it themselves before the county bills them for hauling it away.