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

Section 106-41(b) of the Solid Waste Code, "Collection of Disaster Debris," only switches on after a State of Emergency is declared by the Board of County Commissioners, the Governor of Florida, or the President of the United States. At that point the Board or its designee confers with Emergency Services to decide whether debris on public roads, private roads, in gated communities, or generated by commercial properties is so widespread that removal is in the public interest for health, safety and economic recovery. Once that determination is made and any required Right-of-Entry/Hold Harmless agreements are executed under § 106-47(d), the Franchisee or a designated Disaster Debris Service Provider is authorized to enter private roads and gated communities to collect, though crews still cannot enter private property, dwelling units or other residential buildings.

Property owners on public or private roads must sort debris left at the right-of-way into five categories: garbage; vegetative and woody debris such as logs, branches and limbs; mixed household debris; construction and demolition debris; and white goods, and it must be stacked neatly, kept clear of the roadway, traffic signals and stormwater structures, and kept away from power lines, water meters, fire hydrants, mailboxes and fences. Commercial Real Property gets no county-funded disaster debris service at all under § 106-41(b)(5); business owners must arrange and pay for their own removal unless FEMA grants an exemption.

The County also will not reimburse a resident who hires a private contractor to haul debris to the right-of-way instead of waiting for the county-directed program, per § 106-41(b)(4).