24/7 line for water inside Fort Lauderdale homes and condos
Water damage restoration in Fort Lauderdale starts with these 3 steps
- 1Stop the waterClose the main shutoff, or the valve on the water heater, toilet or AC line. The pipe from the meter in is yours; a break on the street side goes to the city's 24-hour line, (954) 828-8000.
- 2Make it safeSwitch off power to wet rooms only from a dry spot. If the water came from a sewer, the street or a canal, don't touch it, and keep children and pets away.
- 3Photograph it, then get drying startedTake photos for your records. EPA guidance is to get water-damaged materials and belongings dry within 24 to 48 hours so mold can't take hold. One call connects you with an independent local company.
Callers pay us nothing. MetaBloom Ventures LLC is paid for connecting calls, by a call network or by the companies that buy calls. Whether anyone files an insurance claim has no effect on what we are paid.
Who to call for what
- Main break, clogged sewer, flooded street: City 24-hour line (954) 828-8000
- Water already inside your home: this line, (954) 335-0507
- Someone in danger or water rising: 911
Fort Lauderdale by the numbers
Why water gets into homes here
Rain, tides and the city's own records, each with its source. Numbers we worked out from public data say so.
22.50 in.
April 12, 2023
of rain fell in one day, the wettest day in the Fort Lauderdale record since 1912.
Source: ACIS daily record, calculated by Lauderdale Flood Line on November 12, 2026.
$28 million+
April 2023
in damage from that flash flood, which displaced residents of entire neighborhoods for as much as a week.
113.61 in.
2023
of rain at the airport through December 29, the wettest year on record (the old record was 102.36 in. in 1947).
22.34 in.
September 2026
of rain, the wettest September since 1912; the next was 1998 with 18.40 in.
Source: ACIS daily record, calculated by Lauderdale Flood Line on November 12, 2026.
40+ days
2026
of predicted king tides, with the highest tides usually in September, October and November.
7,976
through November 12, 2026
NFIP flood insurance claims in the city's ten residential ZIP codes, $242,706,124 paid; 2,525 of them from 2023.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, calculated by Lauderdale Flood Line on November 12, 2026.
What are you seeing?
Find your problem
Each page has the first steps, Fort Lauderdale facts, and what the work usually involves.
| What you see | Likely problem | Water category |
|---|---|---|
| Musty smell, spots on drywall, or growth around the AC closet | Mold remediation | Any water left in place more than 24 to 48 hours |
| Water spreading from a closet, vanity, laundry or the ceiling below a neighbor | Pipe & water heater leaks | Category 1 (clean) from supply lines when caught early; washer and dishwasher drain water is Category 2 |
| Water around the air handler, a wet ceiling under the AC, or a dripping vent | AC leak water damage | Usually Category 1 or 2 (condensate is clean when it leaves the coil but sits in pans and pipes) |
| Warm or damp spots on the floor, hollow tiles, or a water bill that jumped | Slab leak water damage | Category 1 from a supply line; Category 3 if the leak is a drain or sewer line under the slab |
| Water came in from outside: street flooding, a high tide, or a storm | Flood & king tide water | Category 3 (contaminated) for any water that came in from outside |
| Dirty water coming up through a toilet, tub or shower drain | Sewage backups | Category 3 (black water) |
Water damage estimator
Where is the water coming from?
Pick one to start. Eight short questions give you the water category, a range for drying equipment, what a written estimate should list and the mold clock. No prices, and nothing you enter is stored.
- AC drain line or air handlerWater around the air handler, in the AC closet or dripping from a vent
- Pipe, water heater or applianceA supply line, water heater, washer hose, dishwasher or fridge line
- Leak from the unit aboveWater coming through the ceiling from a neighbor's condo
- Slab leakDamp or warm floor, hollow tiles, water under the slab
- Storm rain through a window or doorWind-driven rain through a window, sliding door or wall
- Flood or king tide water from outsideStreet, canal or yard water that came into the house
- Sewage or drain backupA toilet, tub or shower drain backing up
Photo: illustrative.
Before anyone starts work
We don't vet the company you reach. Here's what to check.
Lauderdale Flood Line is a referral line, not a contractor. Your call goes to an independent local company. These checks take a few minutes and protect you either way.
Do
- Ask the company for its Florida license number and look it up yourself on the state DBPR search before anyone opens a wall
- If mold covers more than about 10 square feet, ask for the Florida mold remediator license number and check it the same way
- If you want mold testing, hire the assessor separately: Florida bars one company from assessing and remediating the same home within 12 months
- Ask for a certificate of liability insurance with the company's name on it
- Get a written, itemized estimate before work begins, and read every page you are asked to sign
- Take your own photos and ask for a copy of each day's moisture readings
Don't
- Sign over your insurance benefits. For Florida policies issued since January 1, 2023, an assignment of post-loss benefits is void. Fla. Stat. 627.7152(13)
- Let a contractor tell you what your policy covers. Florida bars contractors from interpreting policies or adjusting a claim without a public adjuster license. Fla. Stat. 489.147
- Let the company that removes mold also be the one that tests it afterward. Fla. Stat. 468.8419
- Paint over a water stain or close a wet wall before moisture readings say it's dry. EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
Where the line works
Fort Lauderdale ZIP codes, from Palm Aire to Harbordale
All ten residential ZIPs below are in the call network's coverage list. Neighborhood names come from the city's 2026 neighborhood association list and city park addresses.
North
- 33305
- Coral Ridge, Bal Harbour, Lauderdale BeachNear Coral Ridge Park (2401 NE 27th Ter)
- 33306
- Coral ShoresIts civic association is on the city's 2026 recognized list
- 33308
- Galt Mile, Imperial Point, Bayview, the Landings, Lake EstatesNear Beach Community Center (3351 NE 33rd Ave)
- 33309
- Palm Aire Village, Twin Lakes NorthNear Palm Aire Village Park (6401 NW 21st Ave)
Central
- 33301
- Downtown, Victoria Park, Colee Hammock, IdlewyldNear Stranahan Park (10 E. Broward Blvd)The city names Victoria Park as prone to tidal flooding. Source
- 33304
- Flagler Village, Middle River Terrace, Lake Ridge, Central BeachNear Holiday Park (1150 G. Harold Martin Dr)The city says Middle River Terrace sees compound flooding when heavy rain meets a king tide. Source
- 33311
- Lauderdale Manors, Durrs, Historic Dorsey Riverbend, Dillard Park, Golden Heights, Lake Aire, Rock Island, River GardensNear Carter Park (1450 W. Sunrise Blvd)
South and southwest
- 33312
- Sailboat Bend, Riverside Park, Riverland, Shady Banks, Flamingo Park, Melrose Manors, Lauderdale Isles, SunsetNear Riverland Park (950 SW 27th Ave)
- 33315
- Croissant Park, Tarpon River, River Oaks, EdgewoodNear Croissant Park (245 W. Park Dr)
- 33316
- Harbordale, Poinciana Park, Rio Vista, Harbor BeachNear Harbordale Park (1817 S. Miami Rd)
PO box ZIPs (16 of them) aren't listed; use the ZIP of the home that's wet. Sources: USPS ZIP Code by City and State (Fort Lauderdale, FL); City of Fort Lauderdale Parks & Facilities Listing; City of Fort Lauderdale: 2026 Neighborhood Associations; Marketcall coverage sheet (Tier 1).
Heading out for the evening? Two minutes with your water first
Whether it's a Panthers game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise or an Inter Miami CF II match at Chase Stadium, a house left alone for an evening is when a washer hose or an AC drain line tends to go unnoticed.
Look at the AC closet
A dry pan under the air handler and a clear condensate line mean one less thing to come home to. The EPA recommends keeping drip pans clean and drain lines flowing.
Shut the washer valves
If you run a load before you leave, close the hot and cold valves behind the washer when it finishes.
Know your main shutoff
Everyone in the house should know where it is. The pipe from the meter in is yours, according to the city.
Save two numbers
The city's 24-hour Neighbor Service Center for street-side problems, and this line for water already inside.
Team and venue names are used only to say where they are. Sources: Florida Panthers: Sunrise (nhl.com); Inter Miami CF II news (intermiamicf.com).
Questions
Fort Lauderdale water damage questions
Who do I call for a water main break or a sewer problem in the street in Fort Lauderdale?
The City of Fort Lauderdale's 24-hour Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000 takes reports of water main leaks and breaks, clogged sewers and storm drains, and flooding. If the water is already inside your home, call this line at (954) 335-0507 to be connected with an independent local restoration company.
Who answers when I call Lauderdale Flood Line?
Your call is connected with an independent local company that does water damage or mold work in Fort Lauderdale. We are a referral service, not a contractor, and we don't know ahead of time which company takes a given call. Check the license and insurance of whoever comes out; the steps are listed on this page.
How much rain fell in Fort Lauderdale on April 12, 2023?
The National Weather Service's Fort Lauderdale records show 22.5 inches on April 12, 2023. NWS Miami's 2023 summary says the flash flood caused at least $28 million in damage and displaced residents of entire neighborhoods for as much as a week.
Who pays for water damage in a Fort Lauderdale condo?
Under Florida Statutes section 718.111(11)(f), the association's policy excludes floor, wall and ceiling coverings, appliances, water heaters and built-in cabinets inside each unit, which fall to the unit owner. Who pays for a leak that started in another unit depends on the declaration and on whether someone was negligent.
Does Florida license mold remediation companies?
Yes, for jobs over 10 square feet. Florida Statutes sections 468.8411 and 468.8413 require a state license for mold remediation and mold assessment, and you can check a license number on the DBPR license search. Repairs and rebuilding are contractor work under chapter 489.
I rent my place. Can I call for water damage service myself?
Tell your landlord or property manager first, in writing and with photos, because the owner has to authorize work on the building. Your renters policy may cover your belongings. If water is still running and you can't reach anyone, close the main shutoff.
How soon can mold start after a leak in Fort Lauderdale?
The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and to keep indoor humidity under 60 percent.
Water inside right now? Call and you'll be connected with an independent local company.
(954) 335-0507