Water Damage in Hollywood
If water is in your Hollywood home or condo, call (954) 707-5047. Water damage restoration in Hollywood starts with stopping the water source, removing standing water, and drying the structure before materials are lost to mold and rot. Our business is located at 3009 S Ocean Dr Apt 429, Hollywood, FL 33019.
Hollywood is a coastal Broward County city of 157,019 people, based on the U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate. The city covers 27.27 square miles. Of its 61,409 households, 58.9% own their homes, so many of the people making repair decisions after water damage are the owners living with it. On average, each of its 61,409 households has 2.50 persons.
Flood exposure is not spread evenly across the city. Much of Hollywood's floodplain lies east of U.S. 1, and the risk follows the beach and lake corridors.
A home does not need to sit on the beach to have a water problem. Water that enters a building soaks into drywall, flooring and insulation, and it can travel up walls and into cabinets. The longer wet materials stay wet, the more of the structure is at risk.
Hollywood's exposure comes from three directions: heavy rain, high tides, and the floodplain map itself. Year-round plumbing and air conditioning leaks cause much of the everyday water damage here, too. A slow leak behind a wall or under a floor can stay hidden for a long time, which is why leak detection is part of restoration. The next section explains each one, including those leaks.
Hollywood's Water Risks
Three drivers shape water damage in Hollywood: heavy rain, tidal flooding, and the floodplain itself. Each affects a different part of the city and a different kind of property.
Heavy rain. The clearest example is April 12, 2023. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport recorded 25.91 inches of rain in 24 hours, and Hollywood received in excess of 15 inches. Twenty inches fell between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. In recent flooding, some neighborhoods took up to 18 inches of water. Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage in other neighborhoods too.
Tidal flooding. Tidal flooding does not need a storm. Recent king-tide events caused street flooding along A1A and Hollywood Beach, and water from these events can reach ground floors of low-lying buildings near the coast. Properties near Hollywood Beach and the South Lake area face tidal water and rain-driven flooding.
The floodplain itself. The flood maps decide which rules apply to a building, not only how often water arrives. Many portions of Hollywood lie within floodplains, especially east of U.S. 1. FEMA's July 2024 maps added more than 11,000 properties to the Special Flood Hazard Area. Some properties sit in Coastal High Hazard Areas, known as V zones. Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and a new flood policy carries a 30-day waiting period. The City's public Flood Risk Portal shows a property's flood zone and any elevation certificate on file.
Plumbing and AC leaks. Not every water problem comes from weather. Supply lines, drain lines, water heaters and air conditioner condensate lines leak throughout the year in Hollywood homes and condos alike. These everyday leaks are the baseline for our water damage work. A slow leak behind a wall or under a floor can stay hidden for a long time, which is why leak detection is part of the restoration process.
What This Business Does in Hollywood
We restore water-damaged and mold-affected properties in Hollywood. Two services cover that work, and each has its own page with the details.
Many property owners do not know which service they need at first. Standing water after rain is a water damage question. A musty smell behind drywall after a leak is often a mold question, and the two frequently overlap. Starting with the problem you see, such as standing water, a stain or a musty smell, is enough to know which service to ask about.
Water Damage Restoration is the main service for Hollywood homes and condos. It covers leak detection, storm damage restoration, water removal and water extraction, along with structural drying and restoration of the affected materials. Documentation of the damage as found is part of the work, so property owners have a record of what was damaged.
If you can see water, staining or odor in a wall, floor or cabinet, describe it on the phone, and the service that fits will be discussed.
Mold Remediation covers mold growth in Hollywood properties, which often follows a leak or a flood. The service covers assessment, removal of the mold, and correction of the moisture source that fed it, because mold returns when moisture stays. Because the two services often overlap in a single property, one call to (954) 707-5047 can cover both questions.
Both services are offered from our Hollywood business address, and both are reached by phone at (954) 707-5047, whether the property is a house or a condo unit.
Hollywood Local Facts
The July 2024 FEMA Flood Maps
What it is. FEMA's updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps, effective July 2024, changed Hollywood's flood zones. The maps added more than 11,000 Hollywood properties to the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and removed 2,115 properties from the flood insurance requirement.
Why it matters. Many portions of Hollywood lie within floodplains, especially east of U.S. 1, and some properties sit in Coastal High Hazard Areas, known as V zones. If your property moved into the SFHA, the City's floodplain rules now apply to it when a repair becomes substantial.
What it changes in practice. The City requires the finished floor in an SFHA to sit at Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus 1 foot at minimum. Check your property's zone through the City's Flood Risk Portal, described in the permits section below.
King Tides on Hollywood's Coast
What it is. King tides are unusually high tides. In Hollywood, recent king-tide events caused street flooding along A1A and Hollywood Beach, and water can reach ground floors near the coast.
Why it matters. The City places temporary Tiger Dams along portions of the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk and has installed tidal gate panels in the South Lake area. It also uses permanent and auxiliary stormwater pumps. A property owner near these areas benefits from knowing when high-tide windows fall.
What it changes in practice. The City publishes upcoming king-tide periods on its News Flash page. The periods published were November 5 to 11, November 22 to 28, December 5 to 8 and December 23 to 27. Tidal water is salty, so drying and material decisions after a king-tide event differ from those after rain.
April 12, 2023 Rain Event
What it is. On April 12, 2023, 25.91 inches of rain were recorded at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 24 hours. Hollywood received in excess of 15 inches, and 20 inches of the airport total fell between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Why it matters. The National Weather Service Miami issued its first Flash Flood Emergency for metro Southeast Florida during this storm. The heaviest-rain area carried a 0.1% annual exceedance probability, which means a 0.1% chance in any given year. For a Hollywood owner, it is the clearest local example of how quickly a storm can overwhelm a ground floor.
What it changes in practice. Photograph the building and the damage before cleanup begins. Those photos are required in the City's SFHA permit application when the damage is substantial.
The 50% Rule
What it is. Under the City of Hollywood Floodplain Administrator's notice, a building in an SFHA is substantially damaged when repair costs equal or exceed 50% of its pre-damage market value. Substantial improvement uses the same 50% test for improvements. Damage of any origin counts.
Why it matters. Once a building reaches the 50% threshold, it must be brought into compliance as new construction, which means the lowest floor must be at or above BFE. A repair that looks like ordinary restoration can become a compliance project.
What it changes in practice. Check the property's status with the City before repair plans are final. Permit applications for SFHA work require the photos, description, cost estimate, elevation certificate or survey, market value evidence and signed affidavits listed in the permits section below.
Permits and Paperwork After Water Damage in Hollywood
Water damage in a Special Flood Hazard Area can turn a repair into a permit process. When the damage or improvement is substantial, the City of Hollywood's Floodplain Administrator requires a permit application with specific contents.
What the SFHA Permit Application Must Include
According to the City's notice, an SFHA permit application must contain:
- Current photos of all exterior sides of the building, plus interior photos if the building was damaged
- A detailed description of the proposed work
- A detailed cost estimate to restore the structure to its pre-damage condition
- An elevation certificate or survey
- Evidence of market value, such as a recent appraisal or the tax assessment value
- Signed owner and contractor affidavits
Each item in that list is part of the application the City's notice describes, so gather them before the permit is filed.
Documentation that starts at the first visit is the easiest way to meet these requirements, because the photos, description and cost estimate all depend on what was recorded when the damage was first seen.
Check Your Zone in the Flood Risk Portal
The City provides a public Flood Risk Portal, powered by Forerunner, that shows a property's flood zone and any elevation certificate on file. Use it before planning repairs, because the zone determines which floodplain rules apply.
Hollywood's Flood Insurance Standing
Hollywood participates in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System as a Class 6 community. The City states that this gives a 20% flood insurance premium discount in the SFHA. That is a fact about the City's insurance program and Hollywood's standing within it. It is not an offer from this business.
The flood insurance gap described under Hollywood's Water Risks is worth planning for before a storm arrives.
Checking the zone and gathering the application items are both things to do before repair plans are final. Confirm current requirements with the City of Hollywood before any work begins.
Calling From Hollywood
Our business is located at 3009 S Ocean Dr Apt 429, Hollywood, FL 33019. Call (954) 707-5047 to start the conversation. Phone is the contact route for this business.
When you call, have these details ready:
- Where the water is, including the room, floor or unit
- The source if you know it, such as a roof leak, a pipe, an appliance, rain or a high tide
- Photos of the water and the damage, taken before any cleanup begins
- Your property address, and whether it is a house or a condo unit
If you own a condo unit, the unit's responsibilities and the association's responsibilities may differ, so have the association's contact information ready too. If you are not sure where the water is coming from, describe what you see and what has changed, such as a new stain, a soft floor or a smell from a wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out if my Hollywood property is in a flood zone?
Check the City of Hollywood's Flood Risk Portal, described in the permits section below. It shows the zone that determines which floodplain rules apply. Because the July 2024 FEMA maps changed the Special Flood Hazard Area, check your property directly rather than relying on older maps or neighbors' experience.
What changed in Hollywood's July 2024 FEMA flood maps?
The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps took effect in July 2024 and changed Hollywood's flood zones. The updated maps added more than 11,000 Hollywood properties to the Special Flood Hazard Area and removed 2,115 properties from the flood insurance requirement. Many portions of the city lie within floodplains, especially east of U.S. 1, and some properties are in coastal V zones. Within the SFHA, the City requires the finished floor to sit at Base Flood Elevation plus 1 foot at minimum.
When does water-damage repair in Hollywood trigger the 50% substantial-damage rule?
If the property is in the SFHA, the rule applies when repair costs equal or exceed 50% of the structure's pre-damage market value. The 50% threshold comes from the City of Hollywood Floodplain Administrator's notice. Damage of any origin counts. When the threshold is met, the building must be brought into compliance as new construction, with the lowest floor at or above BFE. The permit application then requires photos, a description, a cost estimate, an elevation certificate or survey, market value evidence, and signed owner and contractor affidavits.
What are king tides, and how do they cause water damage in Hollywood?
Unusually high tides, known as king tides, have caused street flooding along A1A and Hollywood Beach. The City uses temporary Tiger Dams on portions of the Broadwalk, tidal gate panels in the South Lake area, and permanent and auxiliary stormwater pumps. The City publishes upcoming king-tide periods on its News Flash page. The City's published periods were November 5 to 11, November 22 to 28, December 5 to 8 and December 23 to 27.