Main Street Water Damage(772) 555-0101

Water damage restoration in Miami (33131)

Burst pipe, leak or flooding? Call and we'll connect you with a local water damage pro.

Call (772) 555-0101

Main Street Water Damage is a free referral service. We connect you with independent local service providers. We don't do the work ourselves.

Downtown Miami skyline across the blue water of Biscayne BayMiami skyline from Biscayne Bay
Photo: P. Hughes (opens in a new tab), CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

Miami had 442,241 residents in the April 1, 2020 Census. The Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimate for July 1, 2025 is 489,812. The City of Miami is the largest of Miami-Dade County's 34 incorporated municipalities, and Miami is the county seat.

The city grew from land bought by Julia Tuttle, who persuaded railroad owner Henry Flagler to extend his railway south after the 1894-1895 freezes. The first train arrived April 13, 1896. On July 28, 1896, 367 people voted in favor of incorporating the city, according to WLRN.

In the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates, Miami had 229,852 housing units. Of those, 49,360 were one-unit detached and 20,124 were one-unit attached, so one-unit structures were about 30.2% of all units. Also, 28.5% of units were built in 1959 or earlier, and 22.3% in 2010 or later.

Common problems

Help with a specific problem

What homes in Miami are up against

Mold spots on the bottom of a water-damaged drywall wall above a tile floor

Heavy rain from the system that became Tropical Storm Alex in early June 2022 put over 2 ft of water on streets in portions of Downtown Miami and Brickell.

The City of Miami says properties near its coastal areas, the Miami River and its many canals are prone to flooding. It names its Resilience and Public Works Department as responsible for maintaining the city's waterways. The South Florida Water Management District operates the regional Central and Southern Florida Project canal system. Local secondary canals are maintained and operated by cities, counties and water control districts.

The city also says king tides occur every year from September through November. They can flood streets near waterways and the coast, and low-lying inland areas, on days when it is not raining.

Storms that hit close to home

Palm trees bending in hurricane winds over a street littered with fronds

In the 1926 Great Miami Hurricane, the eye passed over downtown Miami and parts of Coconut Grove around 6:30 AM on September 18. At the height of the surge, Atlantic water extended across Miami Beach and Biscayne Bay into the City of Miami for several city blocks.

On May 12, 1997, an F1 tornado with estimated winds of 100 to 110 mph touched down in the Silver Bluff Estates area. It cut a path about 8 miles long through downtown Miami and caused an estimated $526,000 in damage.

During Hurricane Wilma on October 24, 2005, the Virginia Key tide gauge reported a maximum surge of around 4 feet. Minor surge flooding was noted in Coconut Grove, Downtown Miami and Northeast Miami.

Significant flooding hit downtown Miami on September 10, 2017, during Hurricane Irma. NWS Miami reported an average of 3-5 feet of inundation along the Biscayne Bay shoreline, extending 1-2 blocks inland.

In the news

Permits and rules

Under Florida's mold-related services law (Chapter 468, Part XVI), a person may not perform or offer to perform mold assessment or mold remediation without complying with that part's licensing provisions. The law defines this as work on mold growth of greater than 10 square feet.

The City of Miami's post-storm permitting page lists water or sewer line repair, structural framing repairs and load-bearing element repairs as work that requires a permit. Temporary tarping of roofs or walls is exempt. A structure is Substantially Damaged if repair costs are 50% or more of its market value before the storm. No permit will be issued until that determination is finalized.

Florida law bars a property insurance claim or reopened claim unless the insurer gets notice within 1 year after the date of loss. For a supplemental claim, the limit is 18 months. The NFIP flood policy requires a signed and sworn proof of loss within 60 days after the loss.

What affects the cost

Wet hallway carpet pulled back and propped up, with drying fans and a dehumidifier

Prices vary by provider and by how much was affected, so ask for an estimate. What usually affects the cost:

What happens when you call

  1. You call the number on this page. A short automated assistant asks two or three questions, such as what's wrong and your ZIP code, so we can find the right provider.
  2. We connect your call to an independent water damage provider who serves Miami (33131).
  3. You talk with the provider directly about the problem, timing and price before any work starts.

Main Street Water Damage doesn't charge you for the referral. The provider sets their own prices and does the work. Calls are recorded for quality and billing.

Around Miami

The City of Miami GIS Team keeps a map layer with 104 named neighborhoods, which it describes as a general reference map of well-known city neighborhoods. The city operates seven Neighborhood Service Center offices:

The Planning Department defines three Community Redevelopment Agency districts: Omni, Southeast Overtown/Park West, and Midtown Miami Project/Buena Vista Yards. The city's address records use 26 distinct five-digit ZIP codes, from 33101 to 33150.

Questions people ask

What should I do first?

If it's safe, shut off the water at the main valve and turn off power to wet areas. Move valuables out of the water and take photos of the damage.

How long does drying take?

It depends on how much got wet and what it's made of. Your provider measures moisture and can tell you how long their equipment needs to run.

Will insurance cover it?

It depends on your policy and the cause. Sudden leaks are often treated differently from flooding or slow leaks. Check with your insurer and report the claim promptly.

Who will come to my home?

An independent water damage provider who serves Miami (33131). Main Street Water Damage connects you; the provider does the work and sets the price.

Call (772) 555-0101