Water damage restoration in Jacksonville Beach

Duval County had 995,567 residents in the April 1, 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau estimated 1,062,963 for July 1, 2025. Jacksonville is the county's largest city, with 949,611 people in 2020.

The Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida created the county on August 12, 1822. It was named for General William P. Duval, the first civil governor of the Territory, and Jacksonville was designated the county seat. The City of Jacksonville states that it consolidated in 1968.

The 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimate counts 473,580 housing units in the county. Of these, 276,556 are single-family detached homes (about 58 percent) and 29,603 are single-family attached. About 20.6 percent of units (97,580) were built in 2010 or later, and 16.6 percent were built in 1959 or earlier.

Common problems

• Burst or leaking pipes, including supply lines to sinks, toilets and washing machines
• Roof leaks after heavy rain or wind, often showing up first as a ceiling stain
• Water heater leaks and failures
• Flooding from storms, overwhelmed drainage or rising water
• Appliance leaks from dishwashers, refrigerators and ice makers
• Sewer and drain backups

Help with a specific problem

• Burst pipe
• Water leaking through the ceiling
• Flooded room
• Leaking water heater
• Mold after a leak
• What water damage restoration costs

What homes in the First Coast are up against

In Hurricane Matthew on October 7, 2016, NWS Jacksonville reported a water level of 5.14 ft above NAVD88 at the Mayport gauge in Duval County, which it called the second-highest on record since the 1898 hurricane. Water flowed across Anastasia Island in St. Johns County about 2.5 feet above ground. Matthew's 48-hour rainfall reached 8.15 inches at Jacksonville Heights and 8 inches at Ortega in Duval County, and 7.54 inches near Lakeside in Clay County.

In August 2024, Hurricane Debby brought 9.27 inches of rain at Hilliard in Nassau County and 7.28 inches at Sawgrass in St. Johns County. North Fork Black Creek in Clay County crested at 20.13 ft on Aug. 6. In September 2024, Helene's storm surge sent St. Johns River water over the riverbank onto Lomax Street and flooded Riverside Avenue to the undercarriage of cars in Duval County.

Storms that hit close to home

• Hurricane Matthew, October 2016: Storm surge and St. Johns River flooding destroyed many properties and cut power to nearly 250,000 Jacksonville-area customers.
• Hurricane Irma, September 2017: The St. Johns River set record flood stages at many locations. Hundreds of people were rescued, and two people drowned in freshwater flooding.
• Hurricane Nicole, November 10, 2022: The National Weather Service reported at least 25,000 power outages and severe beach erosion with significant dune loss.
• Hurricane Debby, August 2024: A large tree fell on a house on Ribault Scenic Drive, and flooding closed Edgewood Avenue.
• Hurricane Helene, September 25-27, 2024: At least 224,000 customers lost power. Falling trees destroyed roofs in the mid-westside and Arlington Hills, and one person died when a tree fell on a mobile home.
• Hurricane Milton, October 2024: The St. Johns River reached moderate flood stage in downtown Jacksonville, and streets flooded in Riverside, Southampton and the Pottsburg Creek area.

In the news

• Hurricane scam: Florida sues company over millions in stolen insurance funds (opens in a new tab)FOX 13 Tampa Bay, Sep 25, 2026

  Florida's attorney general sued Evolve Construction in September 2026, alleging it took insurance money from Hurricane Ian and Milton victims, mostly seniors, for roof, mold and restoration work it never started. Verify licenses and avoid big upfront payments.

• County Impacts Associated with Hurricane Milton (2024) (opens in a new tab)NWS Jacksonville, Oct 24, 2024

  NWS Jacksonville's Duval County section for Milton (October 2024) reports the St. Johns River at moderate flood stage downtown and moderate to major near the Buckman Bridge, street flooding in Riverside and Southampton, and 1-2 inches of rain.

• County Impacts Associated with Hurricane Helene (2024) (opens in a new tab)NWS Jacksonville, Oct 17, 2024

  NWS Jacksonville's Duval County section for Helene (late September 2024) lists trees on cars and homes, roofs wrecked in the mid-westside and Arlington Hills, at least 224,000 JEA customers without power, and surge flooding on downtown streets.

• POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT...HURRICANE NICOLE...UPDATED (opens in a new tab)NOAA National Weather Service, Jacksonville, Dec 1, 2022

  Hurricane Nicole's surge and wind damaged 299 structures in Flagler County around Nov. 9, 2022, 24 of them severely, and undermined A1A. St. Johns and Duval beaches eroded and Duval had 25,000+ outages. Coastal homes can face surge flooding and wind damage together.

• POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT...HURRICANE IAN...UPDATED (opens in a new tab)NOAA National Weather Service, Jacksonville, Oct 7, 2022

  Ian's rain and surge on Sept. 28-30, 2022 flooded homes along the First Coast's rivers: dozens inundated in Welaka and Satsuma (Putnam), a record tide at Dunns Creek, 15 inches of rain near Bunnell, 300+ St. Johns calls, and two Duval families displaced by fallen trees.

Permits and rules

The City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division FAQ lists replacing water heaters or other plumbing fixtures, air conditioning units and rewiring as work needing a permit. It lists stopping plumbing leaks and clearing drain stoppages as work not needing one.

The city's flood protection page defines a substantial improvement as an addition, alteration, repair or reconstruction project worth more than 50% of the existing building's value, and says it is treated as a new building. It also says homeowner insurance policies do not cover flood damage and that National Flood Insurance Program coverage has a 30-day waiting period.

Under state law:

• An initial or reopened property insurance claim is barred without notice to the insurer within 1 year after the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months.
• A policyholder may not assign post-loss benefits under a property policy issued on or after January 1, 2023. An attempt is void.

What affects the cost

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

• How large an area got wet, and for how long
• Whether the water was clean, like a supply line, or contaminated, like sewage or floodwater
• How much material has to come out, such as drywall, flooring or insulation
• Whether mold has started to grow
• Drying equipment and how many days it runs
• Rebuilding after the drying is done

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 Jacksonville Beach.
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 Duval County

Jacksonville's consolidated city government covers all of Duval County except the cities of Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach and the Town of Baldwin. The state continued these four as independent municipalities. The 2020 Census counted 23,830 people in Jacksonville Beach, 13,513 in Atlantic Beach and 7,217 in Neptune Beach.

The City of Jacksonville divides its more than 200 neighborhoods into six planning districts, each with a Citizens Planning Advisory Committee: Urban Core, Greater Arlington/Beaches, Southeast, Southwest, Northwest and North.

The Greater Arlington/Beaches district is bounded by the St. Johns River on the west and north and Beach Boulevard on the south. On the east it is bounded by the Intracoastal Waterway, Church Road and the Atlantic Beach municipal boundary.

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 Jacksonville Beach. Main Street Water Damage connects you; the provider does the work and sets the price.