Frequently Asked Questions

It is the law, and building permits can protect you.  With a building permit, you get the advice of reviewers and inspectors who review each phase of your project for approval, checking to see that the work is done per the Building Code, zoning, and the approved plans.  A building permit is required to show compliance with sanitary and life safety, assist in obtaining insurance coverage, and welfare concerns, including protection from unlicensed contracting.

Working without a permit results in potential fines and cause problems when you sell your home.  More importantly, you lose the assurance that the work you're paying for is built to code, a minimum standard for safety.

Provided are a few examples of the types of Building Permits requested:

Residential:

• Accessory structures such as sheds and gazebos
• Awnings and canopy
• Carports
• Decks (wood or concrete)
• Fences and walls
• Minor repairs, remodeling, and alterations
• One and two-story additions
• Patios
• Pools and spas
• Rehabilitation of existing structures
• Screened porch, patios, and enclosures
• Single Family Residence and Duplex

Commercial:

• Awnings and canopies
• Change of owner or contractor
• Fences
• Interior and exterior signs
• Landscaping
• Minor repairs, remodeling, and alterations
• Paving and drainage

Yes, from $24.00 to $36.00 per thousand.  Some permit fees are based on linear feet, such as fencing permits.

You can reach the Building Department at (305) 809-3956 or email the Permit Technicians at permittech@cityofkeywest-fl.gov.

What factors affect closing out a permit?

Closing a permit depends on several factors, including:

• The type of permit
• The age of the permit
• Whether any inspections have been completed
• If any additional requirements need to be met. 

If you need specific guidance on your permit, please contact the Building Department.

• Alteration of any building structure, any part thereof, equipment, device, or facility therein or thereon.
• To change a building's occupancy or use from one use group to another requires stronger egress, fire, and sanitary provisions.
• To change to an unauthorized or prohibited use.
• To install or alter any equipment for which provision is made or the installation is regulated by this code without first having applied and obtained a permit from the Chief Building Official, validated by payment thereof.

Building permits are issued in the name of the person performing the work.  Only licensed contractors or owners/builders may obtain a permit, which is limited to the construction of one single-family residence or duplex.

Owner-builder applicants making an application for a building permit should be advised of the following provisions and requirements that apply to owner-builders:

• Proof of Ownership Before a building permit is issued to you, you must submit proof of ownership of the land concerned in the application in the form of a recorded deed showing you own the property or a copy of the mortgage or warranty deed of the land, showing you are obligated to purchase the property or a statement to contain the legal description of property and indicate the property is in your name.
• The legal description and name on the proof document must correspond to the name and legal description on the application.  Disclosure Statement State law requires construction to be done by a licensed contractor.  You have applied for a permit under an exemption to that law.  The exemption allows you, as the property owner, to act as your own contractor even though you do not have a license.
• You must supervise the construction yourself.
• You may not hire an unlicensed person as your contractor.
• If you sell or lease more than one building you have built within one year after the construction is complete, the law will presume that you built it for sale or lease, which violates this exemption.
• You may build or improve a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding.  You may also build or improve a commercial building at a cost of $25,000 or less.  The building must be done for your own use or occupancy.  It may not be built for sale or lease.
• Your construction must be done according to building codes and zoning regulations.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that people employed by you have licenses required by state law and county or municipal licensing ordinances.
• Insurance: You should be advised that your day labor employees cause any damage to persons or property, or if any of your day labor employees are injured on the job, you are liable. Your regular home insurance policy ordinarily does not cover this type of liability. Withholding Taxes, Etc.: You should be advised to investigate your responsibility for withholding Social Security, Federal and State Unemployment Insurance Taxes and Federal Income Taxes from the wages of employees working for you on the proposed construction, and for making returns thereof to the proper agencies.
• Restrictions for Owner-Builders: An owner-builder, subject to the foregoing provisions and requirements, is limited to constructing one single family or duplex residence each year for his/her own or erecting a one story building of not more than 500 square feet for commercial or industrial use, or adding a first floor addition of not more than 500 square feet to a commercial or industrial building; or maintenance or repairs and non-structural alterations, not to exceed $5,000 on any building which he/she owners or leases. Notice: Separate permits required for Electrical, Plumbing, Roofing, and Mechanical work.

There are three types of demolition permits, namely,

1.  Full Demolition Permit: All full demolition permits are pulled by persons who are general contractors (State or County) with Specialty licenses in demolition or engineering.
2.  Partial Demolition Permit: All requirements for a full demolition permit apply, except it is unnecessary to notify the Utility companies.  The contractor shall get his electrical and plumbing contractors to pull proper permits for disconnections.  When the disconnection has already been done, the contractor shall state in writing that he is responsible for all disconnections.  Where the demolition involves the removal of any structural members, a shoring plan must be submitted.  The shoring plan must demonstrate how the remaining building portion will be supported.  The plans have to be signed and sealed by a professional engineer registered in the State of Florida.
3. Exploratory Demolition Permit: This permit can only be issued to the contractor with the approval of the Building Official. It is issued for exploratory inspection to help the Contractor, Architect and/or Engineer determine the extent of the deterioration of the building.

Electrical permits are issued in the name of the person performing the work.  Only licensed contractors or owners/builders may obtain a permit.  Owner/builder permits are limited to the construction of one single-family residence or duplex in which the owner resides.

It is the law, and mechanical permits can also protect you.  With a mechanical permit, you get the advice of reviewers and inspectors who will approve each phase of your project, checking to see that the work is done per the Standard Mechanical Code, zoning laws, and the approved plans.  Additionally, a mechanical permit is required to show compliance with sanitary, safety, and welfare concerns, including required setbacks from property lines and adjacent structures.

Working without a permit, when required, can result in fines and cause problems when you sell your home. More importantly, you lose the assurance that the work you're paying for is built to code, a minimum standard for safety.

Mechanical permits are issued in the name of the person performing the work.  Only licensed contractors or owners/builders may obtain a permit.  Owner/builder permits are limited to constructing one single-family residence or duplex.

It is the law, and plumbing permits can also protect you.  With a plumbing permit, you get the advice of reviewers and inspectors who will approve each phase of your project, checking to see that the work is done per the Standard Plumbing Code, zoning laws, and the approved plans.  Additionally, a plumbing permit is required to show compliance with sanitary, safety, and welfare concerns, including required setbacks from property lines and adjacent structures.

Working without a permit, when required, can result in fines and cause problems when you sell your home. More importantly, you lose the assurance that the work you're paying for is built to code, a minimum standard for safety.

Plumbing permits are issued in the name of the person performing the work.  Only licensed contractors or owners/builders may obtain a permit, which is limited to the construction of one single-family residence or duplex.

Once a permit has been issued and work has begun, the City’s inspectors perform inspections at intervals designated by the Building Code.  Simply stated, an inspection is required before concealing any part of the construction. The issued building permit will indicate the types of work that require inspections and when to call for one.  This permit must be displayed on the job site.  The contractor should call the Building Department when the stage of work indicated on the building permit has been completed.

Failure to Comply with the inspection requirements could result in a request to dismantle any work beyond the inspection stage. To prevent inspection delays, we ask for your assurance that properly installed and visible signs appear on buildings.

A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is required for all new construction, additions, or when a change of use is desired.

The Building Department can issue a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) after all applicable final inspections are approved, all required documents are filed with the Building Department, and all applicable fees are paid.  Other required fees are for solid waste accounts and the establishment of sewer accounts.  These accounts are established with the Revenue Department of The City of Key West.

For further information on required documents, please call the Building Department at 305-809-3956.

The Chief Building Official is authorized to issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy before the completion of the work covered by the permit, provided that such portion shall be occupied safely.  To obtain a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, the applicant must submit a request to the Chief Building Official.

The permit holder requests a Certificate of Completion after final inspection for structures without occupancy.  

A Certificate of Completion is offered on the following permit types:

• Shell buildings
• Construction trailers
• Additions
• Demolitions
• Detached garages
• Exterior doors
• Fences
• Pools
• Sheds
• Screen rooms
• Vinyl siding
• Window replacements

Per Florida Statutes 553.899(3)(a), a phase one milestone inspection for each applicable building must be completed within 180 days of receipt of a written notice from our Building Department via certified mail return receipt.  Within 14 days after receipt of written notice, the condominium or cooperative association must notify the unit owners of the required milestone inspection and provide the date the milestone inspection must be completed.

The phase one milestone inspection report must be performed, signed, and sealed by a licensed State of Florida design professional (engineer or architect).  It must certify that the building is in a structurally sound condition or identify the areas that are suspected of not being structurally sound.  To address additional questions, call 305-809-3956 or email the building department at bldg@cityofkeywest-fl.gov

As defined in 110.9.2 of the Florida Building Code, “Milestone Inspection”  means a structural inspection of a building, including an inspection of load-bearing walls and the primary structural members and primary structural systems, as those terms are defined in s.  627.706, Florida Statutes, by a licensed architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state to attest to the life safety and adequacy of the structural components of the building and, to the extent reasonably possible, determining the general structural condition of the building as it affects the safety of such building, including a determination of any necessary maintenance, repair, or replacement of any structural component of the building. 

The purpose of such an inspection is not to determine whether an existing building's condition is in compliance with the Florida Building Code or the fire safety code.

Florida Statutes 553.899, entitled “Mandatory structural inspections for condominium and cooperative buildings’ and the Florida Building Code 110.9, “Mandatory structural inspections for condominium and cooperative buildings.”

A licensed architect or engineer authorized to practice in the State of Florida may complete a Milestone Inspection Report.

Condominium and/or Cooperative association buildings meeting certain age and height criteria are subject to Milestone Inspection requirements, as Florida Statute 553.899 and Section 110.9 of the Florida Building Code require.

The age of a building is determined by the date the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) was issued.

In general, Phase I of the milestone inspection must be completed within 180 days after the owner or owners of the building receive written notice from the City. 

However, if a building reaches the applicable age before July 1, 2022, the building's initial milestone inspection must be performed before December 31, 2024.  If a building reaches the applicable age on or after July 1, 2022, and before December 31, 2024, the building's initial milestone inspection must be performed before December 31, 2025. 

The initial milestone inspection must be performed by December 31 of the year the building reaches thirty (30) years of age and every ten (10) years thereafter.

However, if the building is within 3 miles of a coastline as defined in s. 376.031, Florida Statutes, the condominium association or cooperative association must have a milestone inspection performed by December 31 of the year the building reaches 25 years of age, based on the date the certificate of occupancy was issued, and every 10 years thereafter.

Milestone Inspection Reports are public records and may be requested through the Public Records Request Center.

If the Milestone Inspection Report shows that a Phase II inspection is needed, a qualified professional must carry it out.  This inspection will include more detailed analysis, testing, and data collection.  A Phase II progress report must be submitted to the City of Key West Building Department within 180 days of the Phase I report. 

Identified repairs within the Phase II report must begin within 365 days after receiving the Phase II report.

The City of Key West Building Department can help with additional information about milestone inspections.  Please email the Building Department staff at bldg@cityofkeywest-fl.gov or call at 305-809-3956.

No. The building height exemption was added to the existing ordinance, but didn’t change other provisions already in the ordinance. Thus, the building size limitations - which governs how tall the physical size of a building may be - remain the same.

A building may be elevated the distance from the ground elevation to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), plus up to four additional feet.

The BFEs are minimum expected flood levels. Deeper flood levels are possible. Additionally, there are substantial flood insurance discounts for every additional foot above BFE (known as freeboard) is up to a maximum four feet.

Note: The current building code requires new and Substantially Improved buildings be elevated to BFE plus one-foot. This height is referred to as the Design Flood Elevation (DFE). By default, these buildings end up having a minimum one-foot of freeboard.

No. The exception only approved a maximum first floor height of 4 feet above the flood level. No City official, board or commission has the authority to allow this to be exceeded. Only another public referendum could change this limitation.

The purpose of the referendum was to aid in raising buildings above flood levels, not to permit the construction of larger structures. 

Building height is measured from the crown of the road.

Three (3) government entities are responsible for maintaining the street portion of the Rights-of-Way in the City of Key West.

Monroe County maintains:

• 1st Street
• The 400 block of Whitehead Street
• Bertha Street
• Eaton Street
• Flagler Avenue
• Palm Avenue

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) maintains:

• The 500 - 900 blocks of Whitehead Street
• North Roosevelt Boulevard
• South Roosevelt Boulevard
• Truman Avenue

The City of Key West maintains all other Rights-of-Way not recognized for maintenance by the County or FDOT.

The original modern developers of the City of Key West designated certain routes as public "Rights-of-Way" to allow commerce to exist.  Businesses and residents need avenues to transport goods and move around the island.  The City was granted designated Right-of-Ways, which are required to be maintained to allow people the right of passage.

The City must maintain the streets in a manner conducive to the passage of people and goods.  The City has the responsibility to ensure that the use of the Right-of-Way maintains proper public access and that the infrastructure is properly designed and installed.

Permits

"Right-of-Way" permits are required for all construction and landscape work and for any use of the Right-of-Way, such as

• Signs
• Trash receptacles and dumpsters
• Construction laydown areas
• Bike racks

Permits are required for filling low spots with rock, asphalting on the edge of pavement, sidewalks, and brick driveways.

"Maintenance of Traffic" permits are required when any use of the Right-of-Way will cause a temporary blockage of the street, sidewalk or parking lanes. These requirements include cones, barricades, flaggers, and other means to ensure vehicles and pedestrian traffic are routed safely.

Local utilities and the contractors hired by the utility companies may perform work on the road or on rights-of-way in Key West. 

• AT&T
• City of Key West Landscaping crews
• City Sewer
• City Storm Water
• Comcast Cable
• Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
• Keys Energy Services
• Petroleum pipe lines

The City of Key West is a member of the Utility Coordination Association, which holds monthly meetings to provide updates on projects on our island.  We maintain a five-year plan for all utility work and attempt to schedule projects on the same road in the same period to reduce asphalt overlay costs. 

Sometimes, work can not be coordinated due to the nature of, or extent of, repairs or funding availability.

A permit is not required if the dumpster/container is placed on private property.  If placing the dumpster/container on private property is not an option, a permit for using the Rights-of-way is required. 

The Company supplying the dumpster/container is authorized to apply for the permit, as they are responsible for placing and removing the container. 

A property owner may not apply for a dumpster/container permit.

Americans with Disabilities Act, otherwise known as (ADA) accessible curb ramps are installed on all newly constructed corners. 

ADA Curb ramps are installed whenever an existing corner requires reconstruction or by request.  Some ramps will be placed in the downtown area or installed where none exist.

Sidewalk inspectors look for hazards that cause people to trip and fall.  For example, sidewalks that are raised, badly cracked, have holes or rough spots or are damaged by tree roots may be hazardous. 

Guidelines suggest lips or settlement exceeding 1 3/4 inches may be considered a hazard. 

If you want to report a hazard, contact the Engineering Department at 305-809-3965.

Yes. Property owners who complete their own work in the right-of-way must obtain a permit from the Engineering Services office at 1300 White Street. This permit offers inspections for forms and final finish work. Information is available to property owners who need advice on how to make repairs. Inspections are included in the permit. Call 305-809-3965 for more information.

Once they are notified that a hazard exists, property owners have 30 days to complete repairs by doing the work themselves, hiring a contractor, or asking the City to make repairs.  A City permit is required for sidewalk repair within the City right-of-way.  Fees or bonds are based on the linear footage of the sidewalk being replaced.  The City also provides property owners with an inspection to ensure the repair is completed according to City code.  Permits can be downloaded from the Engineering Department section on this website or obtained at the Engineering Services office located at 1300 White Street.  Call 305-809-3965 for further information.

City code states that public sidewalks are to be maintained by the adjacent property owners.  If a citizen complains about an unsafe sidewalk, it will be inspected after the complaint is received. A repair notice will be sent to the adjacent property owner if it is found to be hazardous.

When the City of Key West issues calls for bids, they provide the information online at DemandStar.  They can be reached toll free at 1-800-711-1712.

The City of Key West will also advertise calls for bids in the local newspaper.

There is no fee for a standard LOMA application. However, a different type of LOMA Application (LOMA-Fill) is required if a building is constructed atop fill. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does charge a fee for these applications.

Yes. While the flood zone determination may be outdated, the elevation measurements should still be the same. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will use the Lowest Adjacent Grade measurement to review your LOMA request.

If the Lowest Adjacent Grade on your property is higher than the Base Flood Elevation you may qualify for a LOMA. This information may be found on an elevation certificate.

Each building must have an elevation certificate. 

No. However, if conditions at the building have changed or if a certificate is very old, some lending institutions may require you obtain a newer version. 

No, but cancelling your flood insurance policy is not recommended due to the following:

• Flood insurance is often considerably cheaper with a LOMA.
• Lenders can still require you have flood insurance 
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood levels are "minimum" expected flood levels. Across the nation, flood waters frequently exceed these minimum expected flood heights and X-zone properties have been known to experience flood damage.
• If your property is damaged from a flood, any FEMA disaster assistance you might be eligible for would be reduced by the amount of money you would have received from a claim if you had flood insurance coverage.

Flood waters could undermine the ground under the first floor, causing the entire building to collapse. The water may never touch your unit, yet it could be destroyed by flood damage, which wouldn’t be covered by a homeowner’s policy.

Most local insurance companies offer flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Regardless of which Agent you contact, NFIP coverage should cost the same. The easiest was to find an agent in Key West is to search the internet for: Flood insurance agents "key west."

The best recommendation is to have a Preferred Risk Policy (PRP; if they qualify per National Flood Insurance Program rules) in place before the maps become effective. If not, they still have 12 months from the effective date to purchase a PRP. They will then be rated using the Newly Mapped Procedure (PDF). (Note that the link to the latest version of this fact sheet is broken, so what is included is to the old fact sheet with the same information-previous look. We’ll get you the updated version.)

With the Newly Mapped Procedure, the rate starts out at the Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) rate and then will increase each year no more than 18% (currently it has been at around 15% each year). It will stop increasing when it reaches one of two values:

1. The standard Zone X rate or if the rate using the new zone (i.e, A or V) and an Elevation Certificate becomes cheaper (which the insurance agent will need to determine).
   1. A policy rated this way can be transferred to a new owner should the building be sold, so that they can continue with the benefits of this rating.
2. If a policy is grandfathered (e.g, had too many losses to qualify for the Newly Mapped - went from Zone A to Zone V - or, increase in Base Flood Elevation (BFE)), it is recommended that a policy is in place before the maps change (that is a must if it is pre-FIRM) and then flood insurance must be maintained. This rating procedure will lock in the lower risk zone or BFE for future rating (it does not lock in the rate). A grandfather-rated policy can also be transferred to a new owner. The policy will be continued to be rated using that lower risk zone/BFE as long as the building is not substantially damaged/improved.

The flood maps for Key West first became effective December 31, 1974.  Buildings constructed after that date must be at specific minimal elevations above sea level.  Existing buildings within regulated flood zones were grandfathered into the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at their current elevations.  However, that grandfathered status ceases once the building has been renovated by half its market value.  Once that threshold is reached, renovation plans must include elevating the home to current flood levels.

To determine the market value of a structure, we rely on the market improvement value provided by the Monroe County Property Appraiser for the building before any modifications.  We then apply a 15% adjustment to account for an estimated market value.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mapped flood zones in the city based on ground elevation.  Zones like "AE," "AO," "VE," and "Coastal A" have special flood hazard requirements for buildings.  Zones labeled "X" or "Shaded-X" are above expected flood levels, exempting buildings within these zones from special requirements.

An appraisal of private property conducted by a qualified independent appraiser can be submitted for substantial improvement analysis.  The assessment should indicate the actual cash value, factoring in replacement cost depreciated for the age and quality of construction.

The value of improvements is based upon a total of costs of work done to a building within a one-year cumulative period. The one-year period is extended if the improvements are not completed within this time, until all the improvements pass all final inspections. Work for site improvements not structurally attached to the structure, such a patios, driveways/pavers, pools/spas, irrigation, or fences, are not subject to substantial improvement analysis.

No, FEMA does NOT allow floodproofing instead of elevation on residential buildings.  While homeowners can use floodproofing, it can't replace elevation if required. 

No. The 50%-Rule applies to buildings, irrespective of ownership.

Commercial buildings in AE-type flood zones may dry floodproof instead of elevation so long as the building is used for non-residential purposes.  Floodproofing is prohibited in VE-type flood zones and "Coastal A" Zones.

Every location within a regulated flood zone has a pre-determined flood level, known as the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). In type "A" flood zones, the height of a building is measured to Finished First Floor, usually referred to as the first habitable floor.

AE Flood Zones

For example, an "AE-6" flood zone indicates when a substantial flood event occurs, minimum flood levels at this location are expected to be six feet above sea level. Current building codes require Substantially Improved buildings be elevated one-foot higher than the BFE (known as the Design Flood Elevation or DFE). Therefore, a home within an "AE-6" flood zone would need to be elevated to at least seven-feet above sea level. 

VE and Coastal A Flood Zones

Type "VE" and "Coastal A" flood zones are located along shorelines and have more stringent construction standards. The appropriate flood level for these buildings is measured at the lowest horizontal cross-member. The underside of that cross-member must be one foot higher than the Base Flood Elevation for the specific site.

BPAS

If you’re seeking a building permit under the Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS), the minimum height requirement is 1.5-feet above BFE.

No, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not allow any margin of error regarding elevation requirements. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has exempted such structures from the elevation requirements related to Substantial Improvement, unless the structure is relocated, the foundation is replaced, or anything is done to the structure that would affect its status as a contributing historic structure. Utilities and machinery are still required to be elevated to proper flood levels. 

As defined in Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 44 Section 59.1 of the NFIP regulations, a building is considered to be substantially damaged when: damage of any origin is sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. Buildings can also be declared Substantially Damaged due to neglect or excessive deterioration. Such buildings can’t be renovated nor repaired without elevation.

Substantial Improvement can occur gradually when repairs/renovations/additions total 50% of the building’s value. 

Substantial Damage usually occurs during severe storm events, a fire or severe neglect/deterioration. Once declared, a Substantially Damaged building cannot be repaired without meeting current flood damage prevention requirements (usually elevation).

All structures determined to be substantially damaged are automatically considered to be substantial improvements, regardless of the repair work performed.  In other words, if the cost necessary to fully repair the structure to its prior condition is equal to or greater than 50% of that structure's market value before damages, then the structure must be elevated (or floodproofed if it's non-residential) to or above the level of the design flood elevation, and meet other applicable program requirements.

Yes, for two reasons:

1. Originally permitted as a shed or garage, it could be below flood levels with flood vents for storage and parking only.  Converting it to habitable space constitutes a change of use, necessitating elevation.
2. This conversion will likely surpass 50% of the building's value, triggering a Substantial Improvement that mandates elevation.

Yes. If the base of the building is below the flood level, all improvements are included, no matter where they occur on the building.

Yes. While in Florida solar equipment may be exempt from increasing property taxes, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) still considers such a building improvement.

If a historic, contributing structure is moved or the foundation is substantially replaced, elevation of the building is required.

Yes, buildings in the Historic District may be raised to the Base Flood Elevation.  Going higher needs HARC approval, and there might be height limits.

Call the Legal Analyst at (305) 809-3736.

The office in City Hall is closed on weekends.  However, if you want to report a complaint or possible code violation when the office is closed, call (305) 809-3740.  If you need to contact a Code Inspector, call the Key West Police Department's non-emergency number, (305)-809-1000, and request a Code Inspector to return your call.

No. Boats, trailers, or recreational Vehicles (RVs) must be parked and/or stored on your property without extending into a public right-of-way or adjoining property.

Commercial construction, demolition, drilling, or reasonably similar activities are limited to Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, and on Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. No exceptions in this subsection shall apply on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Domestic power tools sound levels are only allowed between Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from any of the following hand-powered or mechanically powered tools:

• Drill
• Grinder
• Lawn/garden tool
• Sander
• Saw

The City of Key West has no laws pertaining to tenant-landlord agreements. 

Call Code Enforcement at (305) 809-3740 and ask to speak to the Director.

Constituents must send an email or a written letter to request a continuance for a case scheduled for a hearing.  The Code Enforcement Department must receive the continuance request at least seven (7) days before the hearing date.  Requests not meeting the seven (7) day deadline will not be considered for a continuance.

Code Enforcement at City Hall, Hearings are held in the Commission Chambers located in City Hall at 1300 White Street, Key West.

Your next course of action would be to request for a continuance. The request must be in writing and submitted within five (5) business days of the scheduled hearing date. Requests for continuance may be sent to Code Enforcement Legal Analyst.  The request shall be granted or denied by the Special Magistrate. If your request is granted, your case will be continued to another date. If your request is denied, your case will be heard on the original hearing date that is scheduled.

Mailing Address:

Code Enforcement Department
Attn:  Legal Analyst
1300 White Street
Key West, FL 33040

You can contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 809-3834, and request a DVD of the Code Enforcement hearing. 

Email Code Enforcement, or call at (305)-809-3740 and request the case file. There is a charge of $0.15 for a single page and $0.20 for a double sided page.

• Baseball: Registrations begin in December and run through January, with the season starting in February and running through July.
• Girls Softball: Registration begins in November and runs through December, with the season starting in February and running through June.
• Youth Basketball: Registration begins in November and runs through December, with the season starting in January and running through June.
• Youth Football: Registrations begin in June and run through July with the season starting in August and running through December.
• Youth Hockey: Registration is being held in March, with the season running from May through August.
• Youth Soccer: Registrations begin the first three weeks of February for the Spring season and the first three weeks of May for the Fall season.

Availability varies based on the request. If the request is a special event needing permitting,  contact the Special Events Administrator at 305-809-3881. 

Smaller, private events may be scheduled through the Community Services office at 305-809-3765.

We do not have any City owned campground facilities.  Interested parties should contact the Chamber of Commerce at 305-294-2587.

Key West City TV, also known as KWCTV, broadcast the following meetings, which are held in the commission chambers at City Hall:

• Bahama Village Redevelopment Advisory Committee (BVRAC)
• Citizen Review Board (CRB)
• City Commission
• Code Compliance Hearings
• Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC)
• Key West Bight Management District Board
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (Parks & Rec)
• Planning Board
• Tree Commission
• Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB)
• Other meetings not specifically mentioned

In addition to meetings, we broadcast informational programs. See the City TV Meeting Replay Schedule for details.

The City maintains an information channel, which broadcasts continuously between meetings and events. Some of the items you will see on the information channel may include:

• Descriptions of City services
• Job postings
• Office hours
• Phone numbers
• Public events
• Public service announcements
• Public servants
• Elected Officials

Meetings will replay according to Key West City TV (KWCTV) Meeting Replay Schedule until it is replaced by the next meeting in the group or another special event to be aired.

All meetings broadcast on Key West City TV (KWCTV), have been recorded to a DVD and provided to the City Clerk. To request an archived DVD, contact  the Office of the City Clerk.

All residential rental properties are required to have a City of Key West Business Tax Receipt. Residential rentals are divided into two primary categories: non-transient (may not be rented for less than 29 days at a time) and transient 28 days or less.

Please click on the link to view the City's Code Section 66-109 for the Schedule of Taxes.

In today’s web-based environment, it has become very easy for illegal vacation rentals to be advertised on various types of social media. The City of Key West strongly recommends that the general public confirm the validity of licensed vacation rentals prior to sending payment to the advertiser.

Additional information regarding transient rentals can be found within the City municipal code. Please email the Licensing Division if you have any questions as to the validity of an advertised vacation rental property.

The City of Key West has established caps for several types of licenses/permits. As a result, no new licenses or permits will be issued for the following license/permit types unless an existing business owner chooses not to renew:

Mobile Vendor Licenses (Goods, Rentals, and Services)

There are currently 25 Mobile Vendor licenses in effect, which is the maximum number allowed. If any existing mobile vendors does not renew their license by October 31 of each year, the licensing page of the City of Key West’s website will be updated to indicate that applications will be accepted during the month of November, and a lottery will be held at the end of November to determine which applicant(s) is/are awarded the available Mobile Vendor License(s). For more information on mobile vendors, please reference the City municipal code.

Entertainment Vehicles (Pedicabs)

There are currently 20 entertainment vehicles (pedicabs) licensed in the City of Key West, which is the maximum number allowed. If any of the existing pedicab providers does not renew any of their Entertainment Vehicle permits by October 31 of each year, the licensing page of the City of Key West’s website will be updated to indicate that applications will be accepted during the month of November, and a lottery will be held at the end of November to determine which applicant(s) is/are awarded the available Entertainment Vehicle permit(s). The number of pedicab drivers is not capped; only the number of pedicab vehicles is capped at 20. For more information on entertainment vehicles, please reference the City municipal code.

Vehicles for Hire (Taxis)

There are currently 56 vehicles for hire (taxis) licensed in the City of Key West, which is the maximum number allowed. If any of the existing taxi cab providers does not renew any of his/her Vehicle for Hire permits by July 31 of each year, the licensing page of the City of Key West’s website will be updated to indicate that applications will be accepted during the month of October, and a lottery will be held at the end of October to determine which applicant(s) is/are awarded the available Vehicle for Hire permit(s). The number of taxi cab drivers is not capped; only the number of vehicles is capped at 56.

A City of Key West Street Performer or Street Artist does not include the right to operate at Mallory Square. All activity at Mallory Square is handled by the following entity:

Key West Cultural Preservation Society
P.O. Box 4837
Key West, FL 33040
Phone: 786-565-7448
Email the Sunset Celebration Organizers

Participants in the sunset celebration at Mallory Square are not required to have a City of Key West Street Performer or Street Artist permit.

A significant number of City of Key West Business Tax Receipts, licenses, and permits require a license from the State of Florida as part of the application process. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Auto-repair businesses
• Contractors (except Specialty Contractors)
• Food Service establishments
• State-licensed professionals, including but not limited to attorneys, doctors, cosmetology professionals, massage therapists, and private providers
• Tattoo establishments
• Transient rentals (including guesthouses, hotels, and residential rentals)

A copy of an active state license will be required with renewal payments for all City of Key West Business Tax Receipts, licenses, and permits which required one upon application. The majority of state licenses are obtained and can be confirmed through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Florida Licensing Division.

The City of Key West requires that all Corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s), Limited Partnerships, and Fictitious Names (DBA’s) be registered with the State of Florida. Business Tax Receipts, licenses, and permits will only be issued in one of the above names only if it has been registered with the State of Florida. In addition, all name registrations must be kept active with the State of Florida. For more information, please visit The Division of Corporations Website.

Anyone with a City of Key West Business Tax Receipt should also apply for a Business Tax Receipt with Monroe County.

Anyone with a Monroe County Business Tax Receipt only needs to apply with the City of Key West if they intend to do business within the city limits. City limits refers to all of the Island of Key West, and a portion of Stock Island north of U.S. Highway 1.

The City of Key West does allow some businesses to be operated from a private residence. There are several restrictions on home-based businesses, including but not limited to: no client contact can occur at the residence, only permanent residents of the location may be employed by the business, and no accessory structure on the property can be used for the business. For more information on home-based occupations, please refer to the City municipal code.

The following types of businesses cannot be operated from a private residence:

• Animal grooming/boarding
• Cosmetology
• Food Service
• Fortune telling/clairvoyance
• Retail sales
• Vehicle servicing

The City has many contractor classifications, and recognizes three levels of licensing: state certified licenses, state registered licenses, and specialty licenses. The state tests for certified licenses, and contractors licensed in this manner may work anywhere in the state.

You will need to contact the Licensing Department at 305-809-3955, or email Licensing.  Please note that food trucks are also known as mobile food vendors.

Key West has several ordinances pertaining to transportation businesses. The Vehicle for Hire Ordinance regulates and caps taxi services. The Entertainment Ordinance caps pedicab and other "entertainment" type licenses. The Sightseeing Ordinances caps sightseeing vehicle businesses. Limousine licenses are available, but are very strictly defined and regulated.

Business taxes range from $23.15 ( non-transient residential unit) to $1,530 ( utility company ) per year, most averaging from $118.00 to $300.00.  Businesses operating in the city also need to obtain a Monroe County Business Tax Receipt (call 305-295-5000 for more information on Monroe County Business Tax).  Businesses using fictitious names must register that name with the State of Florida.  For registration information, please visit Sunbiz's website by clicking here.

To access the City’s code, click Code of Ordinances and the Land Developments Regulations.

View the zoning map (PDF) to view where your property is located.

The use of your property is determined by the zoning district’s Permitted and Conditional Uses. Once you have identified the zoning district of the property, zoning regulations can be found under Section 122 of the Land Development Regulations (LDRs).

Your property can be rented transiently if it is in a zoning district that allows for this use. Those districts are HRCC-1, HRCC-3, HCT, HNC-1 and HNC-3. Redevelopment or conversion of permanent housing to transient or other commercial uses shall be permitted only if no on-site reduction of permanent housing occurs within the HNC-1 and 3 districts. Please contact our Department for further clarification 305-809-3720.

Each zoning district has a density calculation for the number of units allowed per acre.  Please contact our Department at 305-809-3764 to determine the number of legal units associated with your property.

A property may be subdivided so long as the lots created through the subdivision meet the minimum lot size per the zoning district requirements. Additional information can be found in the City’s Code of Ordinances, Land Development Regulations (LDRs) under Chapter 118.

The addition shall meet the zoning district’s dimensional requirements to building coverage, impervious surface ratio and setbacks. Construction will require building and site plans prepared by a registered architect or engineer and be approved and permitted by the Building Department. If your property is under HARC jurisdiction, the proposed addition would also need to meet the Historic Architectural Design Guidelines.

Yes, please see the City’s Code of Ordinances, Land Development Regulations (LDRs) Section 122-1181 through 122-1187.

Code Compliance can be reached at 305-809-3740.

Sign regulations vary depending upon location within a particular zoning district. If your business is in the historic district, regulations can be found on pages 49-50w of the Historic Architectural Design Guidelines.  

The City has very few zoning districts in the historic district which allow transient use, and the City has very strict off-street parking and density (units-per-acre) requirements. These restrictions coupled with a current cap on new transient licenses makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to convert a residential property to transient use.

A home based business is allowed so long as the use does not exceed 20% of the existing floor area and that there is no customer traffic to the property.

If you intend to construct or add to a structure, and the proposed construction would not meet standards or other requirements in the Land Development Regulations.

 Temporary Right-of-Way Applications may be submitted to the Parking Department for temporary occupation of the right of way such as Reserving Parking Spaces (Use of Right of Way), Maintenance of Traffic Plans, Sidewalk Closures, and Street/Lane Closures. Completed applications can be submitted electronically or brought to City Hall for processing.

Fines can be paid in person at City Hall during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.  The Parking Department accepts credit card and cash payments only.

If a fine is not paid within 24 hours of a vehicle being booted, the vehicle will be towed.  The vehicle owner will be responsible for both the towing expenses and the fine.

Sorry to hear that! We have a few options to work around a meter that isn't working.

You can download the City's parking app, Passport Parking, from the Google Play Store or Apple Store to make your payment.  Here's a helpful YouTube tutorial to guide you through the process!

There's no need to report the meter—our technicians automatically receive an error message from the broken pay station. However, it’s important to place a note on your dashboard that is clearly visible to the parking officer to document the issue.  Taking a photo of the note will provide additional proof in case you receive a parking citation.

All municipal lots have designated disabled parking spaces and on-street accessible spaces at various locations.

In Florida, any vehicle with a handicap placard or plate can park in any municipal metered (pay-to-park) space for up to 4 hours without paying.  This applies to all metered spaces, not just designated handicap spots.

Private parking lots may have different policies regarding handicap parking fees. Be sure to check the posted signs for any charges or restrictions, as the City is not involved with private parking lots.

Zones are displayed on the side of the Parking Pay stations.  On-street parking in the Commercial Area of Downtown is all 33050.

Zones are displayed on the side of the Parking Pay stations.  On-street parking in the Commercial Area of Downtown is all 33050.

You may purchase monthly parking – up to 10 months - at the pay stations located within the Old Town Garage (aka Park ‘n’ Ride) with a credit card.  If you need to pay by check or cash, contact the Key West Transit office at 5701 College Road, Key West, FL  33040  Tel. (305) 809-3910.

The program makes travel via bus routes more widely accessible to customers and potential customers who do not live work close to a bus route. It also enables recreational travelers to take the bus to some of the most desirable bike riding locations in the city.

Nothing! It’s free! Customers pay the regular fare but there is no additional charge for bringing a bike.

No, as long as the riders can independently put the bike on the rack, they may use the system. Children and persons unable to lift their bikes must be accompanied by another rider capable of lifting the bikes.

Bus operators are required to observe the customer loading the bike and note that the customer has secured the bike properly. Bus operators will not be required to physically assist the customer. On occasion, they may be asked to answer questions regarding the program and the racks.

Two or three bikes can be carried on the rack at any one time. Only 16-inch wheel bikes or larger, with a single seat and two wheels can be carried. Bikes with a permanent pannier or child carrier are too heavy and bulky for the racks. Key West Department of Transportation (KWDoT) bike racks will not accommodate electric bikes, mopeds, gas powered motor bikes of any kind, or tandem bicycles.

No. A customer cannot lock a bike on the rack.

It is possible to load bikes from either side, but to be safe, bikes should only be loaded from the curbside. Passengers should never stand in or near oncoming traffic.

Bikes are to be loaded into the inside slot first, if vacant. 

The bus operator should get off the bus and make sure the bike is secured properly before proceeding.

The bus operator should contact Dispatch immediately. They should collect pertinent information about the bike and the bike owner including: 

• Address
• Color of the Bike
• Make
• Name
• Phone Number
• The Serial Number

This information must be included in the written report filed with Safety and Training.

The customer should contact the Key West Department of Transportation’s (KWDoT) Lost and Found by calling 305-809-3910.

Transit accepts cash payments and Token Transit.  Please note that bus drivers are unable to refund cash to riders.

Bus schedules may be downloaded directly from the City of Key West website or at Key West Transit. They may also be picked up from KWDoT at 5701College Road or Revenue Department at City Hall located at:
1300 White Street
Key West, FL 33040

On the mobile website, the bus schedule link is located at the bottom of the home screen. Bus schedules may also be requested from any City of Key West bus driver and are available at the Chambers of Commerce, area hotels, and many other retail outlets.

Small pets are allowed on all buses provided they are in an animal carrier. Service animals are allowed on all buses and are the responsibility of the owner.

The bus stop, located across Caroline Street from the garage in front of West Marine. 

It is as simple as scheduling a ride through Key West Rides app. to Hurricane Hole Marina or US 1 & 3rd Street to connect with the Lower Keys Shuttle.

Please call the city's contact, Dorian Patton, at 305-809-3868 for information on when and where the plogging group will meet.  

The city will provide gloves, pickers, buckets, and visibility safety equipment.  Participants are suggested to bring water and wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and hats.

We appreciate your participation in and support of cleanup events and your time and efforts to Keep Key West Beautiful.

Contact the City's Utilities Department at 305-809-3966. 

If this is a Sanitary sewer concern (the sewer servicing your house), contact Jacobs at 305-292-5100.

The City of Key West is responsible for drainage from public streets.  There are two ways to report a drainage problem to the Utilities Department; click here to access the City's reporting program SeeClickFix and select "Utility Issues." Another way is to call 305-809-3966. 

Local streets are designed to be temporarily covered by water during rainstorms.

The assessment fee goes to the maintenance and operation of the City's storm drainage system to prevent storm sewer overflow into Florida waters.

Pollution is carried in rainwater.  When it rains, all the rainwater that is not absorbed into the ground (or evaporated) carries any contaminants that may be distributed on lawns, streets, roofs, and parking lots and straight to the waters surrounding the island either directly over the beaches or street ends or through pipes or wells.  Pollution reduction and treatment are needed to reduce the amount of contamination flowing into the nearshore waters in which we swim and fish.

The goal of Stormwater Piping

Reducing the amount of water in the streets was the original use of stormwater piping.  Because of rigorous design standards, the Clean Water Act, and state and local codes, we are required to reduce the pollutant load to our waters, which are the best in the state and categorized as "Outstanding Florida Waters."  Therefore our stormwater program is two-fold, to reduce flooding and standing water and reduce the number of pollutants getting to the system and then treat the contaminates that enter the system.  The City's Generic Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4 GP) contains a five-year plan indicating how the city will comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).  As of January 15, 2005, the City was required to operate under this permit.

Requirements

The requirements for NPDES are stringent; therefore, there is a strong emphasis on education and public participation throughout the initial five years.  The program's goal, which stems from the Clean Water Act of 1972, is to eliminate pollutant discharges into American waters.

The City immediately took action to implement the elements outlined in the plan.  Although the city has taken great strides in recent years to reduce illicit discharges, we welcome this opportunity to develop further systems and educational elements that will improve our Outstanding Florida Waters.  Highlights of the program are:

• Construction site best management practice ordinance and inspection
• Detection and elimination of illicit discharges through inspection and codes
• Each element of the permit has measurable goals and schedules for implementation
• Municipal operation pollution prevention and good housekeeping
• Private property infrastructure inspection and maintenance requirements
• Public education and outreach
• Public participation in ordinance revisions and clean-ups

A Stormwater Utility is a service unit within the City government which generates revenues through fees.  The stormwater utility is responsible for funding the planning, operation, construction, and maintenance of stormwater systems.  The utility generates its revenue through user fees.  The fee is based on the amount of stormwater a particular parcel passes to the stormwater system (which starts at the sidewalk or property line.) The more runoff a parcel contributes (for non-residential units), the greater the fee.

Equivalent Stormwater Unit (ESU)

Equivalent stormwater unit (ESU) means the average impervious area of residentially developed property per dwelling unit located within the city and established by city commission resolution.  An impervious surface is a surface that will not allow water to pass through to the soil.  Rooftops, driveways, parking lots, and pools are typical impervious surfaces.  ESUs were developed by field verification of open space and impervious surfaces on an average home lot.  The service fee, which is not a tax, is billed monthly with the other city utilities. 

A single-family parcel fee is based on the number of ESUs that exist.  The utility costs were distributed equally to the parcels.  Commercial units are based on how many ESUs are on the property.

The Florida Supreme Court has determined that public records are all materials made or received by an agency in connection with official business which are used to perpetuate, communicate or formalize knowledge. They are not limited to traditional written documents.  Also considered public records subject to inspection unless a statutory exemption exists are the following:

• Emails
• Films
• Photographs
• Sound Recordings
• Tapes

Nothing in the public records law requires that a request for public records be in writing or in person, although individuals may wish to make their request in writing to ensure they have an accurate record of what they requested. Unless otherwise exempted, a custodian of public records must honor a request for records, whether it is made in person, over the telephone, or in writing, provided the required fees are paid.

Nothing in the law requires the requester to disclose the reason for the request.

The law provides that the custodian shall furnish a copy of public records upon payment of the fee prescribed by law. If no fee is prescribed, an agency is normally allowed to charge up to 15 cents per one-sided copy for copies that are 14 inches by 8.5 inches or less. A charge of up to $1 per copy may be assessed for certified copy of a public record. If the nature of volume of the records to be copied requires extensive clerical or supervisory assistance, or both, the City Clerks office may charge a reasonable service charge based on the actual cost incurred.

A custodian of a public record who contends that the record or part of a record is exempt from inspection must state the basis for that exemption, including the statutory citation. Additionally, when asked, the custodian must state in writing the reasons for concluding the record is exempt.

As soon as a document is received by the City of Key West, it becomes a public record, unless there is a legislatively created exemption which makes it confidential and not subject to disclosure.

The rule on personnel records is the same as for other public documents unless the Legislature has specifically exempted an agency’s personnel records or authorized the agency to adopt rules limiting public access to the records, personnel records are open to public inspection. There are, however, numerous statutory exemptions that apply to personnel records.

No. To allow the maker or sender of documents to dictate the circumstances under which documents are deemed confidential would permit private parties instead of the Legislature to determine which public records are public and which are not.

Arrest reports prepared by a law enforcement agency after the arrest of a subject are generally considered to be open for public inspection. At the same time, however, certain information such as the identity of a sexual battery victim is exempt.

No. To allow the maker or sender of documents to dictate the circumstances under which documents are deemed confidential would permit private parties instead of the Legislature to determine which public records are public and which are not.

The local state attorney has the statutory authority to prosecute alleged criminal violations of the open meetings and public records law. Certain civil remedies are also available.

The Sunshine Amendment was added to Florida’s Constitution in 1976 and provides for full and public disclosure of the financial interests of all public officers, candidates and employees. The Sunshine Law provides for open meetings for governmental boards.

You can check City Commission Agendas online at Legistar, where they are organized by date. Additionally, paper copies of the Agendas are available for public review at the City Clerk's Office in City Hall.
1300 White Street
Key West, Florida
Phone: 305-809-3831

City Commission meetings typically occur on the second (2nd) Thursday of the month unless changed due to a public holiday.  Both morning and evening sessions are held at City Hall, starting at 9 AM and 5 PM, respectively.  You can watch the live broadcast on Comcast Channel 77 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99.  For a comprehensive list of all public meetings, refer to the city Events Calendar.

The City Commission consists of one (1) Mayor and six (6) City Commissioners.  You can find a list of these officials on the City Commission page.

The City Clerk’s Office handles City Commission Agendas. For assistance, contact them at 305-809-3832.

• A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is a document issued by the Historic Preservation Planners, which states that the proposed work is appropriate for the historic district and meets the regulations of the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines and the Historic Architectural Guidelines.

Section 102-152 of the Land Development Regulations states, “A Certificate of Appropriateness is required for the construction of any new structure, building, fence, deck or sign or the painting, repainting, repair, alteration, remodeling, landscaping or demolition of the exterior of any existing building, structure, fence, deck, sign, landscape, or lot.” Page 1 of the Historic Architectural Guidelines states that, “All exterior work must have HARC approval whether or not a building permit is required. If a building permit is required, the applicant shall obtain HARC approval prior to the issuance of the permit.”

The Guidelines also state that HARC approval must be secured on:

• Repairs to buildings
• Any painting and associated removal of existing paint
• Restoration or rehabilitation of buildings
• Additions to existing buildings
• New construction
• Fences, either new or replaced
• Alterations to streets, sidewalks, or street furnishings
• Installation of signs, awnings, benches or lighting
• Construction of swimming pools and/or decks
• Placement of temporary facilities such as vendor stands
• Miscellaneous structures (i.e. towers, etc.)
• Improvements of a right-of-way, public and private
• Exposed utilities
• Historic interior public spaces
• Interiors or all property individually listed on the National Register

The Historic Architectural Guidelines state, “If replacement is necessary, similar metal shingles must be used, not inappropriate materials such as V-crimp metal.” The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines both state, “Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture and, where possible, materials.”

Historic building means any building or structure which, in whole or in any structural part, was built 50 or more years prior to the current date, and which is located in the historic zoning districts of the city or has been designated as a historic building and/or structure, (Section 102-1).

When staff refers to something being "historic," that means it was constructed 50 or more years prior to the current date.

Large projects, or projects that do not comply with the Guidelines and Ordinances, may need to be scheduled for a HARC Agenda. Large projects include:

• Additions
• Certain demolitions
• Elevation of existing buildings
• New construction

Historic Preservation Staff has a survey that contains which structures are contributing and which structures are noncontributing.

Contributing buildings mean structures that "contribute" to the historic and architectural character of the Historic District and that fall within the period of significance. These are considered more significant historically and architecturally and should be rehabilitated following the specific guidelines for contributing structures. The regulations for alterations and additions to contributing buildings are firmer than those for noncontributing buildings.

Noncontributing buildings were deemed “noncontributing” to the historic and architectural character of the Historic District at the time they were surveyed, but some noncontributing buildings may now be considered historic. The regulations for alterations and additions to noncontributing buildings are more flexible than those for contributing buildings; however, regulations for historic, noncontributing structures may be considered more carefully.

Yes, although HARC requires that the equipment not cause damage to the historic fabric and that the panels be as non-publicly visible as possible. Please see page 28 of the Historic Architectural Guidelines for more information on solar collectors.

Yes. A Certificate of Appropriateness is required for any exterior change to a property located in the Historic District, even if it is not publicly visible. Page 1 of the Historic Architectural Guidelines states that, “All exterior work must have HARC approval whether or not a building permit is required.”

Possibly. First, staff will need to assess the windows you want to replace, in order to determine if they are historic. If so, historic windows must be repaired unless extremely deteriorated. If the windows are not historic, they can be replaced with new windows using a material appropriate to the period of the structure. Learn more on page 29-30 of the Historic Architectural Guidelines.

Yes. HARC understands the importance of raising historic and significant structures out of the floodplain, but there are certain restrictions on how much you can elevate your structure. It is important to retain the pedestrian quality of the historic district as well as retain the historic house’s proportions and architectural character. As such, it is inappropriate to elevate a structure in order to park a car underneath, as well as elevating a contributing or historic building or structure in order to build a new addition underneath.

Elevating a structure will require review by the Historic Architectural Review Commission.

Possibly. The answer depends on the specific height, location, mass and scale of the proposed addition. Please refer to pages 37a-37k of the Historic Architectural Guidelines for more information on additions.

Alterations to the interior of historic public places such as banks, hotel lobbies, auditoriums, theaters and public offices; the interior of any property that has been individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places; or the interior of any property that was a location of a historical event, are subject to HARC review.

Yes, the City of Key West was added to Florida’s Certified Local Government (CLG) Program in 1991. The CLG Program was enacted as part of the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980. The program links three levels of government - federal, state and local - into a preservation partnership for the identification, evaluation and protection of historic properties. Designation as a certified local government, either as a municipality or a county, makes historic preservation a public policy through passage of a historic preservation ordinance. The ordinance establishes a historic preservation board to develop and oversee the functions of its historic preservation program.

Since its inception in 1986, Florida’s Certified Local Government Program has assisted in the survey, designation and preservation of thousands of historic and cultural resources and it has helped to increase public awareness of historic preservation. Participation in the program is also an important consideration in the local planning process, as governments in Florida are required to address historic preservation in comprehensive planning decisions. By identifying historic resources in a local government’s comprehensive plan, proposed development projects will be reviewed for consistency with preservation goals and strategies.

Through the Florida Division of Historical Resources’ (FDHR) Small Matching Grants program, CLGs in good standing are eligible to compete for pass-through subgrants funded by the Historic Preservation Fund grant that the FDHR receives annually from the National Park Service. The federal CLG subgrants may be for survey, planning and National Register nomination projects. In addition, Small Matching Grant match funding requirements are waived for all grants awarded to CLGs in good standing, whether state or federally funded.

Additional Information

•  Learn more about CLGs on the Department of State’s Certified Local Governments page.
• View the agreement between the City of Key West and the State of Florida (PDF)
•  View the Florida Certified Local Government Guidelines (PDF)

Repointing, also known as replacing mortar and pointing, is common maintenance needed for masonry buildings and structures. Properly done, repointing restores the visual and physical integrity of the masonry. Improperly done, repointing not only detracts from the appearance of the building, but may also cause physical damage to the masonry units themselves

When repointing is needed, the City will require an architect or engineer to prepare a report that includes a mortar analysis and a brick strength analysis. The new mortar should match the original mortar in strength, color, appearance, texture, and materials. The profile of the mortar joint is also important and will need to be replicated.

 Please refer to Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry  Buildings for more information.

A certified applicant is an individual who has completed a course of study approved by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Division of Criminal Justice Standards and Training in Law Enforcement, and has successfully completed the state exam.

To find out what is necessary to meet Florida Certification Requirements, contact:

• Florida Department of Law Enforcement
  Division of Criminal Justice Standards and Training
  P.O. Box 1489
  Tallahassee, Florida 32301
• Call 850-410-8600
• Visit their website

In many cases you may be eligible to take a two-week compliance course, which will allow you to take the Florida State Exam. You may call the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Division of Criminal Justice Standards and Training at 850-410-8600 to determine if you meet the requirements.

No. 

Plastic bottles, containers, and cups #1(PETE) #2(HDPE) #5(PP) ONLY, Paper cups and coffee cups with or without sleeves, Cardboard FLATTENED, Paperboard/Boxboard (The material most dry food and cereal boxes are made from)

Regular paper, Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail, even envelopes with plastic windows, Drink and food cartons- Rinsed (milk & juice type cartons) NO TO-GO CONTAINERS

Aluminum and metal cans- Rinsed, Clean aluminum foil, Glass bottles and jars-Rinsed. Remove the lids and include them in your recycling.  No mirrors or window glass.

Please rinse food containers, bottles, and jars. 

No.  Recyclable items are to be put directly in the bin.  Items in plastic bags will not be picked up. 

No.  Plastic bags are not accepted. Check local grocery stores for drop off locations.

To report a missed pickup contact: please contact Waste Management at 305-296-8297

Hazardous chemicals, car batteries, paints, radioactive waste, gasoline, oil, or construction debris. The City of Key West offers a free collection of Household Hazardous Waste (household chemicals and electronics) for residents of the City of Key West only. This service is held on the first Saturday of every month at the City's Indigenous Park, 1800 White Street, from 8 AM to 12 Noon.

No. The City and Waste Management provide homeowners in the City of Key West with one (1) green cart for garbage and one (1) blue cart for recycling.  It is the responsibility of the homeowner/ tenant to put all recycling items in the blue cart.  Items in the recycling cart should be loose and not placed in bags. 

No.  Recycling carts are blue. Recycling may only be used for loose recyclable items, as the carts are collected by three different trucks.  One for yard waste, one for garbage, and one for recycling.  Putting garbage in your blue cart will contaminate all the recycling in the truck. 

No.  Blue recycling carts are only for items accepted in the recycling programs.  Yard waste in blue carts will result in a non-collection. 

If a recycling bin contains more than 10% contamination (including food, yard waste, plastic bags, garbage, or pet waste), it will be emptied as solid waste to prevent contamination of the entire truck. 

If the cart has more than 10% contamination, it will not be acceptable for collection for recycling. 

Wood is considered construction debris and cannot be placed in yard waste or recycling carts. Please call Waste Management for assistance at 305-296-8297

No.  Please check your local grocery store for drop-off locations for flex/film recycling.

No.  Styrofoam is not accepted in any form (take-out containers/packaging/etc).  Check local grocery stores for drop-off locations.

Many businesses have drop-off carts for hard-to-recycle products.  Local grocers often have collection bins for plastic bags and clean Styrofoam containers.  Office supply stores recycle ink cartridges.  Home improvement stores may recycle batteries and light bulbs.  Consider donating your used clothing and furniture before disposing of them in a landfill.  Check out websites like Earth911 to locate recycling drop-off sites or Terracycle mail-in programs.

Yes.  The City requires all garbage bags to be in a waste cart.  Waste Management provides one (1) cart per household.  Garbage bags not placed in a waste cart may result in pickup denial.  For more information, call Waste Management at (305)296-9297.

The City of Key West does not provide garbage carts (green) or recycling carts (blue).  Please call 305-296-8297 as Waste Management provides one green and one blue cart to residents of Key West.  If you have an old cart that needs replacement, please place it at the curb for exchange. 

Please get in touch with Waste Management at 305-296-8297 to report a missed collection or service problem.

Yes.  Hazardous chemicals, car batteries, paints, radioactive waste, gasoline, oil, or construction debris.

Elevation Certificates are generated frequently, but only a limited number are formally submitted to the City. All flood certificates in the City's possession are accessible through an online map. Elevation Certificates are generated frequently, but only a limited number are formally submitted to the City.

An online map of Elevation Certificates may be found here.

No.  However, if conditions at the building have changed or if a certificate is very old, some lending institutions may require you obtain a newer version. 

While there’s an expiration date on the certificate, that’s an expiration date for the blank version of the form, not the completed certificate.  

 Each building or structure should have an elevation certificate. Elevation certificates cannot apply to multiple buildings or structures.

The elevation certificate remains valid as long as the building and ground measurements remain unchanged.

Your old Elevation Certificate will still be valid. Insurance Agents and local government officials will be able to convert the measurements on your certificate to relevant elevations on the new flood maps. 

To obtain a copy of the form, please go here.

DROP is an acronym for deferred retirement option program or a delayed retirement option plan.

A DROP Program is a form of retirement benefit that allows an employee to continue working while accumulating a savings account consisting of the benefits that would have been received had the employee actually retired.  In other words, it is a chance to earn two incomes simultaneously, with one being saved and invested without current tax liability.  From a technical standpoint, a DROP program represents a method of providing for the deferred receipt of retirement benefits from a defined benefit plan.

DROP arrangements first started with several public safety plans in Louisiana during the mid-1980's to:

a.    Encourage personnel who could retire early to continue working.

b.    Allow a partial lump-sum distribution option in the pension plan.

c.    Provide the employer with a predictable turnover picture.

DROP plans now exist in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Florida on the state and local level, as well as locally in Colorado and California.  Initially popular with police and fire plans, they also exist for teachers and general public employees.

A DROP program is a distribution option within a traditional defined benefit pension plan; it is not a separate qualified retirement plan.

No.  There is no rigid structure that must be followed for DROP programs.  The design of DROP programs varies greatly and can be crafted to meet the needs of the employees, the pension plan, and the plan sponsor.

Yes, a DROP Program is found in Section 46-113 of the Code of the City of Key West.

DROP is designed to allow you to accumulate a lump sum cash amount for retirement without affecting your normal monthly retirement benefit when you become a DROP participant.  Under DROP, you technically “retire" yet continue to work as an active employee.  You will continue to be treated as an active employee for non-pension benefits.  If you become disabled after participating in the DROP, you will NOT be entitled to receive a disability pension since you are already retired.

Here's how it works:  Once you reach the service requirements for early or normal retirement (Normal retirement- either 20 years of credited service regardless of age or age 60 with ten (10) or more years of service. Early retirement- age 55 with ten (10) years of credited service, you can enroll.  When you enroll in DROP, you agree to "lock in" your service and benefit levels as of the effective date of your participation.  From a service and benefit standpoint, it is as if you had retired on this date.  You continue to work as an active employee, though, and the Pension Fund credits your normal monthly retirement benefit (based on your service as of the date you entered DROP) into your DROP account.  You also continue to earn your normal pay as an active employee.  When an employee takes early retirement, the monthly benefit is reduced on an actuarial basis to account for the fact that you will receive benefits over a longer period.

Upon exercising the right to enter the DROP, your creditable service, compensation, and accrued pension benefit will become "locked in." The amount of your pension benefit will be determined based on the average of your highest consecutive five (5) years of service out of the ten (10) years immediately preceding participation in the DROP.

You can participate in DROP for eight (8) years.  The Plan requires that you enter the DROP within the first 33 years of employment.  It also provides that the number of years of active membership in the Plan and the DROP period combined may not exceed 33.  Therefore, to get the full eight (8) years of DROP participation, you must enter the DROP before the end of your 25th year of service with the City.  DROP payments are added to your account each month.  An employee's account in the DROP program earns or loses interest based on the actual earnings of the Plan for the preceding year.  When you leave City employment, you choose how to receive your DROP account balance from available distribution methods.

All members of the Employees Plan (i.e., active members) are eligible to participate in the DROP, provided such members are eligible for early or normal retirement with the City.

Election to participate may be made at any time after a member attains eligibility for early or normal retirement.  An eligible member who wishes to participate in the DROP must notify the Pension Administrator of their election to participate in the DROP. Click here to send an email to the Pension Admin.

An eligible member may participate in the DROP for a maximum of eight (8) years.  However, if a member enters the DROP after they have 25 years of service with the City, the DROP period ends when the member's years of service combined with participation in the DROP totals 33 years.  For example, if a member enters the DROP after 27 years of service with the City, they would only be eligible to participate in the DROP for six (6) years.  A member is required to terminate employment with the City and to terminate their DROP participation upon the completion of the DROP period.

An eligible member may elect to participate in the DROP by complying with the election process and the administrative rules established by the Board of Trustees.  Such requirements shall include, but shall not be limited to the following:

a.    A properly completed DROP application for service retirement.

b.    Selection of DROP participation and retirement dates.  Such retirement date shall be a binding application for retirement, establishing a deferred retirement date.

c.    A written notification advising the City of the date the DROP shall begin for the member.

Yes.  A DROP participant can separate from service at any time before the specified DROP period ends, with notice to the City.  DROP payments would continue as monthly pension payments, and the participant would be entitled to the entire balance in their DROP account.

No.  You must actually separate from service to receive payments from the DROP account.  Receiving a distribution while still an active employee would violate both local and federal law.

Yes.  However, to preserve maximum flexibility, many individuals may find it advantageous to elect to participate for the maximum period of time, even if they feel that their actual DROP participation may end at an earlier date.  You can always terminate employment and retire before the end of your announced DROP participation period; however, once announced, you are not permitted to work beyond your originally stipulated DROP ending date even if such date falls short of the maximum period allowed for DROP participants.

Yes

Yes.  Upon participation in the DROP, the member shall be deemed a retiree of the Pension Fund.

A DROP participant shall be a retiree under the Pension Fund for the accumulation of increased pension benefits, but for purposes of employment with the City, the DROP participant shall be treated as any other active employee with respect to their ability to enjoy the availability of salary increases, promotions, employee benefits, and related programs.

Generally speaking, no.  You continue to accrue sick leave if you are eligible to do so now, and you continue to accrue vacation time.  Any other time or day accrual for which you are eligible also continues.  Your insurance coverage also continues uninterrupted and unchanged at current active rates.  In addition, you may continue to participate in the City's Section 457 Deferred Compensation Program.  Since you are still an employee of the City, the law allows you to vote in any Pension Fund elections.

The decision about when to retire as an employee and whether or not to enter DROP is entirely your decision.  Once made, the election to participate in the DROP carries a simultaneous election to retire that is irrevocable upon approval by the Board of Trustees.  In essence, the DROP participant has contractually agreed to retire as a condition of entering the DROP program.  The retirement election becomes irrevocable once acted upon by the Board of Trustees.

As an active employee participating in the General Employees Retirement Plan, you must make pension contributions of 6% of your salary as defined by the Plan.  Upon DROP participation, your pension contribution requirements will be reduced to 0% contributions of your salary, and your monthly pension check will be paid into the DROP account until you terminate employment.

Once you enroll in DROP, your monthly retirement benefit is calculated based on your years of service and benefit levels as you entered the DROP.  Instead of having this monthly retirement benefit paid directly to you or deposited in your bank, it will be credited into your DROP account, which will be invested and tax-deferred for as long as you participate in the DROP.  Your retirement benefits will be paid into your DROP account monthly on the same schedule as used for retirees.

No.  Once you begin participating in DROP, your retirement is final, and you cannot add service credit unless otherwise agreed to by the City through a future Ordinance change specifically applicable to DROP participants.

When you terminate employment, your DROP account will be paid as you choose in one of the following ways within 45 days following the termination of employment:

a.    Lump Sum - The participant receives the entire account balance less taxes;

b.    Direct Rollover - The funds are paid directly to the custodian of an eligible retirement plan as defined in Section 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code.

In the event of your death during the DROP period, all DROP and accumulated leave balances shall be payable to your designated beneficiary. If you have not designated your beneficiaries, the DROP and accumulated leave balances will be paid to your estate.

To be a participant in the DROP plan, and to have retirement benefits paid to your DROP account, the employee can no longer be an active member of the Fund.  Since the employee is not an active member of the Fund, the employee is not eligible for a disability pension.  If an employee becomes disabled during the DROP period, the employee will receive his or her normal retirement (at the lower rate) and will also receive the amount of money that has accrued in his or her DROP account.

Like other forms of pension benefits, DROP assets are considered marital property subject to division in a divorce proceeding.  While DROP assets are not subject to distribution until a member terminates employment with the City, a court can determine that upon distribution, a certain percentage of the DROP assets be awarded to a former spouse, like other retirement payments.

Yes.  Under Section 402(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, amounts are taxable only if distributed.  Thus, even though amounts are credited to the DROP account because they could have been paid as retirement benefits, the participant will not be subject to tax until DROP account balances are distributed to the DROP participant.  No withholding taxes will be imposed during the period of DROP participation pursuant to Code Section 3401(a)(12)(A).

The tax law states that rollovers must be paid directly to the custodian of an eligible retirement plan as defined in Section 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).  Eligible retirement plans include an individual retirement account (IRA) as described in Section 408(a), Internal Revenue Code (IRC); an individual retirement annuity [Section 408(b), IRC, except an endowment contract]; a qualified trust; and an annuity plan as described in Section 403(a), IRC.  If you die, your spouse will only be eligible to rollover your DROP benefits into an individual retirement account or retirement annuity as described in Section 402(c)(9), IRC.

If you authorize the Pension Fund to transfer the lump sum value of your DROP account directly to an IRA or qualified retirement plan, there will be no immediate recognition of income for purposes of federal income taxation.  You would only pay taxes on these funds as funds are received from your IRA or qualified retirement plan.

However, if you do not choose a direct rollover of any portion of your DROP account that is an “eligible rollover distribution," the payment is taxed in the year you receive it.  If you forego the rollover option and elect to receive the DROP account proceeds, the following rules may apply:

a.    The distribution will be treated as a source of ordinary income to you (and taxed accordingly) in the year you receive it.

b.    You will be subject to the 10% “early distribution” tax penalty rules if you are less than 55 years old.

c.    You may be subject to a 15% "excess distribution" tax penalty if your total retirement proceeds (from the DROP account, any IRA, or qualified retirement plans) exceed the IRS maximum distribution amount for the year you receive the distribution.

This is our understanding of the current tax issues that you may wish to consider.  We may not be correct.  We are not allowed to give tax advice in any way.  Keep in mind that tax laws can change, and they are complex.  We recommend and encourage you to seek the advice of a tax professional to determine what is best for you and how you will be impacted.

A DROP program can benefit employees interested in assembling a "nest egg" for themselves and their families and providing a "jump-start” into retirement.  This "nest egg" can allow the employee to start a business, purchase a home, travel, etc., upon retirement.

The DROP participant will see the required pension contribution reduced from a rate of 6% to 0% of pay.  The employee's take-home pay will be increased by reducing such contributions.

The DROP program allows the employee to select an option that would effectively accelerate a portion of the retirement benefits that would otherwise have been received over an extended period of time. If the employee has reason to believe that his life expectancy will be less than average, the DROP could be viewed as a practical response to this outlook.

One disadvantage of participating in a DROP plan is that the monthly pension an employee receives will be substantially lower than the amount the employee would receive had the employee retired under a normal retirement calculation performed at the end of the DROP period.  If the Plan benefits change after you DROP, those benefits may not be available to you.  If you get a raise or a promotion after you enter the DROP, that salary increase will not count toward your pension.  Once you enter the DROP, your retirement benefits are calculated under the Plan and are fixed as of the date of entry into the DROP.

Another disadvantage is that the decision to enter the DROP is irrevocable.  Sometimes, employees change their minds about continuing to work, but once they have entered the DROP, they cannot reverse the decision to retire.  A retiree experiencing the birth of a child, a new marriage, divorce, or other significant life event may have no choice but to retire at the end of the DROP period.

Lump sum payments may not be used judiciously, placing financial pressures upon retirees at a point in their lives where they can ill afford to effectively respond to such pressures.  Lump sum payouts are subject to the mandatory 20% withholding requirements which would materially impact the funds available under the DROP.  DROP participants may address this issue by electing a direct rollover to an eligible retirement plan or an IRA.

If a DROP participant becomes injured after entering the DROP, they will not be eligible to receive a disability pension since DROP participants are already "retired."

One of the most important decisions you will have to make is whether you should join DROP or remain an active contributor to the Pension Fund.  To assist in this decision, the Pension Administrator will provide upon request, e-mail preferred, an estimate of the benefits you will receive if you elect to join DROP.  Upon receipt of these estimates, you should meet with your accountant, CPA, financial planner, etc., to review your total financial situation, including pension and/or DROP benefits, personal investments, and Social Security benefits, to determine which choice will be the best decision for your future.

Entering the DROP is a big decision.  Once made, it is FINAL.  Before entering the DROP, you are encouraged to contact the Plan Administrator with your questions.  The DROP is a valuable benefit, but like anything, it does not meet everyone's needs similarly.  Before you DROP, be sure of your rights and make careful plans for your future.  It would be wise to consult your financial adviser concerning the choices most advantageous for your circumstances.  For more information, you may contact the Pension Administrator by e-mailing  GeneralPension@cityofkeywest-fl.gov

You can apply online through the City's website using your smartphone or computer, anywhere, anytime.

The Monroe County Tax Collector's Office will no longer issue residential permits.

$39.13 per year. We accept all methods of payment. No discounts apply.

You will need to provide three (3) items to be eligible for a Residential Permit:

1. Valid driver's license
2. Valid and current Vehicle registration
3. Proof of Residency (examples of acceptable items provided)

• Residential lease (at least 4 months minimum)
• Warranty deed
• Voter's ID
• Utility bill in your name and address
• Real estate tax bill for proof of residency.

It depends.

The vehicle must be registered to the business or covered by commercial insurance. A business owner’s personal vehicle is not eligible unless it is registered to the business.  This category is primarily intended for fleet vehicles that service historic residential neighborhoods.

Any of the marked "Residential" spaces in the Historic District.  Additionally, vehicles with a residential permit can park for free for up to 4 hours once per day at the following locations only:

• Fire Station #2 Lot in the 600 block of Simonton Street
• Main Lot at Key West Bight in the 800 block of Caroline Street
• Old Town Garage (aka Park ’n’ Ride)
• Smather's Beach
• Truman Waterfront Park (except during events)
• Jackson Square Lot, after hours and weekends.

Yes!

Enter the zone number (5-digits) displayed on the side of the pay station through the passport app, and you will receive your 4-hour (one time per day) credit to begin your parking session.   And you can purchase more time before your free session expires.

Yes!

The unmarked spaces are available to everyone.

No.

All residential permits expire in October.  You have the entire month of October to renew.  They are not prorated.

No. 

To qualify under the residency category, you must live within City limits.  However, the City offers a Residential permit valid at Truman Waterfront Park and Jackson Square (after hours and weekends). This type of residential permit is available to apply for online.

No.

The $39.13 fee is to cover the permit. It cannot be prorated, refunded, or transferred.

Yes!

Upload your lease contract instead of registration to verify you are the lessee and you meet eligibility requirements.

Yes!

But you must be listed as an insured driver on the vehicle’s insurance and meet eligibility requirements.

Yes

As long as the documents provided are valid, and you meet the eligibility requirements.

Yes!

If you are eligible under one of the listed categories you may list all vehicles registered to you.

Yes. 

Vehicles cannot park on the street for more than 72 hours without moving per City Ordinance. For long-term storage, check the Park n Ride (300 Grinnell), or a private parking lot offering long-term storage. 

No. 

Boat and boat trailers, RV’s, and oversized vehicles (vehicles over 20 feet in length) cannot legally park on City streets or in City managed lots.

The answer is No.

Mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles are exempt and can park in residential spaces.

Although, rental mopeds, scooters, or motorcycles cannot park in "residential" spaces..  Boats, RV’s, trailers, or vehicles 20’ or greater are not allowed in City parking lots or on the street.        

Yes!

A handicap placard by Florida State Statute allows vehicles transporting a disabled person to park in a handicapped space or park at a municipal metered area for four (4) hours without paying. All other parking regulations, including "Residential" permits, need to be observed. If you do not otherwise qualify for the Residential permit, the handicap placard or plate does not qualify you.

It is a tool for letting the City know what you think should be fixed

You can take and upload pictures of the problem you see

Requests are located using a point on a map

The City can respond to you or ask additional questions.

Key West Connect, powered by SeeClickFix, is an easy way for residents to report concerns directly to the City and have department staff follow up to resolve the issues. Please use a detailed address, description, and photo (if possible) to give as much information to City staff so they can investigate and determine the best way to address your concerns. You are encouraged to enter your email address on reports in order to get automated updates on the status of your issue as City staff work to resolve it. This system is best suited to respond to service requests like potholes, street lights, etc. that can be assigned to staff and addressed in a timely manner. Issues requiring immediate attention or those dealing with public safety should be reported directly to the police at 305-809-1111 as this system is not monitored 24/7.

Key West Connect by SeeClickFix is an additional resource for community members to report infrastructure issues. Using the app is an efficient way to raise awareness within the City without having to make a phone call. The app streamlines the process of submitting a photo, description of the issue and location; also, Key West Connect allows you to track the status of reported issues.

• Requests are placed on a map
• Public requests will remain on the map for anyone to review and share
• There is a mobile app
• Photos can be taken directly from mobile devices and uploaded

Issues threatening public safety or things needing immediate attention (like downed wires, tree limbs, or needles), should be reported directly to the Key West Police Non-Emergency Line at 305-809-1111. Things that require long-term planning, a larger discussion, a community process, or involve multiple departments or non-City entities should be directed to the appropriate department by phone call or email as these issues are not easily "fixable" in the same way a pothole, streetlight, etc. are.

This system is best suited to respond to service requests like potholes, street lights, etc. that can be assigned to staff and addressed in a timely manner. Start a report with the address of the issue and you will then see a drop-down menu with all of the possible categories of issues you can report using this system.  Issues threatening public safety or requiring immediate attention should always be reported directly to the Key West Police Non-Emergency Line at 305-809-1111.

You will automatically receive updates on your request if you create a free Key West Connect by SeeClickFix account.

The City receives many requests per day, and departments do their best to response in a timely manner.  If you submitted a request and it hasn't been resolved , please be patient as staff is processing requests in the order that they come in.

There is no cost to the user to use Key West Connect by SeeClickFix. The app is free for download and the browser version is also free.

Contact Waste Management (WM) at 305 296-8297 to arrange to pick up the unwanted Bulk waste items.  Place items for disposal on the right-of-way in front of your residence after you have called, and WM will analyze the size and type of material for discarding.  Please be aware that WM will not accept bulk waste if it obstructs the street or a sidewalk, is placed against a fence, between parked vehicles on the street and a wall/fence or building, or under overhead powerlines, even after you have called.   They will pick up items for free if the bulk waste is less than two (2) cubic yards.  If items are over two cubic yards, WM will provide an estimate for the service and collect prepayment.  Once scheduled, WM has four business days to remove the bulk waste.   Another option would be to self-haul the material to the City of Key West Transfer Station at Mile Marker (MM) 9.  

WM uses a grapple truck that requires clearance to pick up the items.  To repeat, Waste Management will not accept bulk waste if it obstructs the street or a sidewalk, is placed against a fence, between parked vehicles on the street and a wall/fence or building, or under overhead powerlines.

Click here to learn more about the City's code on bulk waste pickup.

Yes, a fee is assessed when the volume exceeds two cubic yards.

Acceptable items for bulk waste pickup may include furniture, mattresses, appliances, and grills. 

Non-acceptable items range from automobile parts, batteries, liquids, poisons, explosives, contractor remodeling, demolition debris, televisions, cable boxes, computers, and vehicle tires.

Click here for the yard waste information sheet describing what yard waste is.

Yard waste is the natural material generated by yard and garden cleaning and maintenance.  It includes leaves, tree and shrub trimmings, palm fronds, branches, coconuts, and other plant materials.  

WM or the City does not provide yard waste carts.  Residents need to purchase their own carts at local or online stores.  Purchase carts based on your property's need so long as you do not exceed the 400-gallon limit. 

No. Yard waste must be in either resident-provided containers or paper bags to be serviced. 

WM will service up to 400 gallons each service week.  This can be divided into four 96-gallon carts, six 64-gallon carts, ten 40-gallon carts, and so on.  A yard waste bulk pickup can be scheduled with WM (305-296-8297) for a fee, or residents may self-haul bulk yard waste to the City Transfer Station and be charged the current tipping fee rate. 

Yes, WM will collect up to 400 gallons in resident-provided containers.  Purchase carts based on your property's needs.  Wheeled carts are allowed for easier maneuvering. 

Putting yard waste in a green garbage cart is not in compliance with the contract.  The sticker is a notification that the cart is no longer in compliance and will not be serviced.  Yard waste will be serviced when placed in resident-provided containers. Waste Management will reclaim the noncompliant green cart on your service day the following week. 

The following are possible reasons:

• It was in a green garbage cart
• The 400-gallon limit was exceeded
• The cart/container was heavier than the 50-pound limit
• The debris was higher than 12 inches above the rim, causing a safety issue for the WM crews. 

We do not accept drop-offs from businesses.

The following items are prohibited items: 

• Ammunition and Flares
• Appliances
• Construction material
• Garbage
• Medications
• Radioactive material
• Sharps

The City of Key West offers a free collection of Household Hazardous Waste (household chemicals and electronics) only to residents of Key West on the first Saturday every month at Indigenous Park, 1801 White Street, from 8 AM to Noon. 

If you own a business and attempt to drop off hazardous waste during this time, you will be turned away. 

The City of Key West is not permitted to accept Household Hazardous Waste, chemicals, and electronics at the City Transfer Station.  Monroe County provides drop-off sites at their transfer stations for commercial and residential.

The following items are accepted at our collection location for Key West Residents only:

• Acids
• Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs 
• Circuit boards
• Cleaning products
• Computers
• Fertilizers
• Gaming systems
• Gasoline cans
• Hard drives
• Oil (up to 5 gallons)
• Paint
• Pesticides
• Phones
• Pool chemicals
• Preservatives
• Radios
• Rechargeable batteries
• Remote controls
• Roofing compounds
• Stains
• TVs
• Wires.

• WATCH: Conditions are possible in the specified area, usually within 48 hours.
• WARNING: Conditions are expected in the specified area within 36 hours.

No current mandatory evacuations have been ordered in the City of Key West or Monroe County for residents or visitors.  Visitors can find more information at www.fla-keys.com. 

Key West residents may pick up re-entry stickers at Fire Station No. 1 and the Police Department, located at 1600 North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West.  Re-entry stickers are available at City Hall Monday - Friday, from 8 AM to 5 PM,  located at 1300 White Street in Key West, Florida.  Citizens must prove they are Key West residents to receive a re-entry sticker.

More information on special needs registration, visit https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/specialneeds. 

Take your own supplies:

• Cots or beds are not provided.  Bring pillows, sheets, blankets, a portable cot or air mattress, a chaise lounge, folding chairs, or sleeping bags.
• If you are on a special diet, bring a supply of nonperishable food sufficient for three (3) days per person.
• Multiple changes of clothing and sturdy shoes.
• Required medications and medical support equipment, like wheelchair/walker, oxygen, dressings, feeding and suction equipment, diapers, etc.
• Personal hygiene items, like toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, towels, brush/comb, dentures, glasses, eye drops, diapers, etc.
• Entertainment items, like games, cards, books, magazines, etc.
• Wi-fi and cell signals may not be available.

What to Bring to a Shelter:

• Masks and Hand Sanitizer
• Water and Food
• Drinking water in plastic containers (1 gallon per person per day for three (3) days)
• Nonperishable food in cans or sealed containers (enough for three (3) days)
• Special dietary foods, baby food, formula, manual can opener, paper products, and utensils
• Portable ice chest with ice
• Clothing and Bedding
• Extra clothes and shoes
• Sleeping bag, blanket and pillow, and lightweight, portable lounge chairs
• Rain gear                    
• Wash clothes, towels, soap, toothbrush, paper towels, and toilet paper
• Baby Supplies                 
• Clothes and blankets
• Diapers
• Formula, bottles, and food
• Medications and First Aid Supplies
• Medication marked with your name, dosage, type of medication, and doctor's name *Must be able to administer all medications
• First Aid supplies in a waterproof box
• Important Papers
• Name and address of doctors
• Name and address of nearest relatives
• Identification and valuable papers

Miscellaneous:

• Games, cards, toys, battery-powered radios, and flashlights                    
• Take a bath and eat before you leave home
• Register immediately upon entering the shelter

Shelter Rules:

• Residents are required to complete registration before entering the shelter.    
• No weapons, alcohol, or illegal drugs    
• No smoking allowed in shelters    
• 'Lights out' quiet time will be enforced    
• No pets in the general population area except service animals    
• Children must be attended to at all times.  Parents are not allowed to leave the premises without them 

Americans Disability Act (ADA) assistance is available at all local shelters.

All Monroe County shelters are pet friendly.  Pre-register your pets https://www.monroecountyem.com/938/Pets-at-Shelters

Power and water will not be purposefully turned off before a storm.

Bridges do not close before a storm.

Conditions can make it unsafe for emergency vehicles and high-profile vehicles to cross bridges due to high winds.  Once winds reach 35 mph, high-profile vehicles should not operate until safe conditions resume.

Emergency Management is responsible for planning to help all City residents, businesses, services, and government offices best prepare for a disaster.  They also respond to disasters by staffing the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when a hurricane or other disaster threatens.

Key West Rides is a new, innovative form of transportation for transit riders in the City of Key West.  

Key West Rides can take you to the closest bus stop anywhere within the designated area.  You decide where you want to go and when.

Depending on your smartphone, you can download the app from the following:

You can book a ride using the Key West Rides mobile app.   Download the app from the options below.

You can bring up to five additional passengers.  Just select how many additional passengers you're bringing along on the app.

Yes, as ride requests come into the system, your ride may be grouped with other riders going to similar destinations.

There are several ways to pay:

• Pay with cash onboard, but please note that exact change is required.
• Token Transit (Credit Cards Accepted).

Download your mobile app of choice from the options below. 

o    Purchase passes to use immediately or store them for future rides (note: an internet connection is required to purchase and activate a mobile pass).

o    As the bus approaches, open your app and tap your pass to activate.

o    Once onboard, follow the app's instructions to validate your ticket.

• Purchase passes at one of the following locations:

Key West Transit Facility, 5701 College Rd, Key West, Fl 33040

City of Key West, 1300 White Street, Key West, FL 33040

The app will show the nearest designated bus stop close to you where you'll meet the vehicle.  Check the app for directions and follow your driver's progress in real-time so you know exactly when to head outside

You will receive real-time predictions as soon as a vehicle has been assigned.  You can track your ride through the app and see the estimated time of arrival updates as your drive approaches.  Shared ride service fluctuates as other rides are booked and canceled.

Yes, you can cancel your ride directly from the app.  Remember, Key West Rides is a community, so canceling at the last minute may impact other riders!

An up-to-the-second map of bus stops can be found at KWTransit.com.

Vehicles will remain the same (Buses, Cutaways) and will have the Key West Rides/On-Demand message on the destination sign on the front and side of the vehicle, so they should be easy to spot.

Once you start a ride, the destination cannot be changed.  If you have not yet boarded the vehicle, you can cancel the ride and re-book with a new destination.

Yes!  Please let us know if you need a WAV when you book your ride in the app.

In 1847 after the disastrous hurricane of October 11, 1846.  The hurricane destroyed several burial grounds, prompting the City to purchase a 100-lot tract in the center of town.  Several years later, the City added 233 lots, and in 1868, a separate Catholic Cemetery was created along Francis Street. The Jewish Cemetery was added in the southeast portion of the property.

The City of Key West owns and operates the Cemetery.

Yes.  We have an estimate of 100 interments every year.

Prices may vary depending on individual needs. To discuss options, please contact the Cemetery Sexton at 305-809-3986 to schedule an appointment.

It is estimated 70,000 people are buried here.

The graves are private property owned by families.  The family is responsible for maintaining the graves.  Many families take great pride in maintaining their plots.  Other families have left town or sadly died out.  Sometimes historically, significant gravesites are renovated when grants become available. 

Because of limited space, we can have two vaults underground and three above ground in any 4" x 8" space.

Yes.  There are above-ground vaults and cremation niches available.  Occasionally, a family will decide to sell a part of their lot.  This transaction takes place privately without the participation of the City. 

Yes. If you are planning a special event on the public right-of-way in Key West, you typically need a permit. 

Sec. 6-26 -- The organizer or sponsor of any festival, street fair, fair, carnival, athletic event, contest, competition, parade, fundraiser, rally, boat or car race or other special event which requires city authorization, whether by administrative permit or city commission approval, and which requires the provision of additional or extraordinary support services by police, fire, administrative, or other city departments in order to maintain order or safety or to escort participants shall pay to the city the cost of such services. A down payment of ten percent of the costs, as estimated by the city manager, shall be made to the city either by certified check or credit card at least ten days prior to the event.

You can submit your application no later than 60 days before the special event.  For instance, if you're participating in a 5k run on August 15, 2024, applications are accepted from January 1, 2024, until June 1, 2024.  The Community Services/Special Events Manager must receive an application for a major festival at least six months before the event.

Sec. 6-58 -- Major festivals are Fantasy Fest, Hemingway Days, Goombay Festival, Conch Republic Celebration, the Poker Run, the Valentine's Day event for Wesley House, the Red Ribbon event at Mangoes, and such other special events as may be added or subtracted by resolution of the city commission. 

Sec. 6-56 -- If the special event proposes to close only one block, is intended to end before 9:00 PM on any day of the year, and does not seek either a cost waiver or a noise exemption, the city manager may give final approval to the application.

Sec. 26-192. -- Events that expect to exceed decibel levels set for their area must get a Noise Exemption from the City Commission.  Noise Exemptions cannot be issued for the same location within 60 days of the last noise exemption approval.

Sec. 26-199. -- Notice of the city commission's proposed action on an application for a permit for a temporary (waiver) shall be mailed before the meeting at which the matter is to be considered to all property owners located within a 100-foot radius of the proposed waiver.  Notice of such proposed action also shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city at least five days before the date of the city commission decision.  The notice shall identify a contact person and phone number for complaints.  The applicant shall pay for the newspaper advertisement.

All open positions can be viewed by clicking this link

Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM (closed on federal holidays and City-declared closures).

The City's Annual Budget is a financial plan that outlines how the City generates revenue and allocates funds to support operations throughout the fiscal year.  These funds help provide essential services, including public safety, infrastructure maintenance, transportation, and parks and recreation.

The Annual Budget is prepared through a structured process that begins with establishing a budget timeline.  City departments then submit funding requests to the Budget Office for review.  These requests are evaluated by the Finance Department and City Manager to ensure they align with available revenues and City priorities.  Public budget workshops are held to provide transparency and community input, and the proposed budget is presented to the City Commission during public hearings.  Following these hearings, the City Commission approves and formally adopts the Annual Budget.

The General Fund supports the City's core governmental operations and essential public services.  Revenue for this fund is generated from sources such as ad valorem (property) taxes, occupational licenses, building permits, other local taxes, service charges, tourist-related taxes and fees, rents and leases, and transfers from other City funds.

The Infrastructure Fund supports the construction and improvement of City infrastructure, including buildings, roads, sidewalks, parks, piers, and seawalls.  It also funds major renovations to existing infrastructure and the purchase of capital equipment and vehicles for public safety.  The primary revenue source for this fund is the one-cent sales surtax.

The Internal Improvement Fund supports the maintenance and improvement of streets, sidewalks, and street lighting, as well as operations of the City’s transit system. Revenue for this fund is generated from the six-cent local option fuel surtax and the three-cent gasoline surtax through an interlocal agreement with Monroe County.

The Adaptation and Sustainability Fund supports initiatives that reduce reliance on nonrenewable resources, lower the City's carbon footprint, and help protect the island from the impacts of climate change.  Revenue for this fund comes from user fees, state and federal grants, and transfers from other general government funds.

Enterprise Funds account for services primarily funded by customer fees rather than general tax revenues.  These include Sewer, Stormwater, Solid Waste, Key West Bight Marina, Garrison Bight Marina, and Transit operations.  Revenue generated from service charges is used to support the operations, maintenance, and improvements of these services.

A copy of the current Annual Budget is available on the City of Key West website.  From the homepage, navigate to the Finance Department page and select Adopted Annual Budgets.  The most current adopted budget is displayed first on the page.  To view budgets from previous fiscal years, select the corresponding fiscal year tab (See image provided).

Residents of Key West are encouraged to participate in the City's budgeting process by attending public budget workshops, typically held in July, and the two required public hearings in September before the budget is formally adopted. To support public engagement, the Finance Department has created a webpage with resources and information on how residents can participate in the budget process.

Additional information about specific funds may be requested by submitting a public records request through the City Clerk's Office.