Does renters insurance cover flooding in Florida?

Usually not. A separate flood policy covers your belongings, up to $100,000 through the NFIP, and it usually starts 30 days after you buy it.

How do I find my trash day in West Palm Beach?

Enter your address on the city's solid waste Pickup Schedule on wpb.org. In an apartment or condo building, ask the manager.

Moving to West Palm Beach: a checklist

Q: How long do I have to get a Florida driver license after moving?

30 days from becoming a Florida resident, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Your car must be titled and registered within 10 days.

Most deadlines start when you become a Florida resident, for example by starting a job here or enrolling a child in a public school: 10 days to title and register a car and 30 days to get a Florida driver license. Set up power and water before you get the keys, and sort flood cover before a storm is forecast.

Before you move

Check the flood zone of the new address. Our guides to renting in downtown West Palm Beach, Northwood, the South End and Lake Worth Beach show how
Book FPL for the day you get the keys. Have the address, the start date and a Social Security or driver license number ready. Orders received by 12 p.m., Monday to Saturday, are usually connected the same day
Call the City of West Palm Beach on (561) 822 1300 to open water and sewer. A deposit is required and same day service is not guaranteed. Trash and recycling are billed on the same account
Check which internet providers serve the address, and in a condo ask whether internet is in the association fee
Book a move in clean for the day you get the keys, before the boxes arrive

The first 30 days

Task	When	Where
Title and register your car	Within 10 days of becoming a resident	A Palm Beach County Tax Collector service center. A reservation is required
Florida car insurance	Before you register	An insurance agent licensed to sell in Florida
Vehicle identification number check	Before you title a car from out of state	A law enforcement officer, a licensed Florida dealer or a tax collector employee
Florida driver license	Within 30 days of becoming a resident	In person at a driver license office, including the Tax Collector
Register to vote or update your address	At least 29 days before an election	RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or the Tax Collector

Deadlines from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Division of Elections, checked November 3, 2026.

Move in day

Take dated photos and video of every room before you unpack, and send the landlord a list of anything damaged or not working
Test the AC, smoke alarms, locks and appliances, and report problems in writing
Clean room by room with our move in cleaning checklist
Know your deposit rights. A landlord with 5 or more units must tell you in writing, within 30 days, where your deposit is held. When you leave it is due back within 15 days, or the landlord has 30 days to send written notice of a claim. Our Florida deposit guide has the details

Trash and recycling

West Palm Beach collects Monday to Saturday. Enter your address on the city's solid waste Pickup Schedule to find your trash, recycling and bulk days. Recycling bins come from the Solid Waste Authority and are emptied by Waste Pro. Report a missed pickup on (561) 822 2075. In an apartment or condo building, ask the manager where trash and recycling go. Lake Worth Beach runs its own collection: see our Lake Worth Beach guide.

Hurricane season

The season runs from June 1 to November 30, and is most active from mid August to mid October
Look up your evacuation zone with Palm Beach County's Know Your Zone tool. It is not the same as your flood zone: evacuation zones are about storm surge
Ask your landlord who puts up storm shutters or panels and where they are kept
Renters insurance usually does not cover flood. An NFIP policy covers belongings up to $100,000 and usually starts 30 days after you buy it, so buy it before a storm is on the way
NFIP policies in West Palm Beach get a 25% discount through the city's Community Rating System class

Send a request for a move in clean and a local cleaner will call you to quote.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and your lease may add terms. For advice on your situation, speak to a Florida attorney or the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.