The City of Oldsmar's hurricane page doesn't soften it: "If your home was flooded, assume it is contaminated with mold." The city also says "Everyone in Oldsmar is in a flood zone," and that Oldsmar "is adjacent to Tampa Bay and is susceptible to 'coastal' and 'inland' flooding." During Hurricane Milton in October 2024, a gauge in Oldsmar recorded 13.68 inches of rain, according to the National Hurricane Center's report on the storm.
Here's where the line falls between a mold job you can do and one that, under Florida law, belongs to a licensed mold professional.
Is this urgent?
- Call now: water reached outlets or the breaker panel, the ceiling is sagging, or someone in the home has asthma or a weakened immune system and is having trouble breathing. Stay out of that area; call your electric utility for power issues and 911 for a medical emergency.
- Call today: anything still wet. The EPA says to dry water-damaged areas "within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth."
- Can wait: an old, dry stain with no musty smell, or planning repairs after the mold is gone and the leak is fixed.
The short answer
- Under about 10 square feet, you can usually clean it yourself. The EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet ("less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch"), "in most cases, you can handle the job yourself." Our step-by-step guide: how to clean up a small patch of mold.
- Over 10 square feet, Florida's mold law comes in. The state defines mold assessment and mold remediation as work on mold growth "of greater than 10 square feet" (s. 468.8411). A homeowner can still do it on their own home, but anyone you hire to assess or remediate it must be licensed, unless an exemption in the law applies.
- Fix the water first. The EPA: "If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back."
- In Oldsmar, tearing out wet materials doesn't need a permit; repairs do. Details below.
Local resources for Oldsmar
- City of Oldsmar: Building Division (100 State Street West, (813) 749-1100, Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:30 PM)
- City of Oldsmar: Post-Storm Permitting Guide
- City of Oldsmar: Substantial Damage and Improvement
- City of Oldsmar: Know Your Flood Risk (look up your flood zone by address)
- Pinellas County: Flood zone lookup
- Pinellas County: Find your evacuation zone
- City of Oldsmar: Hurricane and disaster preparedness
Photograph it before you touch anything
Before you scrub or tear anything out, photograph each room, every stain, the water line and the source of the water. Measure the moldy area with a tape measure in the photo; that number decides whether this is a DIY job. Write down when the water got in. This is for your own records.
Why mold shows up so fast
The EPA says "Mold can grow on wood, drywall, carpet and furniture if they remain wet for more than 24 hours," and that "The key to mold control is moisture control." After the water is out, keep indoor humidity "below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent)," which the EPA says you can check with "a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument."
Oldsmar's own housing stock matters here. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020–2024 estimates) counts 6,246 homes in Oldsmar, and the biggest group, 2,076 homes, was built in the 1980s. Whatever the age of your home, porous materials like ceiling tiles and carpet are where the EPA warns mold can be "difficult or impossible to remove completely."
What you can safely clean yourself
For small areas, the EPA's guidance is short:
- Scrub, don't just spray. "Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely."
- Throw out what can't be cleaned. "Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy."
- Don't paint over it. "Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces," the EPA says; paint over mold "is likely to peel."
- Bleach isn't the fix. The EPA says a biocide like chlorine bleach "is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup," because "it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed." Never mix bleach with anything containing ammonia.
- Wear the gear. The EPA lists an N-95 respirator, long gloves and goggles "that do not have ventilation holes."
- Leave the A/C off if it's moldy. "Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold." A/C work goes to a licensed HVAC contractor.
Who should stay out: the EPA says people with asthma or weakened immune systems "should stay away from moldy sites," and that children and pregnant people "should not take part in flood cleanup work." If sewage or other contaminated water caused the mold, the EPA says to "call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water."
When Florida law says you need a licensed mold pro
Florida licenses two separate mold jobs through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR):
- Mold assessor: inspects and samples "to formulate an initial hypothesis about the origin, identity, location, and extent of amplification of mold growth of greater than 10 square feet" (s. 468.8411(3)).
- Mold remediator: handles "the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment" of mold over 10 square feet (s. 468.8411(5)).
What the law says, in brief (s. 468.8419 and s. 468.841):
- Homeowners are exempt when they assess or remediate "on his or her own property."
- Titles are protected. Nobody may call themselves a "mold assessor" or "mold remediator" (or "certified," "licensed" and similar versions) without complying with the law.
- Assessing and fixing are kept apart. An assessor generally may not remediate a structure they or their company assessed within the last 12 months, and a remediator may not assess one they remediated in that time, with an exception for certain certified contractors.
- Penalties climb. A first violation is a second-degree misdemeanor; a third or later one is a third-degree felony.
How to check a license: search the name or license number on DBPR's license search. DBPR's mold-related services page lists the two license types, Mold Assessor and Mold Remediator.
Do you need a mold test? Often not. The EPA says "In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary," though surface sampling "may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated."
Where a contractor fits
We're a licensed general contractor, not a licensed mold assessor or mold remediator, and we don't advertise or perform mold assessment or remediation. Florida's law also says a mold remediator "may not perform any work that requires a license under chapter 489," the contractor licensing law, "unless the mold remediator is also licensed under that chapter or complies with that chapter" (s. 468.8411(6)). That's the usual split: a licensed mold pro handles the mold, the cause gets fixed (by a licensed plumber or roofer when it's their trade), and then the rebuild (drywall, flooring, cabinets, trim) is contractor work. That rebuild is what our storm and water damage repair service covers, with licensed trade partners for any electrical, plumbing or A/C work.
What Oldsmar requires before repairs
- No permit to tear out wet materials. The city's Post-Storm Permitting Guide says no permit is needed for "Removing wet or damaged materials to prevent mold (drywall, flooring, cabinets, furniture, appliances)."
- Permits for the repairs. The same guide says "Permits are required for any repairs or reconstruction related to flood damage," and "All work in flood zones requires a permit before beginning."
- Two steps. "All Florida Building Code Permits for the City of Oldsmar will be issued by Pinellas County," but the city's Building Division does zoning and flood review first and issues a "pre-permit approval letter." The city's page also says to "Submit REVIEW FORM prior to beginning ANY repairs."
- Itemize everything. For storm damage, the city says "you must submit a detailed cost breakdown of all materials and labor—including drywall, flooring, painting, and other cosmetic repairs."
- The 49% rule. The city's Substantial Damage page uses 49% of the building's market value. Damage is measured against the value "before the damage occurred," improvements are added up over a five-year period, and the page says "Phasing of improvements... is not permitted." Other city pages say 50%, so confirm with Planning & Redevelopment at (813) 749-1142.
What mold work costs
| Job | Typical cost | Source | Do it yourself? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small patch on a hard surface (under ~10 sq ft) | Cost of gear and detergent | EPA guidance | Yes, with an N-95, gloves and goggles |
| Mold inspection | $300–$1,075 | Angi, Tampa (Oct 2025) | No: licensed mold assessor for over 10 sq ft |
| Mold remediation, typical job | $1,347–$3,778 (average $2,548) | Angi, Tampa (Oct 2025) | Some of it, on your own home; hire licensed |
| Remediation per square foot | $10–$25 | Angi, Tampa (Oct 2025) | No for large areas |
| Bathroom | $525–$1,075 | Angi, Tampa (Oct 2025) | Some of it, if small |
| Attic | $1,075–$4,300 | Angi, Tampa (Oct 2025) | No |
| Whole house | $10,750–$32,250 | Angi, Tampa (Oct 2025) | No |
| Drywall replacement after mold | $1.50–$3.50 per sq ft | HomeGuide (national, 2026) | Some of it; permits may apply |
How much does mold remediation cost in Oldsmar?
Angi's Tampa figures put a typical mold remediation job at $1,347 to $3,778, about $10 to $25 per square foot, with an inspection running $300 to $1,075. The price moves with how big the area is, whether it's in an attic, crawl space or inside walls, whether the A/C system is involved, and how much drywall and flooring has to be rebuilt afterward. See the full price guide for mold remediation cost in Florida.
What you can safely do yourself
- Stop the water and dry everything within 24–48 hours: see what to do in the first 48 hours after water gets inside.
- Clean a small mold patch (under about 10 sq ft): step-by-step guide.
- Tear out wet drywall and insulation: how to cut out wet drywall.
- Clean and disinfect after floodwater: floodwater cleanup guide.
- Keep indoor humidity below 60% with a dehumidifier and a hygrometer.
Leave to a pro: mold over about 10 sq ft, mold after floodwater or sewage, moldy A/C ducts or air handlers, and anything electrical.
Frequently asked questions
How much mold can I clean up myself?
The EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3-by-3-foot patch, you can usually handle it yourself. Florida also exempts homeowners doing mold work on their own property (s. 468.841).
Do I need a licensed mold remediator in Florida?
If you hire someone to remediate mold growth over 10 square feet, Florida law requires them to comply with the state's mold licensing law unless an exemption applies (ss. 468.8411, 468.8419, 468.841). Check the license on DBPR's license search.
Should I spray bleach on mold?
The EPA says bleach "is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup," because the mold has to be removed, not just killed. Scrub hard surfaces with detergent and water instead, and never mix bleach with ammonia.
Do I need a mold test before cleanup?
Usually not. The EPA says that when mold is visible, "sampling is unnecessary" in most cases. Testing can help confirm an area was cleaned properly.
Do I need a permit to remove moldy drywall in Oldsmar?
Oldsmar's Post-Storm Permitting Guide says removing wet or damaged materials to prevent mold, including drywall, doesn't need a permit, but repairs and reconstruction after flood damage do. Confirm with the city's Building Division at (813) 749-1100.
Sources
- City of Oldsmar: Hurricane and disaster preparedness
- City of Oldsmar: Know Your Flood Risk
- City of Oldsmar: Building Division
- City of Oldsmar: Post-Storm Permitting Guide
- City of Oldsmar: Substantial Damage and Improvement
- National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Milton tropical cyclone report (PDF)
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2024 5-year, Year structure built, Oldsmar city
- U.S. EPA: A brief guide to mold, moisture and your home
- U.S. EPA: Mold cleanup in your home
- U.S. EPA: Flood cleanup to protect indoor air and your health
- Florida Statutes 468.8411: Mold-related services definitions
- Florida Statutes 468.8419: Prohibitions and penalties
- Florida Statutes 468.841: Exemptions
- Florida DBPR: Mold-related services
- Florida DBPR: License search
- Angi: Mold remediation cost in Tampa, FL
- HomeGuide: Mold removal and remediation cost