StanH

As someone who is seriouly wanting to get into the business of pressure washing (registered and licensed), how does watering restrictions play into the business? Here in Florida we are on tight restrictions. I keep thinking that if it would restrict pressure washing companies it could put a lot of people out of business. Is there an exemption for professional companies -vs- a homeowner diy?

tom connelly

When states and counties enforce water restrictions, they are wanting to limit water usage, not close doors to businesses and hurt their economy. Each location is different, but if you keep in contact with the city management they may ask you to send a fax of each job you are working on so that it can be cleared if someone reports you, but typically you can keep working, depending on how much of a state of emergency you are in with the drought situation.

The biggest problem isnt with the city it is with the clients. They often do not realize that a commercial business can use water under certain restrictions or guide lines. So you could see a dramatic reduction in business because the general public is unaware of the full situation, not because of any set restrictions necessarily imposed on you by the state, city, or county. If you could inform your clients of the fact that you can clean despite the drought situations you might be better off.
Who knows, they may even start calling you for jobs that they would normally do. When we were facing severe drought restrictions people would start asking us to do extra work for them, because if they did it they would get reported.

In the mean time, contact your local city manager and inform him that if you arent working you arent paying taxes, and if you arent paying taxes then he is getting a pay decrease. See what the requirements are to keep operating despite the drought conditions.

Hope it goes well for you.