Serving Opa-locka, Florida
Property Damage & Injury Lawyer Serving Opa-locka, Florida
A 1926 Moorish Revival city of 16,463 with a busy general aviation airport and a stormwater system its own master plan calls aged and undersized.
Opa-locka clients
Old buildings, a large airport and drains that struggle in light rain
Aviator Glenn Curtiss founded Opa-locka in 1926 as an Arabian Nights fantasy, and 16,463 people now live in about 4.2 square miles.
Bernhardt Muller designed the Moorish Revival buildings between 1926 and 1928, and 17 of the original 20 survive on the National Register of Historic Places. City Hall at 777 Sharazad Boulevard is one of them. The city also has an unusual neighbor: Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport, a general aviation airport at 14201 NW 42 Avenue.
Age and infrastructure drive most of the disputes we would expect here: water that will not drain, structures that need recertification, and insurers who question when damage started. If one of those describes you, call us or use the form.
Property damage & insurance claims
Drainage, aging structures and the 40-year mark
The city's own stormwater plan describes a system that is aged, undersized and damaged, and that changes how a water claim gets argued.
Opa-locka's Stormwater Master Plan page says the existing facilities are aged, under-sized, damaged and non-functional to meet current and future levels of service. It adds that flooding occurs during light to moderate rainfall, with commercial and industrial roadways hit hardest. That matches news reports: in August 2015 CBS Miami covered standing water in the warehouse district near NW 151st Street and NW 22nd Avenue.
For a property owner, the question in a water claim is usually source and timing. An insurer may argue surface water, poor maintenance or gradual damage, and the answer depends on the policy language. Florida generally requires notice of a new hurricane or windstorm claim within one year of the date of loss, and insurers must generally pay or deny within 60 days after receiving notice. The city's Building and Licensing Department also handles building recertification for structures 40 years or older. Keep inspection reports, permits and dated photos, and send your notice in writing.
Property damage claims → Hurricane claims → Condo and HOA insurance claims →
Opa-locka at a glance
Local facts, with sources
Opa-locka is an incorporated city in northern Miami-Dade County, chartered in 1926 and led by a mayor and four commissioners with a city manager.
16,463 residents (2020 Census, up from 15,219 in 2010) Wikipedia, citing the 2020 Census
About 4.2 square miles, roughly 12 miles north of downtown Miami (Wikipedia, 2026) Wikipedia
17 of 20 original Moorish Revival buildings survive (National Register listing, 1982) Wikipedia, Opa-locka Thematic Resource Area
8,002 feet, among the longest general aviation runways in the country (county airport page, 2026) Miami International Airport site
Personal injury
Where people get hurt around Opa-locka
An airport, a commuter rail station, warehouse roads and a historic core each create a different kind of claim.
Airport and aviation-area roads
Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport has three runways and three fixed base operators, and hosts a U.S. Coast Guard Air/Sea Rescue station. Streets around it carry aircraft crews, service vehicles and visitors, so crashes and lot injuries there can involve unusual parties.
Warehouse district roads
The city's stormwater page says commercial and industrial roadways take the worst flooding damage. A vehicle damaged or a driver hurt on such a road raises questions about who maintained it.
Tri-Rail, buses and main streets
Tri-Rail serves the city through the Opa-locka Station, and Miami-Dade Transit buses run through it. NW 27th Avenue, Ali Baba Avenue and Opa-locka Boulevard (State Road 916) are the named routes pedestrians and drivers share.
Historic buildings and visitors
Opa-locka's Moorish Revival buildings, including City Hall and the Moorish Revival railroad station at 490 Ali Baba Avenue, attract visitors to older structures. Uneven steps, worn surfaces and poor lighting on older premises can support a claim against the owner.
How we work with Opa-locka clients
Reaching us from Opa-locka
Our office is in Coral Springs and we represent clients throughout Florida, licensed in all Florida courts. You can call us or use the form, and the first consultation is free.
Talk with our teamOfficial Opa-locka resources
Useful links for Opa-locka residents
- Opa-locka Building and Licensing. Permits, certificates of occupancy and recertification, at 305-953-2868.
- Opa-locka Code Enforcement. Lists common residential violations and gives the code enforcement extension.
- Opa-locka Stormwater Master Plan. The city's description of its drainage problems and the plan to rank and fix them.
- Miami-Dade Emergency Management. Storm surge zone mapper, evacuation routes and county alert signup.
Opa-locka questions
Straight answers for Opa-locka residents.
Fees, deadlines and what to do after a loss or an injury.
Ask us about your situation ↗Why is drainage such a big issue for property claims in Opa-locka?
The city's Stormwater Master Plan page describes aged, under-sized and damaged facilities and says flooding occurs in light to moderate rain. If water damages your property, insurers may argue about the source and timing of the loss. We can review your policy and evidence.
What is the 40-year recertification the city mentions?
Opa-locka's Building and Licensing Department says it handles building recertification for structures 40 years or older. That is a city compliance program, not an insurance one. If an inspection finding overlaps with a damage claim, keep the report and share it with us.
How long do I have to report storm damage?
Florida generally requires notice of a new hurricane or windstorm claim within one year of the date of loss. Insurers must generally pay or deny within 60 days after receiving notice. Written notice with photos is the safest way to start.
I was hurt in a crash. How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
A 2023 Florida change shortened the deadline for most negligence lawsuits from four years to two. Florida also uses modified comparative negligence, so recovery is barred if you are more than 50 percent at fault. Preserve photos and the crash report.
What does it cost to talk with you?
The consultation is free and our fee is contingent, so there is no fee unless we recover. We work from Coral Springs and represent clients across Florida, so a call or the online form is all you need to begin.
Proof and further reading
Recent case results
Related case results
Case resultResidential Hurricane Claim: $185,000 Recovered
We secured $185K for homeowners after their insurer denied Hurricane Ian roof damage, proving the loss far exceeded the deductible.
Read the case →
Case resultResidential Hurricane Claim: $300,000 (from $500)
We turned a $500 insurance payout into $300K for a homeowner after Hurricane Ian roof and water damage, just before jury trial.
Read the case →
Case resultMiami Car Accident: $60,000 Recovered
We proved a rideshare app was active at the time of a rear-end crash, securing $60K for our client from both the company and driver’s insurance.
Read the case →