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Gutters · Ocean Ridge

Gutters in Ocean Ridge, FL

In a 10-year storm, rain in Ocean Ridge can fall at 11.2 inches an hour for five minutes. A roof that drains well for ordinary rain can overflow in that kind of burst. That is why gutter size and downspout count matter more here than the gutter's appearance. The sizing starts with the rain you actually get.

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Updated October 2026

Drone view of a single-story home with a brown-gray shingle roof and box vents under large oak trees, a metal carport roof in the corner and a street behind.

Ocean Ridge figures this page uses

People (2020 Census)
1,830
Population estimate (ACS 5-year)
1,537
Housing units (ACS 5-year)
1,601
Median year homes were built
1974

Rainfall and sizing

Sizing Ocean Ridge gutters for a five-minute burst

Gutter sizing uses a short, intense burst, not the daily total. Here the NOAA Atlas 14 numbers for a 10-year storm are 11.2 inches an hour over five minutes and 3.55 inches an hour over one hour. A 100-year storm rises to 16.4 inches an hour over five minutes. The 24-hour depth in a 10-year storm is 9.05 inches.

White rectangular downspout running from the gutter down a sand-colored stucco wall, turning through an elbow into an extension that rests on a concrete splash block on the lawn, carrying water away from the foundation (illustration)Illustration

Illustration: downspout splash block

Gutter capacity is set by the flow the roof can push into it during that five-minute peak. Against an 11.2 inch-an-hour burst, a 6-inch half-round gutter at 1/8 inch per foot slope handles about 110 gallons per minute, while a 5-inch handles 74. The larger gutter carries roughly half again as much, which matters on a roof that sheds water quickly.

  • Downspouts: a 3 by 4 1/4 inch or 4-inch round leader carries 192 gallons per minute. A 2 by 2 inch leader carries 30.
  • Any wall that drains onto the roof adds to the area each downspout must handle.
  • Pitch changes the design area. A 12-in-12 roof uses a factor of 1.30 on plan area.

Code and drainage

Downspout discharge and where the water goes

Most Ocean Ridge homes need gutters with downspouts if the eaves reach out less than 6 inches, with exceptions at gable rakes and roofs above other roofs. The water then has to end up at least 1 foot from the wall. Pipe, a tail extension or a splash block all satisfy that.

Ocean Ridge is a barrier island, and water covers 56.7 percent of the town's total area. Many roofs here drain toward tight lots. Confirm your discharge route with the Town of Ocean Ridge Building and Zoning office before changing anything.

Maintenance

Leaves, trees and cleaning gutters on the coast

Live oaks drop litter, and they are among the major pollen producers in Florida, with a season from January to June and a peak in March and April. Pine needle fall in Ocean Ridge peaks in the autumn months, so plan a cleaning then. Clean gutters after the spring oak drop, before the June through September storm season, and after the autumn needle fall.

Gutter-cleaning frequency should rise under heavy canopy or during frequent storms. The 2025 insurer guidance recommends at least twice a year. Ladder work carries real risk, and the NWS warns against roof work when thunder is audible.

In a town where 62.5 percent of housing units were built before 1980, many roofs and gutters are likely original or old. Granules collecting in the gutters are one sign a shingle roof is past its prime.

Rain on your roof

Preset: 9.05 inches, the 10-year 24-hour rain (NOAA Atlas 14 at Ocean Ridge).

11,276 gallons run off that roof, all of it toward the gutters and downspouts.

Math: square feet × inches × 0.623 gallons.

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Questions

Gutters in Ocean Ridge: questions

How much rain do gutters in Ocean Ridge have to handle?

Design for short bursts. In a 10-year storm, a five-minute downpour in Ocean Ridge can fall at 11.2 inches an hour, and a 100-year storm at 16.4. The 24-hour depth in a 10-year storm is 9.05 inches. Gutters sized only for average rain can overflow during these events. Ask your installer which rainfall basis the size assumes.

Source: NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Ocean Ridge 2020 Census internal point (26.5309, -80.0468), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

How many downspouts do I need on my Ocean Ridge home?

The answer depends on your roof area and how much wall sheds onto the roof. A 3 by 4 1/4 inch leader carries 192 gallons per minute, while a 2 by 2 inch leader carries 30. Under Florida code, downspouts must discharge at least 1 foot from the sidewall. Confirm your layout with the Town of Ocean Ridge Building and Zoning office.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th ed., Chapter 11 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

How often should I clean gutters near oak and pine trees here?

Clean them at least twice a year, typically in spring and fall, according to a Florida insurer's 2025 guidance. Clean more often under heavy canopy. Live oaks shed litter and pollen peaks in March and April, while pine needles fall most from September through November.

Source: thig.com, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Gutters

Nearby

Gutters near Ocean Ridge

Sources for this page(31)
  1. 1.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (POP100, HU100) via TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 (AREALAND/AREAWATER). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.Permit office: Town of Ocean Ridge - Building & Zoning. Town of Ocean Ridge - Building & Zoning. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  3. 3.NWS Miami, Weather Safety - Lightning. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25034, via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.2023 Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th ed., Chapter 11 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7). Source URL inherited from COM-20 (the research cites it "as COM-20").
  6. 6.bergerbp.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., R318.5 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription); FBC-Building 1503.7. Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7).
  8. 8.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 8 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7). Source URL inherited from NC-2 (the research cites it "as NC-2").
  9. 9.2023 Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th ed., Chapter 3 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7).
  10. 10.ask.ifas.ufl.edu. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.blogs.ifas.ufl.edu. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.thig.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.Owens Corning, "3 Signs That It's Time to Replace Your Roof". Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Ocean Ridge 2020 Census internal point (26.5309, -80.0468), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  16. 16.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Ocean Ridge 2020 Census internal point (26.5309, -80.0468), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.Town of Ocean Ridge - Building & Zoning, Town of Ocean Ridge. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  18. 18.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates (2020-2024), table B25035, B25034, B25024, via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (AL142016), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dorian (AL052019), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.Florida Building Commission, 'Setting New Standards for Safety: The Florida Building Code' (2004 publication; wind-speed figures in it are outdated and not used), Florida Building Commission. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  22. 22.Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, inspections FAQ (updated 2026-03-17), Citizens Property Insurance. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  23. 23.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.Florida Statutes, section 553.842 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Climatology, NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  26. 26.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017), NOAA National Hurricane Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (access data service), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.Wikipedia, 'Ocean Ridge, Florida' (revision 1375550318), Wikipedia. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  31. 31.NOAA Atlas 14 at Ocean Ridge: 11.2 in/hr (5-minute, 10-year). NOAA Atlas 14 Precipitation Frequency Data Server. Read Oct 5, 2026.

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Gutters in Ocean Ridge

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