Fort Lauderdale, FL rainwater: 50,049 gallons off a roof
How much rain a roof in Fort Lauderdale, FL collects
50,049gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Fort Lauderdale, FL's normal 63.0 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Fort Lauderdale, FL a single barrel does most of the work. Storms come often enough that a small tank refills before it runs dry, and a bigger one would mostly sit full.
Rainfall: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, the Oakland Park 0.3 Se station (2.0 mi away). Fort Lauderdale, FL ranks 47th wettest of the 173 cities covered in Florida.
Month by month in Fort Lauderdale
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.03 | 2,408 | |
| Feb | 3.07 | 2,440 | |
| Mar | 2.89 | 2,297 | |
| Apr | 3.51 | 2,790 | 105 |
| May | 5.01 | 3,982 | |
| Jun | 8.01 | 6,366 | |
| Jul | 6.03 | 4,793 | |
| Aug | 8.07 | 6,414 | |
| Sep | 8.55 | 6,796 | |
| Oct | 6.58 | 5,230 | |
| Nov | 4.53 | 3,600 | |
| Dec | 3.69 | 2,933 |
Sep is the wettest month (8.55 in, 6,796 gal off the roof); Mar the driest (2.89 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
Which tank size is worth it in Fort Lauderdale
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 91 gallons to the garden in a normal year (86.9% of its need).
If you buy one, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Fort Lauderdale's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
| 110 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
| 165 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
| 275 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
| 550 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
| 1,000 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
| 1,500 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
| 2,500 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
| 5,000 gal | 91 | 48,683 |
Simulated storm by storm through a normal year using the station's count of days with 0.1 in or more of rain each month.
Is rainwater collection legal in Florida?
Legal. Florida approves onsite non-potable use of rainwater for landscape irrigation, vehicle washing, filling pools and fountains and, in some local jurisdictions, toilet/urinal flushing (Florida Plumbing Code). No state storage cap or registration for non-potable collection.
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source