Cockroach Control in Key West, FL
A dense historic island city of wooden conch houses, guesthouses and a restaurant district packed into a few square miles.
Call Now: (866) 384-0870Cockroach Control in Key West
Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States, at the end of the Overseas Highway about 160 miles from Miami. Its Old Town is one of the largest historic districts of wooden buildings in the country, filled with Conch cottages, Victorian homes, shotgun houses and the busy bars and restaurants of Duval Street. The island also includes New Town's mid-century neighborhoods, condos, hotels, Naval Air Station Key West facilities and a cruise ship port.
Key West is tropical, hot and humid all year and never freezes. The dense, old wooden housing, restaurants and heavy tourism make German and American cockroaches a constant concern, and Australian and Surinam cockroaches live in its lush gardens and potted plants.
The Cockroaches Key West Residents Report Most
| Species | How often it comes up locally | Local notes |
|---|---|---|
| American (palmetto bug) | Very common | Sewers, cisterns, crawlspaces, storm drains |
| German | Very common | Restaurants, bars, guesthouses and rentals |
| Australian | Common | Gardens, porches and courtyards |
| Surinam | Common | Potted plants and garden soil |
| Brown-banded | Occasional | Older wooden homes and apartments |
Notes by Type of Property
| Property type | Typical setting | Entry points and what matters | First fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Conch houses | 19th-century wooden homes | Raised floors, gaps in siding, old plumbing | |
| Duval Street and downtown | Bars, restaurants and shops | Commercial kitchens, shared walls, alleys; shared walls, alleys | Regular professional program |
| Guesthouses and hotels | Historic inns and resorts | Guest turnover, laundry, kitchens; guest turnover | Checks between stays |
| New Town neighborhoods | 1950s-70s block homes and condos | Weep holes, jalousies, AC lines; jalousies, weep holes | Weatherstrip; pipe collars |
| Military housing | Navy housing on Sigsbee and Trumbo | Turnover, moving boxes | |
| Conch house | Raised floors, siding gaps | Skirt underneath; seal gaps |
Conch Houses and Old Town
Old Town's wooden Conch houses were built by shipbuilders and sponge and cigar workers in the 1800s, raised on coral-rock piers so air could flow underneath. Those open undersides, gaps in old siding, louvered shutters and aging plumbing give roaches plenty of routes inside. Screening or lattice-skirting the space under the house while keeping airflow, sealing gaps where pipes and wires enter, and weatherstripping doors protect these homes without changing their historic look.
- Open crawlspaces under raised floors
- Gaps in board siding and trim
- Louvered shutters and old windows
- Pipes entering through the floor
Duval Street
Duval Street and the surrounding blocks hold one of the densest concentrations of bars and restaurants in Florida. Shared walls, alleys full of dumpsters, grease traps and nonstop deliveries make German and American cockroaches a year-round issue. Businesses benefit from regular professional programs and sealed trash, and residents nearby from keeping their own trash sealed and doors tight.
Cisterns and Old Drains
Before the aqueduct from the mainland, Key West homes collected rainwater in cisterns, and many old cisterns remain under or beside houses. Abandoned cisterns and old drain lines stay damp and dark and are prime American cockroach habitat. Sealing or filling unused cisterns and keeping drain covers in place help.
Guesthouses and Vacation Rentals
Historic guesthouses, inns and short-term rentals host a constant stream of visitors. Luggage, grocery bags and turnover can bring German cockroaches; housekeeping checks between stays and sealed food storage help.
Tropical Gardens
Key West gardens are dense with palms, orchids, bromeliads and potted plants. Surinam cockroaches live in potting soil and Australian cockroaches in leaf litter and planters. Checking new plants, keeping pots off walls and raking litter help.
Hurricanes and Flooding
Hurricane Wilma in 2005 flooded much of the island with surge, and Irma in 2017 brought wind and water damage. King tides also flood low streets. Floodwater pushes American cockroaches out of drains and leaves wet materials that shelter them; prompt cleanup helps.
New Town
East of White Street, New Town has concrete block homes, condos and shopping centers built after World War II. Jalousie windows, weep holes and AC lines are common entry points; weatherstripping and pipe collars help.
Marinas and Houseboats
Marinas at the Historic Seaport, Garrison Bight and Stock Island hold charter boats, liveaboards and houseboats. Galley food, bait and damp gear draw roaches; keeping galleys clean and storing gear dry help.
A Year of Cockroach Activity in Key West
| Season | What tends to happen locally | Worth doing |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | Dry, mild season; roaches stay active near water sources | Fix leaks; check AC drip lines |
| Spring (Mar-May) | Heat builds; German roaches peak in multi-unit buildings | Seal plumbing penetrations |
| Summer (Jun-Sep) | Rainy season floods burrows and pushes American roaches up drains | Keep drain covers on; clear gutters |
| Fall (Oct-Nov) | Hurricane season tail; post-storm debris | Clean up debris around Key West properties promptly |
Smaller Details Around Key West
Historic Wooden Conch Houses
Century-old wood construction on piers, with shared lot lines, gives outdoor species easy routes indoors.
A Packed Restaurant District
Old Town's bars and kitchens sit wall-to-wall with homes, making commercial work part of nearly every block.
Guesthouses and Vacation Rentals
Constant guest turnover means issues surface between stays rather than through the year.
Never a Freeze
Key West has never recorded a freeze, so roaches are active every month. The rainy season from June through October brings peak activity, but moisture control matters year-round.
Naval Air Station Key West
Navy housing and facilities on Sigsbee Park, Trumbo Point and Boca Chica bring frequent military moves. Moving boxes can carry German cockroaches; unpacking promptly helps.
Cruise Ships and Tourism
Cruise ships and tourists fill downtown most days. Heavy food service and trash along Mallory Square and Duval require regular professional attention.
Salt Air and Wood
Salt air corrodes screens and hardware and weathers wooden siding. Keeping paint, screens and sweeps in good repair closes gaps.
Free-Roaming Chickens
Key West's famous free-roaming chickens are everywhere. Feed scattered for them and spilled pet food draw roaches; keeping outdoor food cleaned up helps.
AC and Condensate
AC runs all year. Directing condensate lines away from foundations helps.
Sewer Lines
American cockroaches live in the island's sewer system and come up through floor drains and around pipes. Keeping covers on and sealing gaps help.
Pets and Pet Food
Pet food left out overnight draws roaches; storing it sealed helps.
Historic Renovations
Renovating old wooden homes opens walls and floors. Sealing gaps as work finishes and cleaning up debris help.
Moving to Key West
Newcomers are often surprised by the palmetto bugs in Old Town. Many are outdoor roaches wandering in; sealing and moisture control handle most of it.
Prevention Steps That Fit Key West
- Skirt or screen the space under raised Conch houses.
- Seal or fill unused cisterns.
- Keep drain covers in place during king tides.
- Check potted plants before bringing them inside.
- Check rentals between guests.
- Weatherstrip jalousie windows.
- Clean up chicken feed and pet food outdoors.
Which Roach Is It?
| Roach | Size and look | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| German | 1/2 inch, tan with two dark stripes | Kitchens, bathrooms, appliances |
| American (palmetto bug) | 1.5-2 inches, reddish-brown | Garages, drains, sheds, crawlspaces |
| Smokybrown | 1-1.5 inches, dark mahogany | Attics, gutters, trees, porch lights |
| Florida woods roach | 1.5 inches, dark and slow | Mulch, leaf litter, woodpiles |
| Australian | 1.25 inches, yellow shoulder stripes | Plants, yards, sunrooms |
Reasonable First Steps
Check under sinks and behind appliances after dark, look in garages, sheds and utility areas, note what you see and where, and take a photo with a coin for scale. That tells a specialist whether you're dealing with an indoor German cockroach problem or outdoor species wandering in.
What to Expect When You Call
Tell us your neighborhood or road, what type of home you have and where you've been seeing roaches. We'll connect you with an independent specialist who covers Monroe County, and pricing is discussed directly before any work begins.
Start here
Which One Did You See?
Small and indoors: German cockroach
- About half an inch, tan to light brown
- Found in kitchens and bathrooms
Large and mostly outdoors: palmetto bug
- 1 to 1.5 inches, reddish-brown
- Also called the American cockroach
Related Services
Nearby Communities
Frequently Asked Questions
Old wooden homes, dense restaurants and year-round heat support them.
Raised floors and old siding give them routes inside; skirting and sealing help.
Yes. Abandoned cisterns are prime American cockroach habitat.
Yes. Key West never freezes.
Yes. Shared walls and heavy food service require them.
Surinam cockroaches often hide in soil.
Remove wet materials and dry out quickly.
Guest luggage can bring German cockroaches.
Yes. Specialists covering the Lower Keys typically serve both.
Scattered feed does; clean it up.
Running a home or guesthouse in Key West?
Call to Discuss Pricing: (866) 384-0870We work Old Town houses, kitchens and guesthouses.