Monroe County Issues New Barcoded Reentry Stickers for Residents

Monroe County officials have implemented a new barcoded vehicle windshield sticker program designed to ease reentry into the Keys when checkpoints are necessary to ensure public safety after a destructive storm. Residents may obtain one sticker for each registered vehicle by presenting proof of residency at a Monroe County Tax Collector office.

Acceptable proof includes a Florida driver license and the vehicle registration. Out of county vehicle registrations are allowed when paired with a property bill showing home ownership in Monroe County. Stickers are available at Tax Collector offices in Key West, Marathon, Big Pine Key, Plantation Key and Key Largo. Key West’s sticker remains unchanged under the new system. Full details are available at monroecounty-fl.gov.

The stickers are barcoded and color coded to permit zone by zone reentry control, with Zone 1 covering the Lower Keys, Zone 2 covering the Middle Keys and Zone 3 covering the Upper Keys. The goal is to reduce delays at checkpoints and allow emergency management to manage access in a way that balances resident needs with safety and infrastructure assessments.

The program also includes a placard reentry program for businesses and organizations considered essential to recovery, and reentry placards for MERC volunteers who assist during response and recovery operations. The county page provides guidance on when residents can expect reentry to be allowed after a hurricane, and emphasizes that residents should not wait until a storm is approaching to obtain a sticker. Stickers will not be issued once a state of emergency has been declared.

Officials note there are no plans to enact a checkpoint for COVID 19. For Monroe County residents, obtaining a sticker ahead of the hurricane season offers a practical step to protect family mobility, support rapid recovery of commerce and allow emergency teams to focus on safety assessments rather than access verification.