Frequently Asked Questions

View our construction and landscaping hours available at this link. 

The Planning, Zoning & Building Department is located at 360 S. County Rd. in the Town of Palm Beach.

If you are coming from Okeechobee Boulevard, travel east over the Royal Park Bridge to South County Road. Turn right (south), go past the fountain in the middle of the road (two blocks), and Town Hall is located on your left. The Department’s entrance is on the East side of the building. Parking is available on the East side of the building, or on side streets.

If you are coming from the Flagler Memorial Bridge or from points north, take Royal Poinciana Way east to County Rd. Turn right (south), and travel south until you reach Royal Palm Boulevard.

Continue south two blocks and follow the directions listed above.

If you are coming from the south, follow S. Ocean Boulevard north until you reach Chilean Avenue (two blocks north of Worth Avenue). Turn left (west) and go one block to S. County Road. Turn right (north) on S. County Rd. and Town Hall will be on your left.

All work except for installation of carpet, wallpaper and interior painting require a permit. Refer to the Florida Building Code Online and the Town's Code of Ordinances for acceptable methods. For questions about building fines in the Town of Palm Beach, please contact the Planning, Zoning, and Building (PZB) Department at (561) 838-5430. They can assist with fine details, payment options, and resolution processes.

The Department is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Monday through Friday except for Town Holidays. In-person submittals end at 4:00pm daily.  However, you may apply online through the TOPB Citizen Access Portal 24/7.  Our main telephone line is 561-838-5431. If our intake personnel are working with customers, please leave a message and they will return your call promptly.

 The Records Division is available to view records from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday except for Town Holidays. You may submit a request online here.  

 The best time to contact inspectors is between 7:45am and 8:30am, and 3:15 pm to 3:45 pm. Their telephone numbers can be found here.

During normal business hours (M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm)
Call Code Enforcement: 561-838-7080

Outside of normal business hours
Call the Police Department's non-emergency phone number: (561) 838-5454

All ocean-front property owners are required to ensure that no artificial light illuminates any area of the beach or water that may be used by nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. To accomplish this, the town requires that all lighting is positioned or shielded so that light is not visible from the beach or water during the period from March 1 through October 31 of each year.

All coconut trees in the town must be trimmed annually by August of each year, so that on August 1 of each year they will be free of coconuts, coconut blooms, and dead or dying fronds. This will protect life and property during periods of high winds and hurricanes and protect pedestrians and vehicular traffic where coconut trees overhang walkways and streets.

Yes, you will need to complete the Contractor Registration on the Town of Palm Beach's Citizen Access Portal if you are registering with the Town for the first time or if you completed the registration prior to April 2nd, 2024. Click here for instructions on how to complete the Contractor Registration through the Citizen Access Portal.

You may discharge a contractor by forwarding a letter of discharge to the Planning, Zoning & Building Department indicating the contractor's name, permit number, and the property address. A reason for the discharge may also be included. Please note that you may not authorize the transfer of a permit to another contractor. Only the permit holder may authorize the transfer of his/her permit.

Specific details can be found in Chapter 18 of the Town of Palm Beach Code of Ordinances. See the current fee schedule.

The qualifier and/or the property owner for your permit must write a letter to the Planning, Zoning and Building Department indicating that he/she wishes to cancel the permit. The letter should include the permit number, the job site address, and the reason for the cancellation. For further information please call 561– 838- 5431 or email permits@townofpalmbeach.com. 

Register online through the TOPB Citizen Access Portal.  Or Visit our office with a copy of your Certificate of Competency from the State of Florida or Palm Beach County, whichever is applicable. If you have earned a Certificate of Competency from Palm Beach County (U-Card) you must also register with the State of Florida and must submit both the U-card and the State registration to the Town. You are not required to submit insurance information when you register. 

See the Constructions and Landscape hours here.

To see the Town Observed Holidays where there can be no major construction or landscaping, click here. From there you can find the section titled no construction/landscaping dates. 

If your permit was issued after April 1, 2024, in EPL, visit the Citizen Access Portal.   If your permit was issued prior to April 1, 2024, and begins with “B” it was issued in EDEN, visit our Citizen Services website. 

For permits issued after 4/1/2024 in EPL, visit the TOPB Citizen Access Portal.   

For permits issued prior to 4/1/2024 in EDEN, there are two ways to schedule an inspection. You can schedule, change or cancel an inspection using our Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) System at 561-227-7090 or our permit system online. The IVR system is available 24 hours a day. Please cancel an inspection prior to 7:30 am the day of the inspection or you may incur inspection fees. The system will confirm that an inspection has been scheduled or canceled. The system is sensitive to background noise. We suggest you mute your phone as you enter your responses on the keypad. You can also schedule, change or cancel an inspection online on our Citizen Services website. Register as a user, and you will be able to schedule, change and cancel inspections.

Inspections may be scheduled until midnight and will be performed the following working day. You may contact any of the inspectors before 9:00 am to find an approximate time. The inspector's information can be found here.

Inspection cancellations should be reported to the Inspectors on or before any given inspection date to avoid a reinspection fee. See inspection scheduling instructions on the website for a list of Inspectors and phone numbers. ( See How to Schedule or Cancel Inspections)

Contact the Town of Palm Beach Police Department at (561) 838-5454.

If you have a business location, or work within a salon or brokerage here in town, you will need a Business Tax Receipt. Please visit here for more information.

It usually takes up to 7 business days from the date we receive all of the required information.

The Town’s Business Tax Receipt period is from October 1 through September 30. Any Business Tax Receipt purchased for that period expires on September 30.

Tax Receipts are available for renewal after July 1 of each year. The Town sends out a courtesy renewal notice approximately 60 days before your Business Tax Receipt is due to expire.

No, you must apply for and receive your Business Tax Receipt from the Town before you can open for business.

A Palm Beach County Business License application will be mailed to you with your approved and issued Town of Palm Beach Business Tax Receipt. You will be required to submit that application to the county along with a copy of the Town's Business Tax Receipt for proof of zoning approval. Visit the Palm Beach County Tax Collector Website, or by calling (561) 355-2272.

If you are doing business in a name other than your own personal name (first and last) or incorporated name, you must provide proof of Fictitious Name Registration prior to obtaining a Town Business Tax Receipt. You may pick up a Fictitious Name Registration Packet at our Department, or file for incorporation or a fictitious name online at www.Sunbiz.org.

Please navigate to the Town Calendar that contains hearing dates for ARCOM, LPC, and/or Town Council.

Submittal deadlines for Development Review projects (ARCOM, LPC, and Town Council) are listed in the Development Review Calendar.

If you are planning on submitting for a Development Review project, please follow the Development Review Instructions.

The Town of Palm Beach allows for changes to landmarked properties, as long as those changes have been approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and are in keeping with the architectural style of the building. Landmarks Preservation Commission approvals range from sign or awning approvals to approvals of substantial additions to landmarked homes, new cabanas, new guest houses, etc.

To see if your scope of work requires Commission Review or Administrative Review, please view the Project Designation Matrix.

*Note: All Landmarked or Historically Significant Building properties that submit for Administrative Review are reviewed with the LPC Chair. *

Generally, we have copies of all documents submitted to or issued by the Planning, Zoning and Building Department related to private property. Examples of these include issued permits and their applications, certificates of occupancy, surveys, plans and specifications for construction and zoning applications with approvals or denials. We also have ARCOM and Landmarks Preservation records available.

Submit a Records Request here.

In order to obtain copies of any records complete and submit your request, visit the Public Records Request Portal. 

Please consult the Fee Schedule to determine the cost of copying various documents and records. We accept cash, checks and credit card payments. Blueprint size records are copied at an outside source and they determine copy costs.

Please refer reach out to a member of staff at PZB@townofpalmbeach.com.

If you believe you have a situation where you cannot conform to the Town’s zoning regulations, you may apply for a variance which requires approval by Town Council. 

Please refer to the Town’s Planning & Zoning EPL software or further information on this process or reach out to a member of staff for instructions on how to submit your proposed project for review at PZB@townofpalmbeach.com.

All short-term rentals, including, but not limited to Airbnb are strictly prohibited. Please review the Town of Palm Beach Code of Ordinances for more information.

To get a Certificate of Occupancy, please contact the Planning, Zoning and Building department by calling (561) 838-5431 or emailing PZB@townofpalmbeach.com

You can view the Town's Ordinance related to a Certificate of Occupancy on Municode.

Yes, long-term rentals are allowed in the Town of Palm Beach if only one property is being rented. However, if more than one rental unit in the Town is owned, then a Business Tax Receipt is required.

561-838-5431 is the phone number you should call with questions regarding planning, zoning, or building. 

Subject to current policies and procedures, the Town of Palm Beach will generate a letter (“DEP Letter”) for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as written evidence that the activity or construction proposed east of the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL), as submitted, does not contravene zoning requirements.

To request a DEP Letter:

1.  Log in to the EPL Portal and apply for “DEP Zoning Compliance Letter” plan type (https://townofpalmbeachfl-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/plan/apply/231/0/0).
2. Complete and submit the online form & upload the required documents:
   1. DEP Zoning Compliance Request Cover Letter. A request for the Town’s confirmation of zoning compliance, on company/firm letterhead containing:
      1. The property address, the legal description, and the property owner.
      2. A clear written description of the scope of work east of the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL); include application numbers for any relevant design review and/or Town Council zoning approvals.
      3.  Contact information of requestor, including name, firm/company, phone number, and email address.
      4.  Digital or electronic signature.
   2. Architectural / Engineering Plan Set(s). A plan set of proposed work/improvements with required information containing:
      1. Location of Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL), Property Lines, Required Setbacks, Setbacks to Proposed Improvements, Town of Palm Beach Official Bulkhead Line, and any other information required to demonstrate compliance with zoning.
      2. Plans must be digitally signed & sealed by each professional.
   3. Current Property Survey:  
      1. Dated not more than one-year from submittal date.
      2.  Contains CCCL, TOPB Official Bulkhead Line, etc.
      3. Survey must be digitally signed & sealed by surveyor.
3.  Pay required fees.
4. Please allow up to approx. 10 calendar days for staff to review the request. Staff will advise if the letter cannot be issued and why, or if additional information is needed.
5. Staff will issue the letter electronically to requestor through the EPL Portal.

For questions about Business Construction in the Town of Palm Beach, please contact the Planning, Zoning & Building (PZB) Department at 561-838-5430. They handle permits, zoning approvals, and compliance for commercial projects.

For questions about commercial alteration permits in the Town of Palm Beach, please contact the Planning, Zoning & Building (PZB) Department at 561-838-5430. They can assist with permit requirements, applications, and the review process.

For questions about business license payments in the Town of Palm Beach, please contact the Planning, Zoning & Building (PZB) Department at 561-838-5430. They can assist with business license fees, payment options, and related permit requirements.

For questions about PZB permit applications, please contact the Planning, Zoning, and Building Department at (561) 838-5430. They can assist with application requirements, processes, and status updates.

For questions about roofing permits in the Town of Palm Beach, please contact the Planning, Zoning & Building (PZB) Department at 561-838-5430. They can assist with permit applications, requirements, and the approval process for roofing projects.

For construction noise complaints in the Town of Palm Beach, please contact the Planning, Zoning & Building (PZB) Department at 561-838-5430. They handle permit compliance and can investigate noise related to approved construction activities.

For permit requests to fill a hole in the Town of Palm Beach, please contact the Planning, Zoning & Building (PZB) Department at 561-838-5430. They handle land alteration permits, drainage reviews, and compliance requirements to ensure proper site work.

PZB refers to the Planning, Zoning, and Building Department in the Town of Palm Beach. For any questions about planning, zoning, building permits, or related services, please contact them at (561) 838-5431. 

Immediate Gas Line Safety Steps

If you smell gas or suspect a leak, evacuate immediately, avoid sparks or flames, and call 911 from outside your home. Then contact your gas provider: Florida Public Utilities at 800-427-7712 (covers Palm Beach) or Teco Peoples Gas at 877-832-6747.

Non-Emergency Repairs

For issues like low pressure or appliance hookup information please contact the Planning, Zoning and Building department (PZB) at 561-838-5430.

Do not attempt DIY fixes on gas lines—professional inspection is required for safety and code compliance.

In the Town of Palm Beach, schedule inspections via the EDEN Citizen Access Portal at townofpalmbeachfl-energovweb.tylerhost.net: log in, select "Request Inspections," choose your date (by 11:59 PM prior), and confirm.

Alternatively, use the Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) system at (561) 227-7090 (24/7 availability); cancel before 7:30 AM to avoid fees, and contact your assigned inspector before 9 AM for timing.

For issues, call the Planning, Zoning & Building office at (561) 838-5431 (after 9 AM cancellations) M-F during business hours.