Building Permits in Palm Beach County, FL: A Contractor's Guide

Palm Beach County is one of Florida’s most active construction markets. With significant residential, commercial, and luxury development across West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, and Wellington, Palm Beach County’s building department manages a substantial and growing workload. This guide is for contractors, architects, and developers navigating the permitting process in Palm Beach County.

How Building Permits Work in Palm Beach County

Building permits in Palm Beach County are issued by the Palm Beach County Building Division for unincorporated areas, and by individual city building departments for incorporated municipalities (City of West Palm Beach, City of Boca Raton, City of Delray Beach, etc.). All are governed by the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, and local amendments.

The standard permitting sequence is:

• Permit application and document submission (plans, surveys, product approvals)
• Plan review by building department staff across applicable disciplines
• Permit issuance after plans are approved
• Inspections at required phases during construction
• Final inspection and certificate of occupancy or completion

Common Permitting Delays in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County’s construction volume has grown substantially in recent years. The most common sources of permitting delay are:

• Plan review queues: Initial plan review for residential projects typically takes 3–5 weeks; commercial projects may take longer. Each revision round adds additional review time.
• Inspection scheduling: During peak construction seasons, inspection queues in Palm Beach County can run 1–3 weeks depending on trade and municipality.
• Documentation errors: Missing or incorrect documentation triggers revision cycles. Each cycle costs time.
• Product approval requirements: Florida’s wind resistance requirements mean specific product approval documentation is required. Missing approvals are a frequent source of plan review comments.

Using a Private Provider in Palm Beach County

Under Florida Statute §553.791, contractors and property owners in Palm Beach County can elect to use a licensed private provider for plan review, inspections, or both. Palm Beach County is legally required to accept private provider submissions. The statute also requires Palm Beach County to reduce permit fees when a private provider is used.

Tew & Taylor is headquartered in West Palm Beach and has been the private provider of choice for Palm Beach County contractors since 2008. Our same-day inspection availability and 2-day plan review turnaround have made us the firm behind some of Palm Beach County’s most demanding residential and commercial projects, including The Palm House Hotel and multiple luxury estates on the Intracoastal.

Palm Beach County Jurisdictions We Serve

Tew & Taylor provides private provider services throughout all of Palm Beach County, including: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Wellington, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Greenacres, Riviera Beach, Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Royal Palm Beach, and all unincorporated Palm Beach County.