Palm Beach County building department

Palm Beach County’s Planning, Zoning and Building (PZB) Building Division issues permits only for unincorporated Palm Beach County. The quickest jurisdiction check is the parcel’s Property Control Number (PCN): the county treats PCNs beginning with 00 as unincorporated, and anything else as inside a municipality, which runs its own building department. County open-permit searches likewise exclude municipal properties, except areas a city annexed from the county.

Where to go

Office	Address	Hours
Permit Center (Vista Center, 1st floor)	2300 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach	Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m., last sign-in 4:30 p.m.
South County Administrative Complex (limited services)	345 S. Congress Ave., Suite 102, Delray Beach	Tue–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m., last sign-in 4:30 p.m.

The county’s inspection handout lists the Permit Center help line at (561) 233-5119, plan review at (561) 233-5108, general inspections at (561) 233-5170, Zoning at (561) 233-5200, Records at (561) 233-5160, and Contractor Regulations at (561) 233-5525. Callers from South County and Belle Glade can reach any division toll-free at (888) 236-3807.

Applying through ePZB

All applications are filed online through ePZB (www.pbc.gov/epzb), which is open 24/7. The county’s owner-builder walkthrough describes the process:

1. Register with your name, email, and phone, then activate the account from the confirmation email.
2. Go to Menu → Building → Online Submittal → “New Permit Request” and enter the address or PCN.
3. Fill in owner, title holder, and contractor details. Owner-builders choose “Owner/Builder” and enter N/A for bonding company, architect/engineer, and lender.
4. Enter the trade, type of work, value of work, and square footage, and answer the disaster-repair and flood-damage questions.
5. Upload each document as a separate PDF: application, plans or drawings, survey, and for owner-builders an Owner Builder Affidavit notarized by the Building Division.
6. Accept the terms and submit. Staff email you when review is done, and you pay fees online.

The same account handles plan-review comments, Notice of Commencement uploads, renewals and revisions, printing permit documents, and inspection scheduling. ePZB also includes a Building Fee Estimator, impact fee estimators, and a contractor lookup.

The county’s permit-type list sorts work into tiers. Type 1 permits for 1- and 2-unit homes include A/C change-outs, awnings, electric service changes, pool barrier fences, and water heater change-outs. Reroofing, siding/stucco, and window and door replacements are Type 1 for all occupancies. Fences (other than pool barriers), court surfaces, and slabs go through Type 1 site plan review. Larger work such as new A/C systems, demolition, gas, and pool decks is Type 2.

Work that doesn’t need a permit

Palm Beach County’s amendments to the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), Section 105.2, exempt:

• Replacement or repair work valued under $1,000, as long as it doesn’t affect structural integrity, fire rating, exit access, or egress
• Cabinets and countertops in 1- and 2-family homes with no reconfiguration, plus painting, papering, carpeting, and similar finish work with no electrical or plumbing work
• Swings and standard playground equipment at detached 1- and 2-family homes, and retractable wall-supported awnings on R-3 and U occupancies (zoning permits may still apply to both)
• Replacing common household plumbing fixtures on existing supply lines and drains in 1- and 2-family homes. Water heaters, bathtubs, and showers are not included.
• Portable heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment, and minor electrical repairs such as replacing lamps

Emergency equipment repairs may begin first, but the permit application must be filed by the next business day.

Fees

The Permit Center still links to a construction permit fee schedule titled as proposed adjustments (Exhibit A, revised 08-04-09). Because that document is old, check current amounts in the ePZB Building Fee Estimator before budgeting. Fees for valuation-based permits start at $75 for the first $2,000, plus 2.50% of the next $8,000, 1.75% of the next $90,000, 1.00% of the next $200,000, and 0.75% of the rest. Selected fixed fees:

Item	Fee
Residential A/C change-out	$100
Residential fence (no inspection / with inspection)	$75 / $125
Site-built shed, 36–400 sq ft	$200
Windows/entry doors, per 20 openings (with shutters)	$100 ($200)
Generator, 1- and 2-family, electric only	$150
First re-inspection / second without corrections	$50 / $100
Work started before permit	4 times fees

New single-family applications require a submittal deposit, credited toward permit fees, that runs from $500 (up to 800 sq ft) to $2,500 (3,600 sq ft and up). Before you rely on these numbers, run the ePZB fee estimator.

Codes and flood rules

The county enforces the Florida Building Code with local amendments, currently the 8th Edition (2023) amendments dated 12/31/2023. Flood damage prevention rules are in Article 18 of the Unified Land Development Code. Starting October 1, 2026, permit applications for new construction, substantial improvements, and standalone equipment installations must include a Flood Legend. An MEP Equipment Certificate can now be used to document elevations of standalone mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment. The Flood Zone Hotline is (561) 233-5374.

Inspections

• Online (ePZB): Available 24/7. Next-day inspections can be booked until midnight.
• Phone IVR: (561) 355-2222, or (888) 236-3807 from South County and Belle Glade. It runs Mon–Fri 6:30 a.m.–11 p.m. and Sat–Sun 6:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Enter your 7-digit Contractor ID PIN (not your license number) and the full permit number. Press # for the next business day, or enter a date up to 180 days out.
• Inspections can’t be canceled through the system on the day they’re scheduled. You have to call the assigned inspector. The inspector’s phone number and tentative itinerary appear under “Inspection History” in ePZB on inspection day.
• Video inspections: Some single-family permits, such as A/C change-outs, shutters, and siding, qualify for same-day remote video inspection at no extra charge. Call (888) 820-1180.
• Off-hours inspections: Billed hourly when staff are available. Arrange them 24 hours ahead.

Open-permit and lien searches

PZB sells certified searches for unincorporated parcels. Open building permit and fine/lien searches cost $63 ($94 rush), and open code violation searches cost $50 ($75 rush). Results take 7–10 business days, or 3 business days for rush orders. Requests go through ePZB.