Palm Beach County's building program is run by the Planning, Zoning & Building Department (PZB), Building Division, which issues permits for unincorporated Palm Beach County. The county leans hard into self-service: applications run 24/7 through the ePZB portal, the portal includes a Fee Estimator, and many solar installations can be self-issued through SolarApp+.
This guide covers what triggers a permit, how fees work, the ePZB submission process, trade permits, and inspections — so your Palm Beach County project starts clean.
Confirm you're in unincorporated Palm Beach County. The PZB Building Division permits only unincorporated areas; the county's 39 municipalities (West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and more) run their own building departments with separate portals and fees.
What requires a building permit in Palm Beach County?
Under the Florida Building Code (§105.1), a permit is required before you erect, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures and systems. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New homes, additions, ADUs, and tenant build-outs
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC changeouts and boilers
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Pools and spas, garages, signs, and fences
- Solar PV systems (often self-issued via SolarApp+)
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Beginning without one exposes the owner to after-the-fact fees and penalties and can stall financing and resale. Apply first.
Who handles permitting in Palm Beach County?
Permitting for unincorporated Palm Beach County is administered by the PZB Building Division through the Permit Center. Depending on scope, your application may route to zoning, floodplain, engineering, environmental, and impact-fee reviews within PZB.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Main office | 2300 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 |
| South County office | 345 S. Congress Ave, Delray Beach (limited services) |
| Phone | (561) 233-5000 |
| Online portal | ePZB — pbcgov.com/epzb (24/7) |
| Office hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (sign-in by 4:30 p.m.) |
| Enforced code | Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023) |
Apply online anytime. The ePZB portal accepts new applications, sub-permits, revisions, and renewals 24/7, includes a Fee Estimator, and supports SolarApp+ self-issued solar permits for eligible residential systems.
Palm Beach County building permit cost
Palm Beach County building fees generally start with a base permit fee plus a percentage of construction valuation. The Building Division organizes applications into permit types (roughly Type 0 through Type 9), each with its own checklist, and the ePZB Fee Estimator returns a figure before you file.
Because fee schedules are adjusted periodically, use the ePZB Fee Estimator or confirm the current schedule with the Building Division before budgeting. Separate trade, impact, and review fees may apply.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building / construction fee | Base fee plus a percentage of construction valuation |
| Permit types | Applications grouped Type 0–9, each with its own checklist |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade unless rolled into a master permit |
| Fee Estimator | Built into ePZB — returns an estimate before filing |
| Impact / review fees | Zoning, floodplain, engineering, and impact fees as applicable |
| Work-without-permit | After-the-fact fees and penalties |
Want a precise number for a specific Palm Beach County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Palm Beach County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and licensed contractor, each filed against the master building permit.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, and most wiring alterations. Residential solar PV can frequently be self-issued through SolarApp+ in the ePZB portal.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping. Fees follow the county schedule with a per-permit minimum.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, refrigeration, and boilers. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools and spas, garages, signs, and fences are permitted separately. Palm Beach County is outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone but enforces the Florida Building Code's high-wind provisions — use products with current Florida Product Approval.
Verify your contractor's license. Confirm the contractor is licensed in Florida (DBPR, (850) 487-1395) before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Palm Beach County
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit and confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Palm Beach County, not one of the 39 municipalities.
Prepare your documents
Use the PZB application sufficiency checklist for your permit type. Assemble plans, forms, valuation, and any zoning, floodplain, or impact-fee materials that apply.
Submit through ePZB
Create an ePZB account, run the Fee Estimator, and submit the application and documents online — or self-issue eligible solar through SolarApp+.
Plan review & corrections
PZB routes the application to the applicable reviews. Track activity in ePZB and upload revisions promptly if comments are returned.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated fees in ePZB and download the permit. Record and post a Notice of Commencement where required and keep approved documents on site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections in ePZB and monitor status. Clear all required inspections to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy or Completion.
Inspections in Palm Beach County
Schedule and track inspections through the ePZB portal. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and Notice of Commencement on site with approved documents available.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official Palm Beach County permitting resources
- 🏛️ PBC Building Division
- 💻 ePZB portal
- 📋 Permit Center & checklists
- 📘 Florida Building Code (8th Ed.)
- ☀️ SolarApp+ solar permits
- 🪪 DBPR license verification
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Florida permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building Department before filing. This is not legal advice.