Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Building Permit Guide

The City of Palm Beach Gardens Building Division, at City Hall, 10500 N Military Trail, issues building and trade permits for property in the city, and applications, plans, fees and inspection requests all go through the city’s Civic Access online permitting system. From October 1, 2026 the permit fee is 1.80% of the first $100,000 of project value (minimum $75), plus a 10% plan review surcharge.

What requires a building permit in Palm Beach Gardens?

The city requires a permit for most construction, remodeling and repair work, including structural changes, roof replacement, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, window and door replacement, and additions or alterations. Its Permit Info Guides set out the requirements for each project type:

The state’s new exemption for single-family projects under $7,500 does not apply in Palm Beach Gardens. The city says that, according to the Palm Beach County Building Department, all of Palm Beach County counts as a flood hazard area, which rules the exemption out.

Palm Beach Gardens building department: who handles permitting

The Building Division, part of the city’s Unified Services, handles all building and permitting services in one place: plan review, permits, inspections, open permit searches and licensing questions. Fire, Planning and Zoning, Engineering, the city forester and the crime prevention (CPTED) reviewers also review and inspect permits where they apply.

Palm Beach Gardens permit types and application

The city uses the Universal County-Wide / Municipal Building Permit Application Form, which replaced its separate residential, commercial, sub-permit and revision forms; print it double-sided if you fill it in on paper. Applications go through the Online Permitting System and may need construction plans, contractor registration details and property information such as a survey and the Property Appraiser legal description.

All contractors must register in Civic Access, logged in as the qualifier. Homeowners who qualify as owner-builders complete the city’s Owner-Builder Affidavit and submit it with the permit documents; they take full responsibility for the work. Contractors can also join the Annual Sub-Permit Program for $300 a year.

When every trade reviewer has approved the plans, the permit shows “Pending Issuance” and an invoice goes to the billing contact. Once it is paid, staff issue the permit; the permit card prints from the summary page and the stamped plans are under the permit’s Attachments tab.

Palm Beach Gardens building permit cost

Under the city’s Master Fees and Charges Schedule, effective October 1, 2026, building permit fees are a percentage of the fair market value or cost of construction, as determined by the Building Official. Fire Department, CPTED, engineering, impact and processing fees are added where they apply, and the Building Division page links a Permit Fee Estimator.

For example, a $50,000 remodel has a permit fee of $900 and a plan review surcharge of $90, before state and training surcharges (1%, 1.5% and 1% of the permit fee) and any fire or other review fees. Work started without a permit costs an extra 100% of the permit fee. A permit reissued more than 180 days after it expired costs 30% of the original permit fee ($100 minimum) plus any new plan review. Private providers earn a discount off the building permit fee: 15% for plan review or inspections and 30% for both on residential work, and 25% or 50% on commercial work.

Trade permits in Palm Beach Gardens

Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas work is permitted separately from building work, often as sub-permits on the same universal application, and each has its own Permit Info Guide; there is a separate guide for A/C change-outs. Sub-permits issued over the counter that do not need an independent review carry a $30 administrative fee. Smaller trade permits such as A/C and water heater change-outs may be approved within days.

Inspections on trade permits include electrical (equipotential bonding, early power, rough), mechanical (rough, rough duct, duct detector), plumbing (above ceiling, rough, sewer) and gas (rough, underground tanks); fire alarm and sprinkler work gets its own fire inspections.

How to get a building permit in Palm Beach Gardens

Inspections in Palm Beach Gardens

Schedule inspections by opening your permit in the Online Permit Portal. Next-day inspections can be booked between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.; requests after 3 p.m. go to the following day, and later dates can be booked at any time. The final inspection is only available once the prerequisite inspections show “Passed”.

Depending on the permit, inspections can include structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and fire inspections, plus Planning and Zoning, development compliance, forester and crime prevention (CPTED) sign-offs. A re-inspection costs $75 the first time and $300 for each one after that. Same-day, after-hours or weekend inspections can be requested at $75 an hour with a 3-hour minimum, subject to staffing.

Local Palm Beach Gardens details

Open permit searches: requests go through the city’s online Open Permit Requests portal. A 10-business-day search costs $100 minimum and a 2-business-day search $200 minimum, plus $40 an hour after the first 30 minutes; payment must be received before the search starts, and requests after noon may be entered the next business day.

Right-of-way work: a stand-alone engineering right-of-way permit costs 5% of the work’s value with a $75 minimum; there is no separate fee when it is part of a master permit.

Cancelling a permit: upload a notarized cancellation letter to the permit record; contractors must use company letterhead signed by the qualifier.

Florida building code

The Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), has applied statewide since 31 December 2023; the Florida Building Commission has proposed the 9th Edition (2026) to take effect on 31 December 2026. Florida permit rules

Frequently asked questions

Who issues building permits in Palm Beach Gardens?

The City of Palm Beach Gardens Building Division, at 10500 N Military Trail. Call 561-799-4210.

How much is a building permit in Palm Beach Gardens?

1.80% of the first $100,000 of project value (minimum $75), 1.30% of the amount above $100,000 and 0.98% above $1,000,000, plus a 10% plan review surcharge and state surcharges.

Does the $7,500 permit exemption apply in Palm Beach Gardens?

No. The city says all of Palm Beach County is treated as a flood hazard area, so the exemption does not apply.

How long does plan review take?

It depends on the project. Small permits such as A/C and water heater change-outs may be approved within days; new homes and commercial buildings take longer.

Can a homeowner pull a permit?

Yes, if you qualify as an owner-builder under Florida law. Submit the city’s Owner-Builder Affidavit with the other documents.

How do I schedule an inspection?

In the Online Permit Portal. Bookings made between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. are for the next day.

Palm Beach Gardens permit search and official resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Palm Beach Gardens permitting
• Palm Beach Gardens building department
• Palm Beach Gardens fee schedule
• Palm Beach Gardens inspections
• Official application instructions
• Palm Beach Gardens Building Division FAQs

Simplify Palm Beach Gardens permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Florida. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Palm Beach Gardens permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.