A Resident's Guide to Palm Coast's Local Ordinances

Palm Coast, Florida may not be the biggest city in the state, but it has its own set of local rules that residents need to follow. With 106 tracked ordinances across 23 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Noise Ordinances

Barking Dogs: Palm Coast has an explicit, numeric barking-dog rule: under Chapter 8 (Animals), Sec. 8-30, any animal that 'repeatedly or excessively (in excess of 20 minutes) barks, cries, howls, screeches, squawks, screams, whines or makes other prolonged or disturbing noises' is a Public Nuisance Animal.

Also covered: Quiet Hours (moderate), Amplified Music & Events (moderate), Outdoor Music (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Palm Coast for details.

Fire Regulations

Outdoor Burning: Outdoor burning in Palm Coast is governed by Section 25-52 of Chapter 25 of the City Code, the Florida Fire Prevention Code (8th Edition, NFPA 1, 2021), and Florida Administrative Code Chapter 5I-2 (Florida Forest Service - Open Burning). The Florida Forest Service has exclusive statutory authority under FS Chapter 590 to issue authorizations for pile burning; Palm Coast cannot issue pile burning permits.

Also covered: Brush Clearance (strict), Fireworks (moderate), Backyard Fires (moderate). See the full fire regulations guide for Palm Coast for details.

Animal Ordinances

Wildlife Feeding: Florida bans the intentional feeding of multiple wildlife species statewide, and Palm Coast - sitting on the Atlantic coast adjacent to the Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve, Princess Place Preserve, and dense saltwater marsh and freshwater pond habitat - is squarely inside the enforcement zone. FWC Rule 68A-4.001(3) prohibits the feeding of black bears and Florida panthers; FWC Rule 68A-25.002 prohibits the feeding of alligators and crocodiles; FWC Rule 68A-13.004 protects sandhill cranes.

Also covered: Breed Restrictions (permissive), Chickens & Livestock (moderate), Dog Leash Laws (strict). See the full animal ordinances guide for Palm Coast for details.

Noise from Specific Sources

HVAC & Mechanical Noise: Palm Coast has no HVAC-specific noise ordinance. Air conditioners 'when functioning with the manufacturer's standard mufflers and noise-reducing equipment in use and when functioning in proper operating condition' are expressly EXEMPTED from the 'loud and raucous noise' rule under Sec.

Short-Term Rentals

Taxes & Fees: Short-term rentals in Palm Coast collect a combined 12% in state and county taxes on stays of 6 months or less: 6.0% Florida state transient rental sales tax (FS § 212.03), 1.0% Flagler County discretionary sales surtax (administered by the Florida Department of Revenue, applies to the first $5,000 of the sale), and 5.0% Flagler County Tourist Development Tax (Flagler County Ordinance 2018-10, effective August 1, 2018, administered by the Flagler County Tax Collector). The City of Palm Coast does NOT impose an additional municipal lodging tax but does charge $375 annual STR registration plus $75 annual inspection fee per property under Ordinance 2025-01 and City Council Resolution 2025-05.

Also covered: Parking Rules (strict), Registration Rules (strict), Permit Requirements (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Palm Coast for details.

Parking Rules

Street Parking Limits: Palm Coast prohibits parking private passenger or recreational vehicles in the paved rights-of-way of City roads at all times except in defined emergencies, under Chapter 44, Section 44-33 of the City Code. Parking in unpaved rights-of-way (swales and medians) is prohibited between 1:00 a.m.

Also covered: RV & Boat Parking (strict), Curb Color Rules (moderate), Driveway Rules (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Palm Coast for details.

Fence Regulations

Material Restrictions: Section 4.01.02.A.3.f of the Palm Coast Land Development Code states: 'No barbed wire, razor wire, or electrically charged fence shall be erected, unless otherwise specified in this section. Broken glass, steel spikes, or other sharp objects intended to restrict access along the top edge of a fence or wall are prohibited.' Section 4.01.02.A.3.g prohibits chicken wire, field fences, and similar fence types except for bona-fide agricultural purposes in the AGR and EST-2 Districts.

Also covered: Height Limits (moderate), Permit Requirements (permissive), Fence Requirements (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Palm Coast for details.

Outdoor Lighting

Dark Sky Rules: The City of Palm Coast lies on the mainland side of the Intracoastal Waterway, which forms the eastern boundary of the city. The Atlantic Ocean beachfront east of the Intracoastal is in the unincorporated Hammock area of Flagler County, not within Palm Coast city limits.

Invasive Plant Rules

Bamboo Restrictions: Palm Coast's Land Development Code (Chapter 11, Trees and Landscape Buffer Requirements) prohibits the planting of any species defined as a 'Category 1' pest plant by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC, now Florida Invasive Species Council / FISC) or as an invasive plant by the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants. Existing FLEPPC Category 1 plants must be removed upon site development.

Landscaping Rules

Water Restrictions: Palm Coast Code of Ordinances Sections 24-181 through 24-185 (Water Conservation, adopted by Ordinance 2009-15) enforce a year-round landscape irrigation schedule that aligns with St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Chapter 40C-2, F.A.C.

Also covered: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (moderate), Grass Height Limits (moderate), Tree Trimming (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Palm Coast for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing Requirements: Pool barriers in Palm Coast must comply with Florida Statute 515.29 and FBC Residential 8th Edition (2023) Section R4501.17. Required minimums: 48-inch barrier height on the outside face, less-than-4-inch sphere openings, max 2-inch ground clearance, horizontal members at least 45 inches apart (or vertical pickets less than 1-3/4 inches apart if closer), self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward away from the pool, and latch release at least 54 inches above gate bottom.

Also covered: Pool Permits (strict), Safety Rules (strict), Hot Tub Rules (moderate). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Palm Coast for details.

Home Business

Home Occupation Permits: Palm Coast requires every home-based business to submit a Local Business Tax Receipt application with an affidavit certifying compliance with LDC Section 4.12 (Home Occupations). State law (FS 559.955) preempts most substantive restrictions, but the city's affidavit and business tax process remain lawful as a general business registration applied equally to home and commercial operations.

Also covered: Zoning Restrictions (permissive), Customer Traffic Restrictions (permissive), Cottage Food Operations (permissive). See the full home business guide for Palm Coast for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rules: Florida does not have a statewide ADU preemption — Palm Coast's Land Development Code controls. The Palm Coast LDC does not list 'accessory dwelling unit' as a permitted use in single-family residential zones (SFR-1 through SFR-5); only one principal single-family dwelling per lot is allowed.

Also covered: Tiny Homes (strict), Shed Rules (moderate), Carport Rules (strict). See the full accessory structures guide for Palm Coast for details.

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Shutters: The Palm Coast Building Department mandates compliance with the 120 mph design wind speed standard for structures, and the city sits inside the Hurricane-Prone Region under the 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code. Northeast Flagler County ultimate design wind speeds under ASCE 7-22 fall in the ~140 mph range (Risk Category II) — meaningfully lower than southwest Florida — but still within the Wind-Borne Debris Region for areas within one mile of the coast.

Also covered: Flood Elevation (strict), Storm Debris (moderate), Roof Standards (strict). See the full hurricane preparedness guide for Palm Coast for details.

Tree Protection

Heritage & Protected Trees: Palm Coast Land Development Code Chapter 11 uses 'specimen tree' and 'historic tree' categories rather than 'heritage tree.' Removal of such a tree generally requires a Chapter 11 permit and mitigation, unless the SFR/DPX/EST buildable-area carve-out (Ord. 2016-6) applies.

Also covered: Tree Replacement Requirements (moderate), Tree Removal Permits (moderate), Tree Ordinances (moderate). See the full tree protection guide for Palm Coast for details.

Environmental Rules

Stormwater Management: Palm Coast operates under a Florida NPDES Phase II MS4 Generic Permit administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The City received its first NPDES MS4 permit in 2014, and the permit must be renewed every five years.

Also covered: Coastal Development (moderate), Shoreline Management (moderate), Mangrove Protection (strict). See the full environmental rules guide for Palm Coast for details.

Sign Regulations

Garage Sale Signs: Palm Coast Chapter 16, Article V (Garage Sales) prohibits all off-site or off-premise garage-sale signs — signs may only be posted on the property hosting the sale. Chapter 12 (Signs and Advertising) of the Unified Land Development Code separately bans all signs (except governmental signs) in any public right-of-way, swale, median, or attached to utility poles, traffic signs, trees, or fences.

Also covered: Political Signs (moderate), Holiday Displays (permissive). See the full sign regulations guide for Palm Coast for details.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Setback Rules: Palm Coast building setbacks are set by zoning district under LDC Chapter 3, Section 3.02 (Residential Zoning Districts). The Single-Family Residential districts SFR-1 through SFR-5 step from larger-lot estate (SFR-1) to smaller-lot single-family (SFR-5), with the typical Palm Coast single-family lot governed by SFR-2 (the standard ITT-platted residential lot).

Cannabis Regulations

Dispensary Zoning: Florida has only medical marijuana — no adult-use recreational sales and no home cultivation (Amendment 3 failed at the 60% threshold in November 2024). Under Florida Statutes 381.986(11), cities and counties have a binary choice: either ban Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) dispensing facilities outright, OR allow them under zoning rules NO MORE RESTRICTIVE than the rules for pharmacies licensed under Chapter 465.

Property Maintenance

Garage Sale Rules: Under Chapter 16 (Businesses, Business Regulations), Article V (Garage Sales) of the Palm Coast Code of Ordinances, each property is limited to no more than 2 garage / yard / moving sales per calendar year, no more than 2 consecutive days each, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Also covered: Vacant Lot Maintenance (moderate), Trash Bin Storage (moderate), Property Blight (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Palm Coast for details.

Solar Energy

Panel Permits: Solar installations in Palm Coast require a building permit through the Palm Coast Building Division (386-986-3780) and must comply with the Florida Building Code (FBC) — Residential Chapter 23 (Solar Energy Systems), FBC-Building wind-load chapters, and the FBC-Electrical. Plans must be signed and sealed by a Florida-licensed professional engineer and meet the city's 120 mph design wind speed.

Drone Rules

Recreational Drones: U.S. airspace is federally regulated by the FAA (Part 107 for commercial; 49 U.S.C.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Food Truck Permits: Florida Statute § 509.102 (enacted as HB 1193 in 2020) preempts local regulation of mobile food dispensing vehicle licenses, registrations, permits, and fees to the state. Palm Coast cannot require a separate food-truck permit or charge a separate fee beyond the state license under FS § 509.241.

Also covered: Vending Zones (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Palm Coast for details.

What to Do With This Information

If you are moving to Palm Coast, buying a home, or starting a project, use this as a starting point. Each category links to detailed pages with the full text, penalties, and FAQs. Verify anything time-sensitive with Palm Coast's city hall or code enforcement office.