West Palm Beach, FL Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 18-1(a) of the City Code requires that permit fees, charges and expenses be set by resolution of the city commission for any work to construct, erect, alter, repair, enlarge, move or demolish a building or structure, or to install, alter, repair or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, with the fee schedule kept on file at the construction services department. Section 18-1(b) treats alarms, sprinklers, signs, pools and fire sprinklers as work requiring their own separate application, permit and fee rather than being bundled into a primary permit.

Section 18-1(d) requires full payment of permit fees at the time of application, though a project valued over $200,000 may file with 30 percent of the estimated fee paid up front, with the balance due before the permit issues; those payments are nonrefundable. Section 18-1(e) lets an owner, architect or representative file complete working drawings for review, without applying for a permit, for jobs valued over $100,000. Section 18-31 adopts the Florida Building Code by reference as the code governing the design, construction, alteration, and demolition of buildings and structures citywide, and § 18-32 layers in the city's administrative and technical amendments, including its wind map amendments. 105, or to pass a city-approved competency exam, before performing permitted work.