Palm Beach Gardens, FL Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Section 101.4.4 of the Florida Building Code, adopted as a local amendment at Palm Beach Gardens Code Section 86-27, applies the Florida Building Code, Plumbing to the installation, alteration, repair and replacement of plumbing systems, including equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances connected to a water or sewage system, and covers all aspects of a medical gas system. Section 105.1 requires a contractor, owner or authorized agent who intends to do plumbing work regulated by the code to first apply to the building official and obtain a permit.

The plumbing exemptions in Section 105.2 are narrow: stopping leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe is exempt only if the pipe itself is not defective, because replacing a defective concealed trap or pipe is treated as new work requiring both a permit and inspection; clearing stoppages or repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, including removing and reinstalling a water closet, is exempt as long as no valve, pipe or fixture is replaced or rearranged; and replacing a common household plumbing fixture on an existing supply line is exempt, except that water heater replacement is not.

Once permitted, Section 110.3(C) requires three plumbing inspection stages: underground, made after trenching and piping installation but before backfill; rough-in, made after framing and fire-blocking are in place and all soil, waste and vent piping is complete, before insulation or wall membranes go up; and final, made after all fixtures are connected and the structure is ready for occupancy, with Section 312 of the Florida Building Code, Plumbing governing the required tests.