Delray Beach, FL
Pop. 69,451 · Palm Beach County
Most looked-up rules in Delray Beach
The topics readers look up most across the site, as they apply in Delray Beach.
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🏡 Home & Property
🏠 Renting & Housing
🔊 Noise & Neighbors
🐾 Animals & Farming
🚗 Parking & Streets
💼 Business & Licensing
📋 Permits, Signs & Events
🌎 Environment & Utilities
🛡️ Privacy & Civic
📋 Other
🌿 Landscaping Rules
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Some RestrictionsDelray Beach Land Development Regulations Section 4.6.19 requires permits for removal of protected trees, though FL §163.045 (2019) preempts local permit requirements for documented…
Weed Ordinances
Some RestrictionsWeeds and noxious vegetation over 12 inches are declared a public nuisance under Delray Beach Code Chapter 100, subject to the same abatement process as overgrown grass.
Tree Trimming
Some RestrictionsTree trimming in Delray Beach must follow ANSI A300 standards per City Code Chapter 100 and the Land Development Regulations. FL §163.045 limits local permit requirements for dangerous…
Water Restrictions
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County limits landscape irrigation to three assigned days a week by address, with no watering from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Native Plants
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyFlorida-Friendly Landscaping using Florida native plants is protected statewide under FL FS §373.185 and encouraged by Palm Beach County. PBC ULDC Article 14 awards landscape credits…
Rainwater Harvesting
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County exempts rain barrels, cisterns, and similar rain-harvesting devices from the county's landscape irrigation watering-day and time restrictions, letting residents water…
🏊 Swimming Pools & Spas
Fencing & Safety Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsDelray Beach pools must meet FL Statute 515.27 barrier standards: 48-inch minimum fence, self-closing and self-latching gates opening away from the pool, no footholds, and openings…
Pool Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyBuilding a residential pool in unincorporated Palm Beach County requires a building permit under the county's Florida Building Code amendments, with ten staged inspections from steel…
🐔 Animal Ordinances
Wildlife Feeding
Heavy RestrictionsFeeding alligators, bears, foxes, raccoons, and sandhill cranes is illegal under FL §379.412 and FWC Rule 68A-4.001. Delray Beach's coastal proximity makes feeding sea birds and beach…
Beekeeping
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping is legal in Delray Beach under Florida Statute §586.10 preemption. Cities cannot ban beekeeping. FDACS annual registration is required for all Florida beekeepers.
Pet Groomer Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyGrooming parlors and mobile grooming units in unincorporated Palm Beach County must hold an annual operational permit from Animal Care and Control, renewed yearly and subject to…
Microchipping
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County requires every cat four months or older to be implanted with an electronic animal ID (EAID) microchip, and owners must keep their contact information tied to that…
Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County lets registered caregivers manage feral cat colonies under a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return program instead of licensing each cat, provided the cats are…
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires every dog six months or older and every cat four months or older to be spayed or neutered unless the owner qualifies for one of seven specific…
Chickens & Livestock
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, keeping horses, poultry, or livestock in a residential zoning district requires a lot of at least one acre under the county's land development code.
Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County caps how many dogs and cats a household may keep before extra acreage or a special permit is required - up to 10 are allowed on any lot, 11 to 30 need 1.5 to 2.5+…
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County caps veterinary clinics at 5,000 sq ft in AR, AGR and CLO zones and requires a 1-acre lot with 50-foot setbacks for any outdoor runs.
Pet Store Rules
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County barred new pet-shop and pet-dealer permits for stores selling dogs or cats since October 1, 2016; existing licensed stores keep operating and can transfer ownership…
Exotic Pets
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, keeping a dangerous or FWC Class 1 or 2 animal requires Board of County Commissioners approval as a Class A Conditional Use and a five-acre minimum…
Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County has no breed-specific restrictions. FL Statute §767.14 preempts all local breed bans statewide. Dangerous-dog determinations are behavior-based under FL §767.
Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyDogs must be leashed or crated whenever off the owner's property in unincorporated Palm Beach County; loose dogs can be impounded and owners cited under the county's Dog and Cat…
🔥 Fire Regulations
Smoke Detectors
Heavy RestrictionsDelray Beach enforces Florida Building Code and FL §553.883 smoke alarm requirements: working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on each floor of all…
Fireworks
Heavy RestrictionsConsumer fireworks are restricted in Delray Beach year-round except on the three state-preempted holidays (July 4, Dec 31, Jan 1) under FL §791.08. Sparklers and novelties remain legal…
Propane Storage
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyAbove-ground propane and LP-gas tanks three feet or taller in unincorporated Palm Beach County must meet the zoning district's yard setback or the Florida Building and Fire Prevention…
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Light RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyRecreational campfires and bonfires are allowed without a county burn permit under the Open Burning Ordinance, but they can't produce excessive visible smoke: the standard used to…
Outdoor Burning
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County prohibits open burning countywide unless the material and method are specifically allowed under the Open Burning Ordinance, with narrow Health Department-approved…
Wildfire Zones
Heavy RestrictionsFloridaThe Florida Forest Service has statewide jurisdiction over wildfire prevention and suppression on non-municipal land under Chapter 590, Florida Statutes.
🔊 Noise Ordinances
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bars lounges, restaurants, and nightclubs from running amplified outdoor music or speakers that create excessive noise at the property line of nearby…
Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County caps residential noise at 60 dB by day, 55 dB in the evening, and 50 dB overnight, with a flat 70 dB limit for commercial and non-residential receiving…
Leaf Blower Rules
Light RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyLawn and garden equipment can't generate excessive noise at a residential property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. in unincorporated Palm Beach County.
Construction Hours
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bars noisy construction work at residential property lines from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and bans it outright on Sundays except for minor homeowner repairs.
Quiet Hours
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bans noisy construction, demolition, and lawn or garden equipment at residential property lines from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., with construction work barred…
Barking Dogs
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, a dog, cat, or bird that habitually barks or makes objectionable noise is a public nuisance, but Animal Care and Control only investigates after…
🏠 Short-Term Rentals
Short-Term Rental Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyHosts renting short-term in unincorporated Palm Beach County must file a registration application and pay fees for a Business Tax Receipt and Tourist Development Tax account before…
Host Platform Liability
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyAirbnb, Vrbo and other hosting platforms operating in unincorporated Palm Beach County must verify each host holds an active Tourist Development Tax account and Business Tax Receipt…
Repeat Violator Strikes
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County can revoke a Home Sharing or Vacation Rental registration for any violation of the short-term rental ordinance, and the host must wait a full year before reapplying.
Host Presence Rule
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County splits short-term rentals into Home Sharing, where the host lives on-site during the stay, and Vacation Rentals, where the host is absent: both require separate…
Night Caps
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County has not imposed minimum night stay requirements on STRs in unincorporated areas. Minimum stay caps are preempted by FL §509.032 for the County, though incorporated…
Taxes & Fees
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County levies a 6% Tourist Development Tax on stays of six months or less, and hosts must hold an active Business Tax Receipt and TDT account with the Tax…
🚗 Parking Rules
Overnight Parking
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bars parking any vehicle, equipment, trailer, or boat on a public street or right-of-way for more than one hour in any 24-hour period, effectively…
Curb Color Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, any electric vehicle charging parking space must be painted green or marked with green painted lines or curbs under the county's land development…
Driveway Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires driveway and yard parking on an improved surface, and bars parking RVs, boats, or trailers in the front setback except for a two-hour loading…
EV Charging
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County allows electric vehicle charging spaces by right, with no special permit, but caps them at 50% of required parking and sets design rules for buffer…
Loading Zones
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, vehicles at a marked freight curb loading zone can stop for loading or unloading materials for no more than 30 minutes, and passenger curb loading…
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bars parking equipment, RVs, boats, trailers or commercial trucks on any public street or right-of-way for more than one hour in a 24-hour period, with…
Street Parking Limits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County prohibits parking in front of any driveway, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, or against the flow of traffic: vehicles must parallel park within 12…
RV & Boat Parking
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County caps outdoor residential parking at one recreational vehicle plus up to three boats, sports vehicles, or trailers, all screened in the side or rear…
Abandoned Vehicles
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County outright bans leaving any wrecked, junked, or nonoperating vehicle on a road, and gives private property owners just ten days to remove one before the…
Towing & Impound Rights
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida caps the drop fee a tower can charge at half the posted rate if the owner shows up mid-tow, requires a signed itemized receipt, and forces storage lots within 10 to 15 highway…
🧱 Fence Regulations
Fence Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County requires a construction permit for every residential fence built in unincorporated areas, with fee tiers of $75 without inspection or $125 with inspection under Code…
Height Limits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, residential fences and walls max out at 4 feet within the required front setback and 6 feet within the side, side-street, rear setback, or a…
Retaining Walls
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, a fence or wall built along a retaining wall on a Single Family lot can gain extra height matching the grade change next door: up to six feet in a…
Material Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bans electrified fencing and dangerous materials like barbed wire, broken glass, and razors on any fence or wall, with narrow permitted exceptions.
Neighbor Fence Rules
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida's one statewide fence statute, §588.011, defines a legal fence as at least 3 feet high with three strands of wire on posts no more than 20 feet apart. Residential height…
💼 Home Business
Signage Rules
Heavy RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bars any outdoor sign or advertising evidence for a home-based business, including the address in print or broadcast ads.
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bars on-premise sales or services for home businesses except instructional lessons or incidental retail; instructional visits are capped at three…
Cottage Food Operations
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyCottage food operations in unincorporated Palm Beach County are governed by FL FS §500.80, which preempts local regulation. Producers may sell up to 250,000 dollars annually of…
Home Daycare
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyFamily day care homes in unincorporated Palm Beach County must be licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families under FL §402.313 and registered with the County. Maximum…
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County allows home-based businesses by right in any residential zoning district, but the use must stay incidental to the home, skip retail storefronts, and…
🏗️ Accessory Structures
Tiny Homes
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County allows tiny houses as small as 400 square feet under Florida Building Code Appendix Q, formally adopted into the county's own building code with reduced…
Garage Conversions
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County lets you convert a garage or carport to living space, but only if you replace the lost parking in the driveway or a common lot first.
ADU Owner Occupancy
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County lets homeowners build one Accessory Quarters unit by right, but the code defines it as located on the owner-occupied principal dwelling's lot, so…
ADU Rules
Heavy RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County allows accessory dwelling units (called Guest Cottages or Servant Quarters) under PBC ULDC Article 4.B.1.A on lots of at least one acre in agricultural…
Shed & Carport Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires a building permit before you erect a shed of any size: the county's own exemption list for building work never carves out small accessory…
🏘️ HOA Rules
CC&R Enforcement
Some RestrictionsCC&R enforcement by Delray Beach HOAs follows FL 720.305. 14-day pre-fine notice required, fines capped at 100 dollars per violation and 1,000 dollars aggregate unless the declaration…
Dispute Resolution
Some RestrictionsHOA and condo disputes in Delray Beach follow FL 720.311 (HOA) and 718.1255 (condos). Pre-suit mediation is mandatory for most covenant disputes, and election/recall disputes go to…
Assessment & Dues
Some RestrictionsHOAs in Delray Beach levy assessments under FL 720.3085. Unpaid assessments create a lien senior to most liens except first mortgages and tax liens. 45-day notice of intent to lien and…
Architectural Review
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyHOA architectural review committees (ARCs) in Palm Beach County must follow procedures in the recorded declaration of covenants. FL §720.3035 limits ARC authority to standards…
Board Governance
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires every POA declaration to grant automatic membership, voting rights, and assessment authority, and forces the developer to set a fixed date for…
Board Procedures
Heavy RestrictionsFloridaUnder Fla. Stat. § 720.303(2), Florida HOA board meetings must be open to members with notice posted at least 48 hours ahead. Section 720.306 governs member meetings and elections, §…
Clotheslines & Energy Devices
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida Statute 163.04 bars homeowner association deed restrictions and local ordinances from prohibiting clotheslines, solar collectors, or other renewable-resource energy devices in…
Drought Landscaping Rights
Significant RestrictionsFloridaFlorida law bars HOA declarations, articles, and bylaws from prohibiting Florida-friendly landscaping, defined by statute as drought-tolerant, water-conserving design. Section…
Flag Display Rights
Light RestrictionsFloridaFlorida law bars homeowners associations from stopping owners from flying up to two flags, each no larger than 4 1/2 by 6 feet, including the U.S. flag, Florida's state flag, military…
HOA Fines & Enforcement
Heavy RestrictionsFloridaUnder Fla. Stat. § 720.305, a Florida HOA may fine up to $100 per violation and $1,000 in the aggregate unless the governing documents allow more. The association must give at least 14…
Lien & Foreclosure Limits
Some RestrictionsFloridaA Florida association can foreclose an assessment lien in the same manner a mortgage is foreclosed, but only after two separate 45-day notices, and fines are largely off limits: a…
Rental Restriction Limits
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida limits how homeowners' associations can restrict renting out a home, but only in communities governed by Chapter 720, not condos or co-ops. Under Fla. Stat. § 720.306(1)(h), a…
🌙 Curfew Laws
Juvenile Curfew
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach County Ordinance 94-16 establishes a countywide juvenile curfew that applies in Delray Beach. Minors under 17 are prohibited from public places from 11 PM to 5 AM Sunday…
Park Curfew
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyCounty parks stay open every day of the year, but each park's opening and closing times are set and posted by the Parks Director, and anyone found inside after closing can be cited.
🌱 Cannabis Regulations
Dispensary Zoning
Heavy RestrictionsUnder FL §381.986, municipalities must either ban all Medical Marijuana Treatment Center dispensaries or allow them anywhere pharmacies are permitted. Delray Beach has zoned MMTCs…
Home Cultivation
Heavy RestrictionsHome cultivation of cannabis is illegal in Florida. The state permits only medical marijuana sold through licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs). Personal cultivation by…
Buffer Zones
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County keeps medical marijuana dispensing facilities at least 500 feet from any existing elementary or secondary school, with closer siting possible only…
🚪 Soliciting & Door-to-Door
Solicitor Permits
Some RestrictionsDoor-to-door solicitors in Delray Beach must obtain a Solicitor Permit from the city and carry the permit and photo ID while working. Permitted hours are 9 AM to 7 PM Monday through…
No-Knock Registry
Some RestrictionsDelray Beach residents may post no-trespassing or no-soliciting signs at property entrances to prohibit commercial solicitation. Under Chapter 118, solicitors must honor posted signs…
🗑️ Trash & Recycling
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Some RestrictionsDelray Beach contracts with Waste Management for curbside solid waste, recycling, vegetation, and bulk collection. Residential garbage is collected twice weekly, recycling weekly, and…
Yard Waste Collection
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County caps yard waste pieces at 6 feet, 6 inches thick and 50 pounds, and bars putting carts or containers at the curb before 3 p.m. the day before…
Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County residents must use the Solid Waste Authority's franchised recycling collection: recyclables set out at the curb are legally reserved for the authorized…
Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County makes it a crime to scavenge or remove recyclables once residents set them at the curb for pickup, and requires anyone collecting recyclable material to hold a county…
Bulk Item Disposal
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County caps curbside yard waste at 6 cubic yards, with oversized pieces and non-conforming debris left uncollected until removed by the owner.
Illegal Dumping
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyDumping, burying, or placing waste on any land or water in the county is illegal under the county's Waste Control Ordinance, with civil penalties up to $500 per violation per day.
Bin Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County residents may set garbage and yard waste carts out no earlier than 3 p.m. the day before pickup and must pull them back in the same day collection…
Dumpster Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires trash and recycling dumpsters to sit in a 10-by-10-foot enclosure, set back at least 25 feet from any residential property line, and screened…
🔑 Rental Property Rules
Repairs & Habitability
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County's Property Maintenance Code requires every rental dwelling unit to have working plumbing, hot water, adequate heat, and safe electrical service, enforced by code…
Just Cause Eviction
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County follows Florida Statute Chapter 83 (Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) for evictions. No just-cause eviction requirement exists; landlords may decline to…
Rental Registration
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires landlords who rent apartment houses long-term to hold a county Business Tax Receipt, taxed at $1.64 per unit with a $27.50 minimum, renewed…
Rent Control
Heavy RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyFlorida Statute §125.0103(2) flatly prohibits rent control in Palm Beach County and every other Florida locality. The 2023 Live Local Act deleted the old housing-emergency referendum…
Eviction Notice & Process
Some RestrictionsFloridaFla. Stat. § 83.56 requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or vacate for nonpayment, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays from the count. For lease violations, the landlord…
Landlord Entry & Notice
Some RestrictionsFloridaUnder Fla. Stat. § 83.53, a Florida landlord must give at least 24 hours' notice to enter for repairs and may enter only at reasonable times, defined as between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m…
Lease Termination & Notice to Vacate
Some RestrictionsFloridaFor a month-to-month tenancy, Fla. Stat. § 83.57 now requires 30 days' written notice (raised from 15 days by 2023's HB 1417). Breaking a fixed-term lease triggers landlord remedies…
Rent Increase Notice
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida has no rent control and no statute setting a maximum rent increase or a dedicated advance-notice period. On a month-to-month tenancy, a new rent takes effect only through the…
Security Deposit Rules
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida places no dollar limit on residential security deposits, but it enforces tight deadlines. If the landlord makes no claim, the deposit must be returned within 15 days of…
Squatter's Rights & Adverse Possession
Heavy RestrictionsFloridaAdverse possession in Florida requires 7 years of actual, continued, exclusive possession plus paying all taxes within a year and filing a return with the property appraiser (Fla…
🍔 Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors
Food Truck Permits
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyFood trucks selling from a Palm Beach County road right-of-way in the unincorporated area need an Engineering Department roadside vendor permit, $250 a year, $500,000 liability…
Vending Zones
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County requires an Engineering Department permit to vend from unincorporated county rights-of-way, restricting locations near schools, homes, competing businesses, and…
Sidewalk & Mobile Vending
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bars roadside vendors from any location with a public sidewalk, curbing, driveway or bike path: vending permits only cover clear road shoulders, under…
🚷 Public Conduct
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County bans e-cigarettes and other vapor-generating devices inside County public park playgrounds, not traditional cigarette smoking, and not the rest of the park, enforced…
Public Marijuana Use
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyOfficers may issue a $100 civil citation instead of arresting adults caught with 20 grams or less of marijuana or paraphernalia in unincorporated Palm Beach County, capped at two…
Public Alcohol Use
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyDrinking or holding an open alcoholic beverage within 500 feet of a commercial parking lot in unincorporated Palm Beach County is a violation, punishable by up to a $500 fine and 60…
Loitering Rules
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County bans loitering in park restrooms, dressing rooms, picnic shelters, and wooded areas countywide under Sec. 21-35, with violators facing citation, ejection, and fines…
🏪 Business Licensing & Operations
Adult Entertainment
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires an Adult Entertainment license before any club, video store, or theater can open, and the Unified Land Development Code sets strict distance…
Towing Companies
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyNon-consent tow companies operating in unincorporated Palm Beach County must post reflective tow-away signs at every driveway, let a vehicle owner who arrives before hookup drive off…
Secondhand Dealers
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County requires a sheriff's-office permit before anyone buys, consigns, or pawns secondhand goods, with a $350 fee, mandatory transaction records, and a 15-day holding…
Massage Establishments
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County doesn't license massage establishments itself: Code § 17-149 defers entirely to the state Board of Massage under Chapter 480, Florida Statutes, and a studio still…
Tattoo & Body Modification
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyTemporary tattoo and body piercing establishments in Palm Beach County must pass a county Health Department plan review and pay a $200 fee before opening, per the Environmental Control…
Pawnbrokers
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County requires anyone operating a pawnshop or buying/pawning secondhand goods to get a $350 sheriff's office permit, hold goods 15 days before resale, and submit…
Auto Repair on Residential Property
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bars home-based businesses from performing paid repair services on-site, and caps work vehicles at one per lot (12,500 lbs GVWR) unless you're zoned…
Tobacco Retail License
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida Statute 569.315 expressly preempts the regulation of the marketing, sale, and delivery of nicotine products and dispensing devices to the state, voiding most municipal…
🪧 Sign Regulations
Holiday Displays
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County exempts temporary holiday lighting from its outdoor lighting standards, no permit or photometric plan needed, unless the display creates a safety hazard or glare…
Political Signs
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County lets campaign signs go up without a permit, but they must come down within ten days after the election and stay under strict size caps.
Digital Billboards
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County caps electronic message signs at 50 percent of sign area, restricts them to regional and civic/assembly facilities, and bans flashing, scrolling, or…
Window Signs
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, window signs can't cover more than 20 percent of the glass window or door they're mounted on, and digital or message-center displays are barred…
🌳 Tree Protection
Parkway Planting
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyNew subdivisions and Planned Development Districts in unincorporated Palm Beach County must plant canopy street trees an average of 50 feet on center, or palms at 40 feet, along both…
Heritage & Protected Trees
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bans removing any specimen tree listed in Appendix 7 unless it's preserved in place, relocated with a certified arborist's report, or mitigated with…
Protected Tree Species
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County prohibits removing any specimen tree listed in Appendix 7 unless it can't be relocated, and ERM requires an arborist report and mitigation planting for…
🌀 Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricane Shutters
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires impact-rated shutters or glazing on new site-built single-family homes worth $750,000+ in the wind-borne debris region under the county's…
Roof Standards
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyReroofing or new roof work in unincorporated Palm Beach County needs a building permit and at least two Building Division inspections, covering dry-in, sheathing, flashing and roof…
Storm Debris
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyOnce a local state of emergency is declared, the Solid Waste Authority may enter unincorporated Palm Beach County's private roads and gated communities to collect and remove disaster…
🛏️ Homelessness & Encampment Rules
🌍 Environmental Rules
Flood Elevation Requirements
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires new construction and substantial improvements in AE, AH, and VE flood zones to elevate the lowest floor at least one foot above the Base Flood…
Boat Dock Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, accessory boat docks on a residential lot must clear a five-foot side setback, and any dock, seawall, bulkhead, or pier built in state waters needs…
Stormwater Management
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bans dumping anything but rainwater into county storm drains, covering illicit discharges, illegal connections, and construction-site runoff, enforced…
Erosion Control
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, new construction must be graded to keep stormwater on the building site until it reaches the roadway or public drainage system, with the Floodplain…
Flood Zones
Heavy RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County has extensive coastal AE and VE flood zones requiring elevation above Base Flood Elevation (BFE). Inland AE zones near canals and Lake Okeechobee. Flood insurance…
Coastal Development
Heavy RestrictionsFloridaFlorida regulates construction seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line through state permits, with uniform standards administered by the Department of Environmental Protection.
🚁 Drone Rules
Park Drone Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyRemote-controlled drones are banned in Palm Beach County parks unless specifically allowed under FAA rules and Florida law, and they can never be flown over people or wildlife.
Commercial Drones
Some RestrictionsFloridaCommercial drone operations in Florida are regulated by federal FAA Part 107 and state law; local governments cannot impose additional commercial operation restrictions.
Recreational Drones
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida expressly preempts local regulation of drones, reserving authority to the state and federal government, with limited surveillance and trespass exceptions.
🔧 Building Safety
Building Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyAny owner constructing, altering, repairing, or demolishing a building, or working on electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems in unincorporated Palm Beach County, must get a…
Building Inspections
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires a staged inspection sequence, foundation, framing, sheathing, roofing, and final, and bars concealing any stage of work until the building…
Green Building Code
Light RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County lets qualifying projects earn a Type 1 Waiver from standard architecture guidelines by hitting a Green Architecture points threshold.
Childcare Center Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyRunning a child care facility, large family child care home, or family day care home in Palm Beach County requires a permit from the county's own Child Care Facilities Board, on top of…
Elevator Maintenance
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, buildings with passenger elevators must keep at least one running whenever the building is occupied, under the county Housing Code.
Plumbing Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires a building permit before any plumbing installation, alteration, or repair, issued under the adopted Florida Building Code, Plumbing, and…
Electrical Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County adopts the National Electrical Code as its minimum electrical construction standard, and the Building Division requires a permit for wiring work in unincorporated…
Lead Paint
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyLead-based paint disclosure and abatement in Palm Beach County follow federal EPA RRP Rule and HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule. Pre-1978 housing requires EPA-certified renovators for any…
🚜 Right to Farm
Agricultural Zoning Protection
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn the AGR and AP agricultural zoning districts, Palm Beach County's code puts neighbors on notice that Florida's Right to Farm Act, F.S. § 823.14, can bar nuisance suits against…
Farm Nuisance Protection
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyFarms in Palm Beach County's unincorporated AGR and AP agricultural districts are shielded from nuisance suits over noise, odors, dust, and machinery under the county's Right to Farm…
🚶 Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules
Encroachment Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPlacing anything, a driveway, landscaping, fence, pathway, or utility line, in a county right-of-way requires a Right-of-Way Permit from Engineering and Public Works before work…
Sidewalk Repair
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, the Property Maintenance Code requires every property owner or occupant to keep sidewalks, walkways and driveways bordering their premises in a…
Obstruction Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bans willfully obstructing streets, roads, and sidewalks, and separately prohibits parking a vehicle on a sidewalk; violations are non-criminal traffic…
🛴 Mobility & Curb Rules
Bike Lane Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County bans stopping, standing, or parking on bicycle paths and bicycle lanes in unincorporated areas, with only a momentary passenger drop-off exception allowed on bike…
TNC Pickup Zones
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUber and Lyft are otherwise exempt from Palm Beach County's vehicle-for-hire ordinance, but drivers must still follow the county's Airport and Port of Palm Beach rules on pickup fees…
Red-Light Cameras
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County runs red-light cameras under Article IV of the county code, fining drivers $158 for failing to stop, with a 60-day window to pay, contest, or submit an…
Golf Carts & Low-Speed Vehicles
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida flips the usual assumption: a golf cart is barred from public roads unless a county, a municipality, or a water control district has affirmatively designated that road for cart…
🎪 Special Events & Permits
Commercial Filming on Public Right-of-Way
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County makes it unlawful to disrupt a permitted commercial film or TV shoot on public property, banning sound interference, lighting interference, blocking equipment access…
Park Event Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County requires a permit or contract issued by the Parks Director to reserve athletic fields, picnic shelters, amphitheaters, equestrian centers, pools, or areas for special…
Parade Permits
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County requires a permit from the Parks and Recreation Director before holding a parade, demonstration, or other mass gathering on county park property in the unincorporated…
📢 Noise from Specific Sources
HVAC & Mechanical Noise
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyFixed mechanical equipment like HVAC condensers can't exceed 60 decibels measured at a neighboring residential property line in unincorporated Palm Beach County, enforced any time of…
Bar & Nightclub Noise
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County bans amplified sound from lounges, restaurants, and nightclubs that reaches the property line of nearby homes, with no special-events exemption for…
Generator Noise
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County lets homeowners test a permanent generator only once a week, never Sunday, for up to 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., under the county's land…
💡 Outdoor Lighting
Light Trespass & Shielding
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County caps light spilling onto neighboring land at 0.33 foot-candles at residential property lines and 3.0 foot-candles at non-residential lines, measured…
Dark Sky Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County requires full-cutoff outdoor luminaires that direct zero lumens above 90 degrees from nadir, caps light trespass at property lines, and shuts off most…
Billboard Lighting
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, billboard illumination must be aimed only at the billboard face, no outward floodlighting, under the Unified Land Development Code's Supplemental…
🩺 Public Health Rules
Syringe Disposal
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County authorizes a needle and syringe exchange program only through a BCC-contracted nonprofit or health provider; operating one without a county contract is a criminal…
Rodent Control
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County mosquito control is handled by PBC Mosquito Control Division. Termite protection required at construction per FBC 1816. Tent fumigation requires 72-hour neighbor…
🗺️ Zoning Overlays & Bonuses
📐 Building Setbacks & Zoning
Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County sets minimum yard setbacks by zoning district under the ULDC's Table 3.D.1.A: a standard single-family (RS) lot needs a 25-foot front setback, 7.5-foot…
Structure Height Limits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County limits buildings and structures to 35 feet in every zoning district unless the ULDC states otherwise, with taller multifamily, office, commercial, and…
🏚️ Property Maintenance
Vacant Lot Maintenance
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyUnincorporated Palm Beach County caps grass and weeds on vacant lots at 18 inches under a half acre, with a 25-foot buffer strip on larger parcels, enforced by Code Enforcement.
Property Blight
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyPalm Beach County's building official can declare a structure unsafe, insanitary, or dangerous to life and order it repaired or demolished, with costs assessed as a lien against the…
☀️ Solar Energy
Panel Permits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyIn unincorporated Palm Beach County, rooftop solar counts as mechanical equipment and can go on principal or accessory buildings, including front and side street yards, without special…
HOA Restrictions
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach CountyFlorida Statute §163.04 strongly preempts HOA restrictions on solar panels in Palm Beach County. HOAs may regulate placement for aesthetics only if performance is not impaired…
💼 Employment Preemption
Minimum Wage Preemption
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida Statute 218.077 prohibits local governments from establishing a minimum wage other than the state or federal rate, preempting city and county living-wage ordinances except for…
Worker Scheduling Preemption
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida Statute 509.032(7) and broader employment preemption framework prevent local governments from requiring private employers to follow predictive or fair-scheduling rules beyond…
🔫 Firearms
Concealed Carry
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida allows permitless concealed carry of firearms by law-abiding adults under FS 790.01 and continues to issue concealed weapon licenses through FS 790.06, with both regimes…
Local Firearms Preemption
Heavy RestrictionsFloridaFlorida Statute 790.33 expressly preempts the entire field of firearm and ammunition regulation to the state, voiding all local ordinances and imposing personal civil penalties on…
Open Carry
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida's open carry ban (FS 790.053) was struck down by the First District Court of Appeal in McDaniels v. State on September 10, 2025. The Florida Attorney General issued guidance on…
Firearms in Vehicles
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida Statute 790.25(5) allows any law-abiding person 18 or older to possess a concealed firearm in a private vehicle for self-defense, provided the firearm is securely encased or…
🎰 Gambling & Gaming
Card Room Licensing
Significant RestrictionsFloridaFlorida cardrooms operate only inside licensed pari-mutuel facilities, dog tracks, horse tracks, and jai alai frontons, under a license from the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Fla…
Charitable Bingo and Raffles
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida lets charitable, nonprofit, and veterans' organizations run bingo without applying for any state gaming license: the statute itself sets the eligibility bar and the limits. A…
Social Gambling Rules
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida law exempts small-stakes card and tile games from gambling crimes under Fla. Stat. § 849.085, but only under strict conditions: winnings per hand can't exceed $10, the game…
Sports Betting Law
Significant RestrictionsFloridaSports wagering is legal in Florida only through the Seminole Tribe's Hard Rock Bet platform, authorized under the state's gaming compact codified at Fla. Stat. § 285.710(13)(b)7…
⚖️ Know Your Rights
DUI Checkpoint Legality
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida allows sobriety checkpoints, and the discretion of the individual trooper is what gets constrained. Fla. Stat. § 321.05(1) gives Florida Highway Patrol officers the power to…
Recording Police
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida is an all-party consent state, but that rule reaches less far than it sounds. Fla. Stat. § 934.03(2)(d) makes interception lawful only when every party consents, while §…
Stop & Identify Laws
Light RestrictionsFloridaFlorida has no general stop-and-identify statute. The Florida Stop and Frisk Law, Fla. Stat. § 901.151(2), lets an officer temporarily detain you to ascertain your identity when…
Vehicle Search & Consent
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida wrote the automobile exception into its statutes in 1927. Fla. Stat. § 933.19 adopts the United States Supreme Court's decision of March 2, 1925 in the Carroll case, reported…
🛍️ Single-Use Items
Plastic Bag Rules
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida Statute 403.7033 preempts the regulation of disposable plastic bags by local governments, prohibiting cities and counties from enacting bans or fees on retailers pending a…
Polystyrene Foam Rules
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida Statute 500.90 preempts the regulation of polystyrene products by local governments, blocking cities and counties from banning expanded polystyrene foam food containers, cups…
🚗 Vehicle Equipment Laws
Underglow & Auxiliary Lighting
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida is one of the states that says yes to underbody lighting in so many words. Fla. Stat. § 316.235(3) provides that any motor vehicle may be equipped with one or more lamps or…
Dash Cam & Windshield Mounting
Significant RestrictionsFloridaFlorida does not give dash cameras a windshield carve-out. Fla. Stat. § 316.2952(2) is written as a closed list of exactly four things that may be attached to, or located in or upon, a…
Lane Splitting & Filtering
Significant RestrictionsFloridaFlorida bans lane splitting in so many words. Fla. Stat. section 316.209(3) states that no person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows…
Plate Covers & Obstruction
Significant RestrictionsFloridaFlorida treats an obscured plate as a crime, not a ticket. Fla. Stat. section 320.061(1) makes it unlawful to apply or attach any substance, reflective matter, illuminated device…
Radar Detector Rules
Few RestrictionsFloridaA driver of a private passenger vehicle may use a radar detector in Florida. No section of the Florida Statutes prohibits owning, carrying or operating one, and chapter 316, which…
Studded Tire & Chain Rules
Few RestrictionsFloridaFlorida does not ban studded tires and does not restrict them to a winter season. The one wheel-surface provision in the traffic code, Fla. Stat. section 316.299, prohibits driving on…
Window Tint Limits
Some RestrictionsFloridaFlorida sets a separate light transmittance floor for each piece of glass rather than one statewide number. Side wings and side windows forward of or next to the driver must pass at…