Before You Build in Boynton Beach, FL: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

Boynton Beach requires a building permit for any fence over 4 feet tall or any fence with concrete footings. Pool barrier fences always require permits. Typical fee $75-$150 with wind load engineering.

Boynton Beach has no cost-sharing law for fences. FL §823.11 prohibits spite fences. Shared boundary fences need neighbor agreement only if crossing the property line.

Boynton Beach fence heights: 4 feet max in front yard, 6 feet in side and rear yards, 8 feet for pool enclosures with permit. Coastal wind load rating required for all new fencing.

Boynton Beach enforces the FL Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (FL §515): 48-inch minimum barrier, self-closing/self-latching gates, and at least one additional safety feature. Inspection required before filling.

Hot tubs and spas with more than 24 inches of water depth are regulated as pools under FL §515. A locking safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 standards satisfies the barrier requirement for most residential spas.

Above-ground pools holding more than 24 inches of water require a Boynton Beach building permit, proper setbacks, and FL §515 barrier compliance. Pool walls 48 inches or higher with removable ladder can serve as the barrier.

Boynton Beach requires a building permit for all in-ground and above-ground pools holding more than 24 inches of water. Permits include plumbing, electrical, and barrier inspections under FL Building Code Ch. 4 and FL §515.

FL §515.29 requires a 48-inch minimum barrier around all residential pools with self-closing, self-latching gates opening away from the pool. Boynton Beach enforces this through the building permit inspection process.

Boynton Beach pools must meet FL §515 safety standards including at least one approved safety feature beyond the barrier, anti-entrapment drain covers, and proper electrical bonding inspected at permit close-out.

Converting a garage to living space in Boynton Beach requires a building permit, zoning review, and replacement of the required covered parking. Most single-family zoning districts mandate a two-car garage or carport, making full conversion difficult.

Boynton Beach allows accessory dwelling units in select single-family zoning districts as conditional uses. ADUs must be under 800 sq ft, share water and sewer with primary residence, and provide one additional parking space.

Sheds under 100 sq ft are permit-exempt in Boynton Beach if they meet setbacks of 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Sheds 100 sq ft or larger require a building permit and must meet 140 mph wind load standards.

Carports are permitted in Boynton Beach as accessory structures with a building permit. Must match principal structure materials, meet 140 mph wind load, and observe front setback matching the home's zoning district.

Tiny homes on fixed foundations are allowed in Boynton Beach if they meet the Florida Building Code and zoning minimum dwelling size (typically 750 sq ft in single-family districts). Tiny homes on wheels are regulated as RVs and cannot be used as primary residences.

Open burning of yard waste is prohibited in Boynton Beach. Residents must use curbside vegetation pickup through Solid Waste Services. Only recreational fires in approved containers and cooking fires are allowed.

Boynton Beach allows residential fire pits as recreational fires when kept under 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height with a non-combustible base. Fires must be attended at all times and extinguished before leaving unattended, per NFPA 1 Section 10.11 adopted by the city.

Boynton Beach follows South Florida Water Management District year-round landscape irrigation restrictions: two days per week, before 10 AM or after 4 PM. Odd addresses water Wednesday and Saturday; even addresses Thursday and Sunday.

Boynton Beach cannot require permits or mitigation for residential tree removal when the homeowner has written documentation from a certified arborist that the tree is dangerous, under FL §163.045. Commercial and multifamily properties still need a removal permit.

Routine tree trimming on private property in Boynton Beach does not require a permit thanks to FL §163.045, which preempts local tree protection on residential parcels when a certified arborist or ISA-certified professional documents danger. City-owned street trees need approval.