Palm Beach County, FL Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Max density bonus
- Up to 100% (Full Incentive Option)
- Limited Incentive Option cap
- 50% density bonus
- Applies to
- 10+ unit residential developments
- Rental WHP set-aside, full option
- 16% of max density
- Where it applies
- Unincorporated Palm Beach County only
Summary
Palm Beach County lets developers earn up to a 100 percent density bonus above the Future Land Use Atlas cap by building Workforce Housing Program units, or up to 50 percent under the more modest Limited Incentive Option.
A development selecting the Full Incentive Option shall have available all applicable WHP incentives provided in this Section below, including a density bonus of up to 100 percent of the permitted density, pursuant to the Density Bonus process in Art. 5.G.1.B.2.e, Density Bonus Determination for Full Incentive Developments.
Full Breakdown
Any new residential project of ten or more units in unincorporated Palm Beach County's Urban/Suburban Tier must use the Workforce Housing Program (WHP), the Affordable Housing Program, or the Transfer of Development Rights program to build above the density cap set by the property's Future Land Use Atlas designation. Under WHP's Full Incentive Option, a project can add up to 100 percent more units than the base density by dedicating roughly 4 to 16 percent of its units, plus 30 to 34 percent of any bonus units, as income-restricted workforce housing; the Limited Incentive Option caps the bonus at 50 percent with a smaller set-aside. The rule applies only outside the county's 39 municipalities, which set their own density-bonus standards.
Violations & Fines
Palm Beach County enforces WHP compliance through Code Enforcement or Circuit Court action; violators face rescission of unauthorized sales, reclassification of market-rate units to WHP units, and extension of the 15- or 30-year affordability term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this density bonus apply inside West Palm Beach or Boca Raton?
How much bigger can a project get under the Workforce Housing Program?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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