Permit Requirements

Driveway permit in West Palm Beach, FL

Yes — you need a permit for driveway work in West Palm Beach.

The numbers
Permit needed? Yes
Where the line falls No size threshold in the code
Fee Not in the ordinance — the department quotes it
Review time Not in the ordinance
Code section Ch. 78, Art. II (Driveway Construction)
Based onWest Palm Beach Code of Ordinances, Ch. 78, Art. II; Florida Building Code 2023

How to pull the permit

  1. Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
  2. Apply through the West Palm Beach building department.
  3. Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
  4. Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.

If you skip it

If you start the work before the permit is issued, the permit fee is doubled (Sec. 78-92).

Already built it? How retroactive permits work

Nearby cities, same job

Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.

CityDistance Permit?Where the line falls
West Palm Beach Yes No size threshold in the code
Boca Raton 26 mi Yes You need a permit to pour, widen, or replace a driveway. …
Port St. Lucie 40 mi Yes You need a driveway permit to build a new driveway or cha…
Fort Lauderdale 42 mi Yes Building, paving, or widening a rock or paved driveway or…
Plantation 44 mi Yes You need a permit to pour, widen, or replace a driveway. …
Miami Gardens 55 mi Yes You need a permit to pour, widen, or replace a driveway. …

See every Florida city on driveway work

Other work in West Palm Beach

Questions people ask

I already built it without a permit. What now?

West Palm Beach can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.

Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?

Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.