Bolthole Index

Broward County, Florida

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Pembroke Park, Florida

The Town of Pembroke Park, Florida (Broward County) requires building permits for construction inside town limits, and its own Building Department issues them under the Florida Building Code12. The town also runs its own zoning, set by district in Chapter 28 of the town code3. Buildings must connect to the town sewer before a certificate of occupancy4; septic permits where sewer is unavailable come from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside the town; issued by the Town Building Department12
Zoning
Town zoning by district (Chapter 28 of the town code)3
Sewer
Connection to town sewer required before a certificate of occupancy4
Septic
Only where sewers are unavailable; permits from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County; inspection required before sale657
RV living
Limited to rental sites in the T-1 Mobile Home Park District, up to one year8
Minimum home size
800 sq ft in R-5; 1,200 sq ft in RM-10 for a one-family home910
Minimum lot (R-5)
5,000 sq ft per single-family dwelling11

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Pembroke Park Building Department

Building permits and inspections inside Pembroke Park under the Florida Building Code

954-966-4600

3150 SW 52 Avenue, Pembroke Park, FL 33023

Septic permits

Florida Department of Health in Broward County, Environmental Public Health Program

Septic (OSTDS) and water-well permits for Broward County, including addresses inside cities

954-467-4700

2421A SW 6th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Pembroke Park means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Pembroke Park, Florida?

Yes. Construction inside the Town of Pembroke Park needs a building permit, and the town's Building Department issues it1. The town has adopted the Florida Building Code with Broward County amendments as its building code2. The Building Official may ask for pictures, maps, sealed plans, a survey, specifications or calculations before approving an application12.

The town's page says every contractor must register with the town and show proof of qualifications before getting a construction permit13. We could not confirm whether the town allows owner-builders; ask the Building Department before planning to act as your own contractor.

Who issues building permits in Pembroke Park, and how do you reach them?

The Town of Pembroke Park Building Department issues building permits for land inside the town, not Broward County2. Reach it at 954-966-4600; the office is at 3150 SW 52 Avenue, Pembroke Park, FL 3302313.

The county's Building Code Services applies to unincorporated Broward County, not to this town. For land outside town limits, see the Broward County page.

Does Pembroke Park have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, home size and setbacks?

Pembroke Park has its own zoning: Chapter 28 of the town code limits each building and parcel to the uses permitted in its district3. Rules differ by district, so check which district a parcel sits in before you buy.

In the R-5 Residential District, a single-family dwelling needs 5,000 square feet of lot area and a single house needs at least 800 square feet of floor area119. In the RM-10 district, a one-family dwelling needs at least 1,200 square feet of floor area10. RM-10 front yards are at least 25 feet, or 50 feet when the lot abuts an arterial on the Broward County Trafficway Plan14.

Height limits, lot coverage and accessory dwellings are unconfirmed; ask the Town Hall.

How do septic and sewer work in Pembroke Park?

Pembroke Park requires buildings to connect to the town's sanitary sewer before a certificate of occupancy is issued4. Septic tanks are for waterfront lots and lots without alleys where sewers are not available6. A residential property on a septic system must pass an inspection by a licensed septic tank service firm before it is sold7.

Septic permits are issued by the local county health department, the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, for addresses in Broward cities too515. County conventional drain fields rate poorly: USDA rates 0% of the county's soils as not limited, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system16.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Pembroke Park?

Only in a narrow setting. In the T-1 Mobile Home Park District, an RV site may be occupied only on a rental basis for periods not over one year; RV additions are barred apart from a demountable canvas awning, and RV lots are limited to 8 feet wide and 40 feet long8. We could not confirm town rules for tiny homes, temporary camping or accessory dwellings; ask the Town Hall at 954-966-460013.

Building a home in Pembroke Park: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district under Chapter 28 and its minimum lot, floor area and setbacks3.
  2. Check flood hazard status; the town's floodplain rules in Chapter 10 apply in flood hazard areas17.
  3. Confirm sewer availability; the town requires sewer connection before a certificate of occupancy4.
  4. Hire a contractor registered with the town13.
  5. Apply to the Building Department with plans and a notarized application, and pay the permit fee1.
  6. If a septic system is allowed on the lot, apply to the Florida Department of Health in Broward County5.

What stays with Broward County, and what to check before you buy

Septic and well permits are county-level health services under the Florida Department of Health in Broward County518. Outside town limits, Broward County's zoning applies only to the Broward Municipal Services District19.

Countywide, the typical home value is about $424,26120 and the effective property tax rate is 0.9%21. Typical home insurance runs about $6,148 a year22.

Watch-outs

  • A septic inspection by a licensed firm is required before a residential property in Pembroke Park is sold7.
  • We could not confirm permit fees, inspection steps, certificate of occupancy rules or driveway permits for Pembroke Park; ask the Building Department at 954-966-460013.
  • Manufactured homes installed or replaced in flood hazard areas are inspected by the Floodplain Administrator or Building Official17.

Sources

  1. Sec. 5-17. Building permit(s) (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  2. Sec. 5-17. Building permit(s) (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  3. library.municode.com (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sec. 26-16. Sanitary sewer connection required (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Sewage FAQ - Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  6. Sec. 28-3(f) septic tanks (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 26-112. Septic tank inspections (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 28-260. Prohibited uses (T-1) (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  9. Sec. 28-109. R-5 Minimum lot width; minimum floor area (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sec. 28-114.16. RM-10 Minimum floor area (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  11. Sec. 28-108. R-5 Lot area per family (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  12. Sec. 5-17. Building permit(s) (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  13. Town of Pembroke Park Building Department (tppfl.gov)
  14. Sec. 28-114.6. RM-10 Minimum front yard (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  15. Florida Department of Health in Broward County, Environmental Public Health Program (broward.floridahealth.gov)
  16. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  17. Sec. 10-50. Manufactured homes (flood) (Town of Pembroke Park), quoted and re-checked
  18. Water Well Construction, quoted and re-checked
  19. Urban Planning Services, quoted and re-checked
  20. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Pembroke Park

Town of Pembroke Park’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction projects inside Pembroke Park town

    • Plans per FBC Section 107, notarized application, payment of permit fee, applicant qualified by Building Official.
    “the building department shall issue construction permits, as required by section 105 of the florida building code”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Pembroke Park town; town Building Department issues permits under the Florida Building Code

    • Edition not stated in the section opened.
    “the florida building code, with applicable broward county amendments, is hereby adopted and shall be the building code of the town.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Pembroke Park town

    • Zoning is Chapter 28 of the town code with district-based use limits.
    “nor shall any building or land be used for any purpose other than is permitted in the district in which such building or land is located.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-5 Residential District, single house, Pembroke Park town

    • Duplex: 400 sq ft per living unit, exclusive of porches, terraces and attached garages.

    minimum floor area single house: >= 800 sq ft

    “the minimum floor area for a single house shall be eight hundred (800) square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — RM-10 Moderate Density Residential District, one-family dwelling, Pembroke Park town
      “the minimum floor area of a one-family dwelling unit shall not be less than one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet and the minimum floor area of a dwelling unit in a two-family dwelling (duplex) shall be not less than eight hundred (800) square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-5 Residential District, single-family dwelling, Pembroke Park town

    • Duplex 2,500 sq ft per family; minimum lot width 50 ft single family, 60 ft duplex (Sec. 28-109).

    lot area per single-family dwelling: >= 5000 sq ft

    “for one (1) single-family dwelling, five thousand (5,000) square feet;”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    RM-10 Moderate Density Residential District, Pembroke Park town

    • Front yard 50 ft if abutting an arterial roadway on the Broward County Trafficway Plan, otherwise 25 ft.

    front yard: >= 25 ft (50 ft abutting arterial) · side yard: >= 15 ft · rear yard: >= 20 ft

    “every plot shall have a front yard setback of not less than fifty (50) feet in depth if abutting an arterial roadway, as depicted on the broward county trafficway plan, or not less than twenty-five (25) feet in depth abutting any other roadway.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    T-1 Mobile Home Park District sites inside Pembroke Park town

    • Occupancy only on a rental basis not exceeding one year; no additions or attachments to RVs except a demountable canvas awning (Sec. 28-285); only one family; RV lots limited to 8 ft wide and 40 ft long (Sec. 28-285.1).
    “Occupancy of a mobile home site by a mobile home, recreational vehicle or living quarters except on a rental basis for periods not in excess of one (1) year;”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Residential property with a septic tank inside Pembroke Park town

    • Inspection is required before sale of the property, by a licensed septic tank service firm.
    “any residential property utilizing a septic tank system for the disposal of sanitary wastes will be required, prior to the sale of said property, to pass a septic tank inspection by a licensed septic tank service firm”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Waterfront lots and lots without alleys inside Pembroke Park town where sewers are unavailable

    • Septic tanks only whenever sanitary sewers are not available; sewer connection otherwise required (Sec. 26-16).
    “all waterfront lots and lots without alleys must have septic tanks in the front yard, whenever sanitary sewers are not available to service the property in question.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Commercial or residential buildings inside Pembroke Park town: connection to town sanitary sewer

    • Connection required before certificate of occupancy; water connection rule not found.
    “required to connect their building to the Town's sanitary sewer system prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Flood hazard areas inside Pembroke Park town (Chapter 10)

    • Floodplain Administrator or Building Official inspects manufactured homes installed or replaced in flood hazard areas.
    “the floodplain administrator or building official shall inspect manufactured homes that are installed or replaced in flood hazard areas to determine compliance with the requirements of this ordinance and the conditions of the issued permit.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permits inside Pembroke Park town

    • Building Official may require pictures, maps, sealed plans, survey, specifications, calculations.
    “the building official or designee, may require certain documentation to complete the permitting application process including, but not limited to, pictures, maps, sealed plans, survey, specifications,”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Pembroke Park or Broward County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Inside Pembroke Park town
  • Inspections — Inside Pembroke Park town
  • Certificate of occupancy — Inside Pembroke Park town
  • Lot coverage — Inside Pembroke Park town
  • Building height — Inside Pembroke Park town
10 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Pembroke Park publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Broward County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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