Bolthole Index

Palm Beach County, Florida

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Boca Raton, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida requires building permits for covered construction, with applications handled by the city Building Department.12 Inside Boca Raton city limits in Palm Beach County, the city sets zoning; septic permitting and inspection remain with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County.34 Boca Raton prohibits using house cars, camp cars or trailers as living or sleeping quarters.5

At a glance

Building permits
City Building Department; apply through Boca eHub2
Zoning
Boca Raton has its own zoning regulations3
Septic permits
Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County handles permitting and inspection4
RV living
House cars, camp cars and trailers cannot be living or sleeping quarters inside city limits5
Owner-builder
Conditional; own use and occupancy, direct supervision, no construction for sale or lease6
Private wells
County health department reviews well location plans before drilling7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Boca Raton Building Department

City building permit applications and inspection questions

561-393-7930

200 NW 2nd Avenue Boca Raton, FL 33432

Zoning

City of Boca Raton Zoning Department

City zoning, permitted uses and property status reports

561-544-8530

200 NW 2nd Avenue Boca Raton, FL 33432

Floodplain permits

City of Boca Raton Floodplain Management

City floodplain information and flood hazard questions

561-393-7845

[email protected]

Septic permits

Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County - Environmental Public Health

Septic-system plan review and permitting, septic and well approvals, and private-well location review

561-840-4500

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Boca Raton means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Boca Raton, FL?

Boca Raton building projects need a building permit before covered construction, erection, alteration, modification, repair or demolition, subject to statutory exceptions.1 The City of Boca Raton Building Department handles building permit applications through Boca eHub and plan review files through Boca ePlans/ProjectDox.2

Boca Raton construction must follow the applicable Florida Building Code; construction standards outside the Residential code’s coverage follow the Building code.8 An owner-builder arrangement does not remove building permit or code requirements: qualifying owners must use the residence themselves and directly supervise work not performed by licensed contractors.9 Ask the city Building Department to confirm owner-builder eligibility before planning to manage a new home yourself.10

Who is the Boca Raton building department, and how do you apply?

Contact the Boca Raton Building Department at 561-393-7930 or visit 200 NW 2nd Avenue Boca Raton, FL 33432 for city building permit questions.10 Boca eHub handles building permit applications, status checks, fee payments, inspection scheduling and public-record searches.2 Boca ePlans/ProjectDox handles uploading documents for plan review and downloading approved files after issuance.2

Boca Raton inspections depend on the building permit type and scope of work.11 Where a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Certification is required, the city begins the process with an Admin Permit Closeout inspection; otherwise the building permit is closed out.12 We could not confirm the applicable city building permit fee amounts; ask the Building Department for the fee schedule for your project.10

Does Boca Raton have zoning, and what does it mean for your lot?

Boca Raton has municipal zoning regulations covering land inside city limits, including district-specific plot dimensions, minimum living area and yard requirements.3 Ask the Boca Raton Zoning Department to identify the parcel’s district and confirm the proposed dwelling’s lot size, living area and setbacks before purchasing plans.313

Boca Raton offers a Zoning Confirmation Letter through Boca eHub; the letter costs $250 and confirms zoning compliance and/or zoning regulations and permitted uses, with a code-violation search as well.13 We could not confirm a city allowance for tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwellings, or specific lot-coverage and height limits; bring those questions to the city Zoning Department at 561-544-8530.13

How do septic permits and private wells work inside Boca Raton?

Septic permitting and inspection inside Boca Raton remain with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, while Florida DEP is responsible for implementing the septic statutes and regulations.4 Florida requires a septic permit application and a site evaluation for a septic system.14 The county health department reviews septic and private-well plans, and requires plan approval before a building permit can be issued.7

Palm Beach County’s soil assessment shows 0% rated “not limited” for conventional septic drain fields; that countywide rating does not make septic impossible, but reinforces the need for a parcel-specific site evaluation.15 Well drillers must submit location plans to the county health department before drilling, and final well and septic approvals must be recorded before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.7

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Boca Raton?

Boca Raton prohibits using house cars, camp cars or trailers as living or sleeping quarters anywhere inside city limits.5 A plan to live in an RV while building a Boca Raton home therefore conflicts with the city’s occupancy prohibition.5

Boca Raton’s floodplain rule separately addresses temporary placement of RVs and park trailers in special flood hazard areas: placement must last fewer than 180 consecutive days, or the vehicle must be fully licensed and ready for highway use.16 Meeting that placement condition does not remove the citywide prohibition on living or sleeping in the vehicle.165 We could not confirm whether a proposed tiny home would qualify as a permitted dwelling; ask the city Zoning Department about the dwelling design and intended use before buying it.13

How do you build a home in Boca Raton, step by step?

  1. Ask Boca Raton Zoning to confirm the district, permitted use and dimensional requirements for the proposed home.313
  2. Discuss flood hazard conditions with Boca Raton Floodplain Management before finalizing the site plan.17
  3. If the project uses septic or a private well, obtain the county health department’s plan approval before the city building permit is issued.7
  4. Apply through Boca eHub and upload plan-review documents through Boca ePlans/ProjectDox.2
  5. Schedule the required inspections through Boca eHub; inspection requirements depend on the permitted work.211
  6. Complete and obtain approval of inspections, resolve code violations and satisfy the city’s closeout conditions for any required occupancy certificate.12

What should you check before buying land in Boca Raton?

For a Boca Raton parcel, request zoning confirmation from the city and discuss flood hazard conditions with the city Floodplain Manager; Boca Raton identifies a large portion of the city as special flood hazard area.1317 We could not confirm the city’s new-home water and sewer connection requirements, driveway-access standards or alternative off-grid sanitation allowance; ask Boca Raton Building and the county health department which approvals your proposed site needs.107

For land outside Boca Raton city limits, consult the Palm Beach County guide: Palm Beach County’s general zoning framework applies to unincorporated land rather than municipal parcels.18 Florida’s farm-building exemption concerns qualifying nonresidential structures on bona fide agricultural land, excludes urban agriculture and retains floodplain requirements; it is not an exemption for a home.19

Watch-outs

  • Boca Raton’s temporary RV floodplain placement conditions do not authorize using an RV as living or sleeping quarters.165
  • We could not confirm Boca Raton tiny-home or accessory-dwelling occupancy rules; ask the city Zoning Department before committing to either design.13
  • Florida requires an existing, properly functioning septic system to connect within 365 days after written notification that sewer is available, subject to statutory conditions and exceptions.20

Sources

  1. F.S. 553.79 — Permits; applications; issuance; inspections (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Permit Process Information (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  3. Code of Ordinances, Section 28-336, District classifications (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  4. Wastewater Systems (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  5. Code of Ordinances, Section 28-1303, House cars, camp cars and trailers (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  6. Owner/Builder Affidavit and Disclosure Statement (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  7. Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County - Environmental Public Health (palmbeach.floridahealth.gov)
  8. Code of Ordinances, Section 19-6, Florida Building Code, Residential (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  9. 2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Boca Raton Building Department (myboca.us)
  11. Private Provider Procedures (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  12. City FAQs, Inspections / Permit Closeout (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Boca Raton Zoning Department (myboca.us)
  14. OSTDS Application Information (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. 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
  16. Code of Ordinances, Section 21-177, Temporary placement (Boca Raton), quoted and re-checked
  17. City of Boca Raton Floodplain Management (myboca.us)
  18. Planning, Zoning & Building - Zoning (2026 county census)
  19. Florida Statutes § 604.50, Nonresidential farm buildings; farm fences; farm signs (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. leg.state.fl.us (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 10, 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 Boca Raton

Boca Raton’s own rules

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner-builder permits for qualifying construction inside Boca Raton city limits.

    • The residence or farm outbuilding must be for the owner's own use and occupancy.
    • It may not be built for sale or lease.
    • The owner must perform or directly supervise the work and possess technical knowledge.
    • The city page additionally requires a single-family home, ownership by an individual rather than a business, current occupancy by the owner, notarized permit sections 7 and 8, and owner-completed subpermit applications.
    • Commercial work is limited to projects costing $75,000 or less under the affidavit.

    owner-builder period: 12 months (subject to the statutory exemption conditions) · commercial project cost: <= 75000 USD (per the owner-builder affidavit)

    “This provision allows you to pull a permit as owner/builder within a 12-month period, provided that the residence or farm out building is for your own use and occupancy. It may not be built for sale or lease.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building construction inside Boca Raton city limits.

    • Construction standards not covered by the Florida Building Code, Residential must follow the Florida Building Code, Building.
    “Construction standards or practices which are not covered by Florida Building Code, Residential shall be in accordance with the provisions of Florida Building Code, Building.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Permitted construction projects inside Boca Raton city limits.

    • Inspections depend on the permit type and scope; the city may use private providers, audits, and building-official oversight.
    “Each permit type has inspections tailored to that specific scope of work.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Permits inside Boca Raton city limits that require a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Certification.

    • If the permit does not require a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Certification, the permit is closed out instead.
    • All inspections must be completed and approved; identified code violations and other conditions must be resolved.
    “If a permit requires a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Certification, the process starts with the Admin Permit Closeout inspection. If a CC/CO is not needed, the permit gets closed out.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Boca Raton city limits; the city has its own Chapter 28 Zoning regulations.

    “District | Minimum Plot Dimensions | Minimum Living Area (square feet) | Minimum Front Yard (feet) | Minimum Side Yard (feet) | Minimum Rear Yard (feet) | Maximum Permitted Dwelling Units per Gross Acre”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Use of house cars, camp cars, or trailers as living or sleeping quarters within Boca Raton city limits.

    • This direct prohibition does not eliminate separate rules for parking recreational vehicles in residential districts.
    “House cars, camp cars or trailers shall not be used as living or sleeping quarters within the city limits.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping and overnight occupancy inside Boca Raton city limits.

    • Organized youth groups under age 21 may receive written permission for overnight camping at designated park sites where facilities are available.
    • Using a house trailer, camp trailer, camp wagon, or other moveable structure or special vehicle for overnight occupancy in a park is prohibited.
    • Trailers and similar vehicles may not be used as living or sleeping quarters within city limits.
    “Organized youth groups of people under 21 years of age may receive permission for an overnight camping permit at a specified site in a part where such designated facilities are available.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development and temporary placement of recreational vehicles or park trailers in special flood hazard areas inside Boca Raton city limits.

    • The vehicle or park trailer must remain fewer than 180 consecutive days, or be fully licensed and ready for highway use.
    • Ready for highway use requires wheels or a jacking system, quick-disconnect utilities and security devices, and no permanent attachments such as additions, rooms, stairs, decks, or porches.

    temporary placement duration: < 180 consecutive days (alternative compliance is allowed for fully licensed and highway-ready vehicles)

    “Recreational vehicles and park trailers placed temporarily in special flood hazard areas shall: (1) Be on the site for fewer than 180 consecutive days; or (2) Be fully licensed and ready for highway use, which means the recreational vehicle or park model is on wheels or a jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick-disconnect type utilities and security devices, and has no permanent attachments such as additions, rooms, stairs, decks and porches.”
  • Permit processPublished

    Building permit applications inside Boca Raton city limits.

    • Boca eHub is used to apply for permits, check status, pay fees, schedule inspections, and search public records.
    • Boca ePlans/ProjectDox is used to upload permit files for plan review and download approved files after issuance.
    “The City of Boca Raton Building Department uses a two part system for permitting. The first system is Boca Ehub. Here you will apply for your permit, check permit status, pay your fees, schedule inspections and search public records.”

Rules another office applies inside Boca Raton

Boca Raton does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Septic systems inside Boca Raton city limits are subject to state DEP implementation authority and permitting/inspection by the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County.

    • DEP became responsible for implementing OSTDS statutes and regulations effective July 1, 2021.
    • County health department offices continue septic permitting and inspection.
    “Effective July 1, 2021, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for implementing the Florida Statutes and regulations applicable to OSTDS. Under Florida’s Clean Waterways Act of 2020, the county health department offices will continue to do the permitting and inspection for septic tanks; please continue to work with them for all of your permitting-related needs.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Boca Raton or Palm Beach County directly.

  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Boca Raton city limits.
  • Building height — Building height inside Boca Raton city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Boca Raton city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Boca Raton city limits.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems inside Boca Raton city limits.
6 more unanswered
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Boca Raton publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Palm Beach County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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