Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony, Florida

Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings, fences, grading, walls, walks, piers, docks, sea walls and other structures inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town

  • Plans and a grading plan are submitted to the town clerk and approved by the building official or designee.
  • Section 3 says work that a town policy memorandum lists as not needing zoning review is reviewed only by the building official.

  “until the plans and specifications showing the nature of such structure or work to be done, and the grading plan of the lot to be built upon have been submitted to the town clerk, and approved by the building official, or his/her designee, and a permit issued.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town

  • Administered by the planning and zoning administrator under the direction of the town commission; appeals go to the town commission.

  “The planning and zoning administrator shall be charged with the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this zoning code as agent of and acting under the direction of the town commission.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  One-family dwellings, townwide (the code gives no separate district)

  • Measured as habitable space.

  minimum floor area: >= 1600 square feet

  “The minimum floor area of a one-family dwelling shall be sixteen hundred (1,600) square feet of habitable space.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings and structures on residential lots inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town, by lot area (Table 1)

  • Table 1 yard setbacks apply only to a lot of 11,000 sq ft or less; otherwise the Standard District setbacks apply.
  • Side-loaded garage on a lot of 11,000 sq ft or less: front setback 15 ft; if within 25 ft of the front lot line, maximum height 15 ft.
  • Second story of a two-story residence: at least 32 ft from the front property line and 15 ft from the rear (Section 10.1(B)).
  • A non-elevated patio or deck on a lot of 11,000 sq ft or less may extend up to 2.5 ft into side or rear yards.

  front setback, lot <=8,500 sf: >= 23 feet · front setback, lot 8,501-11,000 sf: >= 23 feet · front setback, lot over 11,000 sf (Standard District): >= 25 feet · side setback, lot <=8,500 sf: >= 9 feet · side setback, lot 8,501-11,000 sf: >= 10 feet · side setback, lot over 11,000 sf: >= 10 feet · side street setback, lots up to 11,000 sf: >= 15 feet · side street setback, lot over 11,000 sf: >= 20 feet · rear setback, all lot sizes: >= 10 feet

  “The minimum front, rear and side yard setbacks in Table 1 shall be provided for all buildings and structures, as measured from the lot line to the nearest point of any building or structure.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential lots inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town

  • One-story residence: 50% of lot area, or up to 60% if the owner records a deed restriction against adding a second story (Section 10(C)(1)).
  • Developed area includes pools, patios, driveways, walkways and other paved or impervious areas, with listed exclusions.
  • Two-story residence: lot coverage by buildings at most 32% (Section 10.1(E)); first plus second floor area at most 50% of lot area; second-story floor area at most 60% of the first story.

  max lot occupancy, two-story residence: <= 50 percent of lot area · max building coverage, two-story residence: <= 32 percent

  “For a two-story residence, a maximum of fifty (50) percent of any lot area may be developed.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of RVs, trailers, vans, trucks and watercraft as a dwelling inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town

  • Sec. 20-2 separately restricts keeping RVs on property between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. unless garaged or screened from view.

  “No watercraft, truck, trailer, van, commercial or recreational vehicle shall be permitted to be used as a dwelling place, living unit, apartment, place of business, or living quarters or place of housekeeping within the territorial boundaries of the municipality.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Second dwelling units on a platted lot inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town

  • Every residence must be used only as a single-family dwelling; only one kitchen is permitted in the habitable space per dwelling (Section 10(F)).
  • Accessory buildings are allowed only as subordinate structures such as a garage or bath house (Section 1 definition).

  single-family residences per platted lot: <= 1 residence

  “In accordance with the low density classification, no more than one (1) single family residence shall be constructed on a platted lot of record.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit review inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town

  • Approval by the planning and zoning administrator is void if no building permit is obtained within six months.
  • Impact review by the building and zoning committee applies when floor area exceeds 80% of the maximum, a second story is added, or more than 1,000 sq ft is added.
  • Administrator decisions are appealable to the town commission; variances go to the town commission.
  • Work a town policy memorandum lists as not needing zoning review is reviewed only by the building official.

  “no building permit shall be issued until the planning and zoning administrator has approved plans submitted for compliance with the zoning code.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony or Palm Beach County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permits inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town
• Inspections — Inspections inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Jupiter Inlet Colony town

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.