Bolthole Index

Palm Beach County, Florida

Town of Lake Clarke Shores, Florida: building permits, zoning and septic

The Town of Lake Clarke Shores, Florida requires building permits from the town building official before regulated construction begins.1 Lake Clarke Shores administers its own zoning; septic permitting stays with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County.23 Living or sleeping in an RV is prohibited anywhere in town, including while a home is being built.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required from the town building official before regulated work.1
Zoning
Town zoning applies inside town limits.2
Septic permits
Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County; plan approval precedes the building permit.35
RV living
Living or sleeping in an RV is prohibited anywhere in town.4
Minimum home size
SF district: 1,600 square feet minimum floor area.6
Owner-builder
Conditional Florida exemption for a residence built for the owner’s use; building permits still apply.7
Septic and well completion
Final approvals must be recorded before a certificate of occupancy.8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Lake Clarke Shores Community Development Services — Building Department

Town building-permit review, issuance and inspections; starting point for town zoning and floodplain questions.

561-964-1515

1701 Barbados Road | Lake Clarke Shores, FL 33406

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 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in the Town of Lake Clarke Shores, FL?

Lake Clarke Shores requires an application to the town building official and a building permit before construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition or an occupancy change covered by the town code.1 Regulated electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work also falls within the town’s building-permit requirement.1

Florida’s owner-builder exemption can allow an owner to act as contractor for a residence intended for the owner’s use and occupancy, with direct onsite supervision and the required personal application; the exemption does not remove building permits or code compliance.7 For docks and other water-related structures, Lake Clarke Shores specifically allows permitted minor repairs as owner-builder projects, while generally requiring a qualified, experienced contractor for the building permit.9

Who handles building permits and zoning in the Town of Lake Clarke Shores?

The Lake Clarke Shores Building Department reviews, processes, issues and inspects building permits, and checks construction against applicable codes.10 Call Community Development Services at 561-964-1515 to arrange an appointment and discuss the proposed work.10 Building-permit applications are filed with the town building official on a town-furnished form, describing the work, location and proposed occupancy and carrying the owner’s or contractor’s signature.11

Use the town’s zoning rules for property inside Lake Clarke Shores, rather than applying the county’s unincorporated-area zoning rules.2 For a parcel outside town limits, see the Palm Beach County guide for the county’s unincorporated zoning jurisdiction.12 Septic approvals inside town remain with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County.3

Does the Town of Lake Clarke Shores have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Lake Clarke Shores has town zoning, including Single-Family Residential (SF) and Multiple-Family Residential (MF) districts.13 In the SF district, the minimum home floor area is 1,600 square feet.6 SF building setbacks are 25 feet in front, increased to 30 feet on Forest Hill Boulevard, at least 10 feet at the sides and at least 15 feet at the rear; qualifying subdivision plats after January 1, 1980 may use a 7.5-foot side setback.14

MF floor-area minimums differ by dwelling type: 1,600 square feet for a single-family home, 1,200 square feet per duplex unit and 1,000 square feet per multiple-family unit.15 MF duplex and multiple-family lots require 100-foot width and 10,000-square-foot area, with multiple-family uses also requiring 5,000 square feet of net lot area per dwelling unit.16 Ask the town building official to identify the parcel’s district and the applicable development provisions before designing the home.13

How do septic permits and private wells work in the Town of Lake Clarke Shores?

The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County regulates and permits onsite sewage treatment and disposal for Lake Clarke Shores properties using septic systems.3 Septic plans must receive health-department approval before the building permit can be issued; final septic and well approvals must be recorded before the certificate of occupancy.58 Contact the health department at 561-840-4500 about septic and private-well plan review.17

Well drillers submit location plans to the health department before drilling, so the office can review the proposed well location.17 We could not confirm a complete town rule for composting toilets, holding tanks or other off-grid sanitation; ask the town building official and the health department about the proposed system before relying on it.117

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Lake Clarke Shores?

Lake Clarke Shores prohibits living or sleeping in the covered vehicles anywhere and at any time within town, so an RV is not a permitted sleeping arrangement while building a home.4 Town RV parking and storage rules are separate from occupancy permission and include location, screening, registration and maintenance conditions.4 Temporary flood-hazard placement provisions do not override the town’s living-or-sleeping prohibition.18

We could not confirm a distinct town classification for tiny homes or permission for an independent accessory dwelling; ask the town building official to classify the proposed dwelling.2 A proposed small single-family home in the SF district still faces the 1,600-square-foot minimum floor area, which rules out a smaller home under that district standard.6

What are the steps to build a home in the Town of Lake Clarke Shores?

  1. Ask Lake Clarke Shores Community Development Services to identify the parcel’s zoning district and review the proposed use, floor area and setbacks before preparing a final design.13614
  2. For a property using septic or a private well, obtain health-department plan review and the approvals required before the building permit.17
  3. File the town building-permit application with the work description, location, proposed occupancy and owner’s or contractor’s signature, then obtain the building permit before regulated work begins.11
  4. Arrange town building inspections through the Building Department; for septic or well properties, make sure final health-department approvals are recorded before requesting the certificate of occupancy.108

Ask Community Development Services for the current building-permit fees, parcel floodplain requirements and driveway review needed for the proposed project.10

Watch-outs

  • An RV parked legally in Lake Clarke Shores still cannot be used for living or sleeping.4
  • The SF minimum floor area is 1,600 square feet; do not assume a tiny home can qualify as an SF dwelling.6
  • Septic and private-well final approvals must be recorded before a certificate of occupancy.8

Sources

  1. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 10-91 Building permits required (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  2. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Chapter 125 Zoning, SF District (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  3. Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, Septic Tanks and Private Drinking Water Wells (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  4. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 125-767 Parking of specified vehicles in residential districts (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  5. Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, Septic Tanks and Private Drinking Water Wells (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  6. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 125-299 Minimum floor area (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  7. 2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, Septic Tanks and Private Drinking Water Wells (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  9. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 66-85 Building permits for water-related structures (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of Lake Clarke Shores Community Development Services — Building Department (townoflcs.com)
  11. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 10-91 Building permits required (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  12. Planning, Zoning & Building - Zoning (2026 county census)
  13. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Chapter 125 Zoning, SF District (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  14. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 125-295 Minimum setback requirements (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  15. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 125-332 Minimum floor area (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  16. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 125-328 Minimum lot requirements (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked
  17. Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County - Environmental Public Health (palmbeach.floridahealth.gov)
  18. Lake Clarke Shores Code, Sec. 125-768 Use of vehicle for living or sleeping (Town of Lake Clarke Shores), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Lake Clarke Shores

Town of Lake Clarke Shores’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, specified tree removal, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, or impact-resistant-covering work within town boundaries.

    • Application must be made to the town building official and the required permit obtained before work.
    • The application must describe the proposed work and location, be signed by the owner or contractor, indicate proposed occupancy, and contain other information required by the building official.
    “shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Minor repairs to docks, piers, platforms, boatlifting devices, and other water-related structures inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.

    • A qualified and experienced contractor generally must secure the building permit.
    • A minor repair must still be permitted and may be completed as an owner/builder project.
    • Construction must be inspected and approved by the town.
    • The town owner/builder disclosure statement may be required.
    “The only exception is a minor repair which must be permitted and can be completed as an owner/builder project.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Properties inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits served by septic systems or private wells.

    • Final inspection and approval of wells and septic systems must be recorded before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
    • The requirement is limited to properties for which the Palm Beach County health department reviews wells or septic systems.
    “Final inspection and approval of wells and septic systems are forwarded to the section by our field offices and must be recorded in the building department’s computer prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits; the town adopts and administers Chapter 125, Zoning, including the Single-Family Residential District.

    “The Single-Family Residential (SF) District is intended to be exclusively a single-family residential district of low population density, with quality homes of best construction and design.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts published in the town code, including the Single-Family Residential (SF) and Multiple-Family Residential (MF) Districts.

    • The town code also contains supplementary district regulations and zero-lot-line development provisions.
    “The Single-Family Residential (SF) District is intended to be exclusively a single-family residential district of low population density, with quality homes of best construction and design.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Dwellings in the Multiple-Family Residential (MF) District.

    • Single-family dwellings require 1,600 square feet.
    • Duplexes require 1,200 square feet per dwelling unit.
    • Multiple-family dwellings require 1,000 square feet per dwelling unit.
    • Special-exception uses are determined by the board of adjustment.

    single-family minimum floor area: >= 1600 square feet · duplex minimum floor area: >= 1200 square feet per dwelling unit · multiple-family minimum floor area: >= 1000 square feet per dwelling unit

    “Single-family dwelling: 1,600 square feet. (2) Duplex: 1,200 square feet, each dwelling unit. (3) Multiple-family: 1,000 square feet each dwelling unit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Duplex and multiple-family lots in the Multiple-Family Residential (MF) District.

    • Duplex and multiple-family lots require 100-foot width and 10,000-square-foot area.
    • Multiple-family uses require at least 5,000 square feet of net lot area per dwelling unit.

    minimum lot width: >= 100 feet · minimum lot area: >= 10000 square feet · minimum net lot area per dwelling unit: >= 5000 square feet (Multiple-family uses.)

    “Duplex. A width of 100 feet and an area of 10,000 square feet.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings in the Multiple-Family Residential (MF) District.

    • Residential uses use the single-family district standards.
    • Special-exception uses are determined by the zoning board of adjustment but may not be less than single-family standards.
    • Front is 25 feet, except 30 feet on Forest Hill Boulevard; sides are 15 feet except where single-family standards prevail; rear is 15 feet except where single-family standards prevail on canals; multiple buildings require 20 feet separation.

    front setback: >= 25 feet (30 feet on Forest Hill Boulevard.) · side setback: >= 15 feet (Single-family standards prevail for corner lots.) · rear setback: >= 15 feet (Single-family standards prevail on canals.) · building separation: >= 20 feet (More than one building on a lot.)

    “(3) Twenty-five feet in front, except on Forest Hill Boulevard, which shall be 30 feet. (4) Side yard: 15 feet each side except corner lots where single-family prevails. (5) Rear yard: 15 feet except on canals, where single-family prevails.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles on residential property or elsewhere inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.

    • Residential parking/storage is subject to location, screening, registration, maintenance, and vehicle-count limits.
    • No more than one recreational vehicle may be included in the specified combined total, and it may not exceed 45 feet.
    • Recreational vehicles may not be used for living or sleeping anywhere or at any time within the town.
    • Flood-hazard temporary placement requires fewer than 180 consecutive days or full licensing and highway readiness with quick-disconnect utilities and no permanent attachments.

    maximum recreational vehicle length: <= 45 feet · temporary flood-hazard placement: < 180 consecutive days (Alternative compliance is full licensing and readiness for highway use.)

    “It shall be unlawful for any owner, operator or person having custody of any vehicle described in this section to use, or permit the use of, any such vehicle for living or sleeping purposes while the vehicle is parked or stored anywhere and at any time within the town.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Use of trailers, recreational vehicles, and similar vehicles for living or sleeping inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.

    • The prohibition applies anywhere and at any time within the town.
    • Flood-hazard placement rules regulate placement but do not authorize living or sleeping in violation of Sec. 125-768.
    “It shall be unlawful for any owner, operator or person having custody of any vehicle described in this section to use, or permit the use of, any such vehicle for living or sleeping purposes while the vehicle is parked or stored anywhere and at any time within the town.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic systems inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits; the Palm Beach County health department administers the septic program there.

    • Florida's program transition leaves county health department offices responsible for septic permitting and inspection during the transition period.
    • The Palm Beach County health department regulates, permits, and monitors onsite sewage treatment and disposal.
    “the county health department offices will continue to do the permitting and inspection for septic tanks”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction or modification of septic systems inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.

    • Palm Beach County health department review and approval is required before a building permit can be issued.
    • Operating permits apply to aerobic treatment units, performance-based treatment systems, commercial septic systems, and industrial or manufacturing-zoned or equivalent septic systems.
    “Plans are reviewed for compliance with all applicable state and county regulations and must be approved by the section before a building permit can be issued.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic systems inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.

    • Final inspection and approval must be completed and recorded before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
    • County health department offices continue to perform septic-tank permitting and inspection during the transition period.
    “the county health department offices will continue to do the permitting and inspection for septic tanks”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building-permit applications inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.

    • Applications are filed with the town building official on a town-furnished form.
    • The application must describe the proposed work and location, be signed by the owner or contractor, indicate proposed occupancy of all applied-for areas, and include other information required by the building official.
    • The required permit must be obtained before regulated work begins.
    “Each application shall be filed with the office of the town building official on a form furnished by the town”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Lake Clarke Shores or Palm Beach County directly.

  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.
  • Building height — Building height inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation inside Lake Clarke Shores town limits.
4 more unanswered
  • 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 Lake Clarke Shores publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Palm Beach County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Palm Beach County: county rules, score and offices