Building permits and zoning in Boynton Beach

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Boynton Beach Building Department and Planning & Zoning pages.

Two city departments handle construction in Boynton Beach. The Building Department issues building permits, reviews plans and inspects the work. Planning & Zoning decides what can be built where: zoning, fences, sheds, tree removal and development applications. Both work through SagesGov, the city’s online permitting system.

Who to call

• Building Department: 561-742-6000, City Hall first floor, 100 E. Ocean Ave., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday; phone questions until 5 p.m. Email buildingM@bbfl.us
• Planning & Zoning: 561-742-6000, PZMailbox@bbfl.us
• Code enforcement: 561-742-6000, codeenforcement@bbfl.us
• Apply, schedule inspections, check status: SagesGov

Building permits

Every new permit application since May 22, 2021, goes through SagesGov: submittal, plan review, issuance, inspections, close-out and certificates. The process is paperless.

• Pick the right project type: Residential covers single-family homes and town houses; Commercial covers apartments, condos, warehouses, stores and offices. The city says a project filed under the wrong type is abandoned and must be refiled, and the payment cannot be moved over.
• Upload plans as unprotected PDFs. Plans drawn by a Florida-registered professional must stay digitally signed and sealed.
• Instant permits are issued on payment for licensed contractors doing an A/C change-out, water heater change-out or re-roof on a one- or two-family home.
• Changes to the work can be filed only as a revision after the permit is issued.
• Schedule inspections in SagesGov by 3 p.m. the day before. Print the approved documents for the inspector.

Permits with numbers in the old format (such as 21-3000) stay in the city’s legacy system. Past permits on a property are searchable through the city’s permit history page. Forms and checklists are on the building forms page.

After a storm

The city’s post-storm permitting page lists what needs a permit after a hurricane: doors, windows and skylights, electrical service, fences, A/C equipment, water heaters, roof replacement or major roof repair, and structural work. Debris removal, fence panel replacement, paint and carpet, and temporary tarps do not. Licensed contractors can make emergency repairs but must apply for the permit the next business day. The department asks residents to hire Florida-licensed contractors.

Zoning: find your parcel

The city’s Gridics zoning map shows, for any parcel, the zoning district, the future land use designation, setbacks, maximum height, lot coverage and the uses allowed. It also carries the full zoning code and the major projects under review.

Zoning permits for homeowners

Planning & Zoning issues zoning permits for fences, sheds, temporary signs and banners on commercial property, artificial turf, and tree and palm removal. All are filed in SagesGov.

• Fences: up to 8 feet tall in side and rear yards, and up to 4 feet in front of the house, measured from finished grade. Include a survey marked with the fence line, the fence affidavit, and photos of the site before and after. The city suggests asking your homeowners association first, since its rules may be stricter.
• Trees and palms: removing, moving or substantially altering a tree with a caliper of 3 inches or more, or a palm, generally needs a landscape permit. Some single-family and duplex lots are exempt unless the tree is a specimen tree or part of a planned community’s mitigation plan. Trees removed without a permit carry replacement or payment requirements set in the code.

Rezonings, site plans and public hearings

Major projects go from city staff review to the City Commission. According to the city’s development application process page:

1. Pre-application meeting with staff, requested through SagesGov. It is required before a major application.
2. Development Application Review Team (DART) review by city staff. Comments come back about three weeks after submittal.
3. City Commission public hearing and final decision.

Minor applications, such as minor site plans, lot line changes, sign programs and sidewalk cafes, are approved by staff with no hearing. Major ones, including rezonings, land use map changes, conditional uses, major site plans, cell towers and annexations, go to the City Commission. Rezonings, land use changes, annexations and abandonments need two commission meetings. Filing deadlines are on the submittal deadlines page, and fees on the fee schedule page.

Appeals of the building official’s decisions go to the Building Board of Adjustment and Appeals, which meets on call. Work affecting a designated historic property also goes before the Historic Resources Preservation Advisory Board, which meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, according to the city’s boards page.

What this means for you

• Hiring a contractor? Check the license, and make sure the permit is pulled in SagesGov before work starts.
• Planning a fence or taking out a tree? Those are zoning permits; apply first.
• Want to weigh in on a project? Watch the City Commission agendas; that is where rezonings and major site plans are decided.

Related: who to call at City Hall, property taxes and new businesses in Boynton Beach.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a building permit in Boynton Beach?

Apply online through SagesGov, the city’s permitting system. All new permit applications since May 22, 2021, go through it, from submittal to inspections and close-out.

Do I need a permit for a fence in Boynton Beach?

Yes. Fence permits are zoning permits filed in SagesGov with a survey, an affidavit and before photos. Side and rear fences can be up to 8 feet tall and front-yard fences up to 4 feet.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Boynton Beach?

Removing a tree with a trunk 3 inches or more across, or a palm, generally needs a landscape permit from Planning and Zoning, with some exemptions for single-family lots and emergencies.

How do I find my zoning in Boynton Beach?

Look up any parcel on the city’s Gridics zoning map, which shows the zoning district, land use, setbacks, height limits and permitted uses.

Who approves rezonings and site plans in Boynton Beach?

Major development applications are reviewed by city staff and approved by the City Commission at a public hearing. Rezonings and land use changes need two commission meetings.