West Palm Beach, Florida Short Term Rental Regulations

City Code of Ordinances

West Palm Beach Code of Ordinances regulates land uses in West Palm Beach. Contact the City of West Palm Beach’s Development Services Department for more information.  Types of Rental Properties Type 1: Owner-Occupied (Single-Family, Multifamily, or Duplex)

Definition

• Owner-occupied or associated with an owner-occupied principal residence,
• Includes the rental of an entire dwelling unit, 
• OR (If only part of the unit) includes, at a minimum, a sleeping room with a shared full bathroom), is limited to a single party of individuals, and the owner is generally present during the rental.

Rules

• Applicants must provide documentation that the property is owner-occupied or is associated with an owner-occupied principal residential unit.
• Ownership information on your application must match the deed as recorded with the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller’s Office.

 Type 2: Not Owner-Occupied (Single-Family or Duplex) Definition

• Are not owner-occupied or associated with an owner-occupied principal residence,
• Are single-family or duplex properties, and include the rental of an entire dwelling unit.

Rules

• Ownership information on your application must match the deed as recorded with the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller’s Office.

 Type 3: Not Owner-Occupied (Multifamily) Definition

• Are not owner-occupied,
• Are part of a multifamily use property (apartments, condos, etc.), and
• Include the rental of an entire dwelling unit

Rules

• Applicants must provide documentation of the total number of buildings on the property, as well as units per building.
• Applicants must comply with any current geographic caps.

Business License Requirements

A rental tax application ensures that rental units fulfill and maintain the City's minimum housing standards. The online application for a rental property license can be found here. Along with this application, property owners must also complete a zoning evaluation, which validates the number of units requested and includes the following:

• Scheduled inspection with code compliance (must be completed for all rental properties)
• Fire inspection (if 3 or more units are under the same roof)

Building and Housing Standards

West Palm Beach has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Please ensure that the following measures have been completed for the property to help speed the inspection portion of the zoning review: Interior

• Conditions are sanitary and safe.
• All appliances, electrical work, plumbing, windows, and basic facilities are in working condition.
• Window screens are either in place or available for installation.
• Any present insects or rodents have been exterminated.

 Exterior

• Conditions are sanitary and safe.
• Outdoor storage has been removed.
• All parking areas are completely paved.
• Proper landscape maintenance has been performed.
• Safe egress is available (no tripping hazards).
• Address numbers are appropriately displayed on the structure.

 Please consult the West Palm Beach Code of Ordinances Chapter 18  - Buildings and Buildings Regulations, or contact the Building Department for more information.

Tourist and Local Taxes

The property owner must submit evidence of the vacation rental current and active account with Palm Beach County Tourism Development taxes (TDT) and Florida Department of Revenue certificate of registration for purposes of collecting and remitting tourist development taxes, sales surtaxes, and transient rental taxes. 

Other Rules

Common Code Violations:

• Yard maintenance standards - Maintaining appropriate yard conditions is the responsibility of every property owner. Dead trees and/or limbs must be removed promptly, and trees must be trimmed enough so that it doesn’t obstruct the view or travel of nearby motorists.
• Inoperative motor vehicles - Disabled and/or unlicensed vehicles must be kept in a garage. These are vehicles that do not have a current license plate or aren’t able to operate on public streets safely.
• Junk, trash, and debris - Large items must be properly disposed of and not left in a yard for an extended period of time. This includes auto parts, appliances, furniture, tree limbs, etc.
• Unpaved parking - All licensed automobiles must be parked on an approved driveway or paved surface.
• Commercial equipment - No commercial vehicles/equipment are permitted to be parked and/or stored in a residential area within the City of West Palm Beach. No commercial vehicle in excess of 10,000 pounds may be parked in a residential neighborhood.
• Outdoor storage - Any equipment, furnishing, or materials that would not normally be used outdoors may not be stored outdoors. For example, you may not store indoor furniture, appliances, or building materials outside.
• Illegal dwelling units - Owners of rental units are required to obtain a rental license and undergo an inspection. Units added to the interior or exterior of a structure without the proper permits are illegal.  Check with your landlord if applicable. 

 Visit the City’s Code Compliance Division website for more information and Rental Property Guidelines.