Building Permit Search in Palm Beach County, Florida
Need to check the permit history for a property in Palm Beach County? Whether you're buying a home, planning renovations, or just verifying past work, Palm Beach County's building permits are public records. Here's the quickest way to find them.
Who keeps the records
Palm Beach County handles building permits for unincorporated areas — properties that aren't inside an incorporated city's limits. If your property is in unincorporated Palm Beach, your permits are on file with the county, not the nearest city. Municipalities inside the county maintain their own separate permit records.
Searching the official portal
Palm Beach County's permit records are available online here:
Palm Beach County Permit Portal
Search by address to view permits associated with the property. You'll typically see the permit number, type of work, issue date, inspection history, and current status.
What the statuses mean
"Final" or "Closed" means the work passed its final inspection. "Open," "Issued," or "Expired" can mean the permit was never closed out — something title companies and lenders flag during a sale or refinance. Older permits with no final inspection date deserve a closer look.
Local permit notes
The county permits all unincorporated areas - including large communities like Wellington's outskirts and much of the western county. Post-Surfside, Palm Beach County stepped up structural review of aging coastal buildings under the state milestone framework. "No results" in a city search often means the address is actually county jurisdiction.
The faster option
If you'd rather skip navigating government portals, PermitVista compiles the complete permit history into a single PDF within seconds. You'll see permit statuses explained in plain English, any permits that may need attention, and links back to the official records for verification.
Get an instant permit report for a Palm Beach County address →
Frequently asked questions
How do I find permits for a Palm Beach County address?
Use the free search box on this page to look up a Palm Beach County property address and get an instant summary. You can also search the official permit portal linked above, or run a full PermitVista report from the homepage. Remember that unincorporated addresses may be filed with the county, not the city. See also: how to find permit history.
What does an open permit mean in Palm Beach County?
In Palm Beach County, as elsewhere in Florida, an open permit is one that was issued but never closed out with a final inspection. It can delay a sale or refinance even years later. The property owner of record is responsible for resolving it through the local building department. More detail: what an open permit means.
Who do I contact about an old permit in Palm Beach County?
Contact the Palm Beach County building department (or the county office, if the address is unincorporated) that issued the permit — start with the official portal linked on this page. For close-out options such as final inspection, reactivation, or administrative close-out, the local department sets the rules. A PermitVista report can help you identify which permits may still need attention before you call. Guide: how to close out an old permit.