Board Synergy Club
Property & Safety

Building Permits

Confirm the requirements before work begins, track inspections during construction, and verify that the permit is properly closed.

Permit checklist

What a building permit does

A permit is part of the local authority’s process for reviewing proposed work and checking required construction standards. Its scope, conditions, and inspection requirements depend on the project and jurisdiction.

Ask the building department whether the specific work requires a permit, plans, professional design, or additional approvals. Do not assume that a small job, replacement in the same location, or work inside a unit is automatically exempt.

Association approval and government permitting

Association authorization

Review governing documents and applicable law for responsibility, alteration approvals, access, contractor rules, and effects on common property or neighboring units.

Governing Documents →

Government requirements

Confirm permit requirements with the authority having jurisdiction. A permit does not resolve every association restriction, and board approval does not replace a required permit.

Palm Beach County Permit Center →
Identify the correct jurisdiction.

Use the property address to confirm whether the county or a municipality handles the permit. A “West Palm Beach” mailing address alone does not establish the permitting authority.

Projects to check before starting

Roof, windows & doors

Ask about replacement, hurricane protection, design requirements, and inspections. Coordinate exterior appearance and association responsibility.

Plumbing & electrical

Confirm requirements for equipment replacement, piping changes, wiring, panels, and water heaters. Have qualified professionals define the scope.

Structural & layout changes

Consult the appropriate professional before removing walls, cutting concrete, or changing openings. Identify impacts on building systems and neighboring units.

These are examples of work to verify, not a definitive permit-required or permit-exempt list.

A practical permit checklist

  1. Define the project. Identify the exact location, component, work, and responsible party.
  2. Confirm approvals. Review association authorization and contact the permitting authority about requirements.
  3. Verify the contractor. Check the applicable license, business identity, insurance, and qualifications for the work.
  4. Put responsibilities in writing. Specify who applies, pays fees, schedules inspections, corrects deficiencies, and provides closeout records.
  5. Verify issuance. Obtain the permit number and approved documents. Check that the permit covers the actual work and property.
  6. Track inspections. Monitor required stages; coordinate access and avoid covering work before required inspections.
  7. Address changes. Ask whether revised work requires amended plans or permit approval.
  8. Confirm closeout. Verify final inspection results and the authority’s permit status. Collect final documents and warranties.

Questions to ask the contractor

Before signing

  • What permits and inspections are needed?
  • Who will be named on the permit?
  • Does the price include fees and required plans?
  • Who handles corrections or additional inspections?

Before closing the project

  • Have all required inspections passed?
  • What remains open or unresolved?
  • Can we verify the status with the authority?
  • Where are the approved plans and final records?
Do not treat owner-builder status as a shortcut.

Condominium work has special limitations. Ask the building authority about eligibility before considering any owner-builder application. Never let someone use your signature to bypass contractor requirements.

Palm Beach County guide for condominium owners →

For boards overseeing owner projects

Use a consistent submission process: project description, contractor information, relevant plans, approval conditions, and permit evidence where applicable. Clarify work hours, access, service interruptions, common-area protection, and cleanup.

Have the appropriate professional review potential impacts on structure, plumbing, electrical systems, fire protection, or sound transmission. Avoid promising technical compliance based only on a director’s visual review.

Open permits and unpermitted work

If a permit is expired, open, or missing, contact the authority and a qualified professional to establish the proper correction process. Do not assume a new contractor, a completed invoice, or a later unit sale resolves the issue.

Document what is known, identify required steps, and track resolution. Obtain counsel’s advice when responsibility, enforcement, or access is disputed.

Preserve the project record

Keep the permit number, approved plans, contracts, changes, inspection results, final status, warranties, and correspondence together. A clear closeout file helps future boards understand what was done and supports later maintenance.

Official RecordsBuilding InspectionsBuilding MaintenanceAssociation Websites

Official resources

Educational overview for condominium boards and owners. Reviewed October 17, 2026. Confirm current requirements with the authority having jurisdiction and qualified professionals. Checklists are practical planning aids; project-specific permits, approvals, and inspection conditions vary.

Board Synergy recommended practice

Keep one permit register through final status

Record the project, address and unit, applicant, contractor, application number, issued permit number, approved scope, inspection stages, corrections, and final status. Assign an association coordinator and backup.

Keep association closeout separate from county closeout. Neither a paid invoice nor one passed inspection establishes that every approval condition is satisfied.

Connected project and community resources

Authority matters: Florida law establishes statutory duties; governing documents define association authority subject to law; contractual duties come from applicable agreements. UCO procedures address separate UCO functions. The added registers and workflows are Board Synergy recommended practices, not prescribed statutory forms. Historical articles provide background rather than current legal instructions.