Unit Alterations

Association approval and a permit are different

Ask the manager for the current alteration application and the governing provisions applicable to your project. A verbal conversation with a director should not be treated as a complete renovation approval.

“Inside my unit” does not mean “only my responsibility”

A wall, slab, pipe, exterior opening, or electrical component may serve other units or fall outside the unit boundaries. The declaration determines those boundaries and responsibilities; the location of an item alone does not settle its legal status.

Florida Statutes §718.113 prohibits owners from adversely affecting the safety or soundness of common elements or property maintained by the association. Material alterations to common elements or association property may require additional approval. Where the declaration supplies no approval procedure, the statutory default is generally 75 percent of total voting interests, subject to applicable exceptions.

That percentage is not a rule requiring an owner vote for every interior renovation. Have counsel determine whether a particular proposal involves common property, a material alteration, or another consent requirement.

Projects that deserve careful review

A good scope protects the whole building. Include the affected systems, methods, materials, and restoration—not just a description such as “remodel bathroom.”

What Palm Beach County says about condominium permits

The County’s A Guide for Condo Owners lists kitchen and bathroom remodels, wall/layout changes, tub-to-shower conversions, A/C or water-heater replacements, electrical panel replacements, shutters, and window or exterior-door replacements as examples requiring permits.

The guide identifies some minor work as permit-exempt, including interior painting and certain like-for-like replacements. The exact work matters; confirm your scope with the Building Division rather than relying on a neighbor’s earlier project.

Contact the Palm Beach County Permit Center at 561-233-5100. Use its official portal links to check applications, issued permits, inspections, and final status.

Owner checklist: before, during, and after

1. Submit a complete proposal. Include drawings where needed, affected systems, materials, contractor details, and the anticipated schedule.
2. Confirm every approval. Obtain written association authorization and any additional approvals the documents or law require.
3. Verify the contractor. Check an active license in the appropriate trade and insurance. Match the licensed business to the contract and permit.
4. Confirm issued permits. Review the authorized scope, required inspections, and any special conditions before starting.
5. Coordinate building impacts. Arrange approved shutoffs, access, work hours, deliveries, parking, and protection of common areas.
6. Keep changes controlled. If the scope changes, obtain the necessary revised approvals and permit changes before doing the additional work.
7. Close out the project. Complete final inspections, confirm permit closure, provide requested completion records, and repair any damage to shared areas.

Have the written contract address debris removal, payment stages, change orders, warranties, and who obtains permits. A handyman label does not authorize work that requires a licensed trade.

Hiring a handyman · Trash & renovation debris

What the board and manager should do

Use a consistent written procedure grounded in the governing documents. Identify who receives applications, which decisions can be delegated, when board action is needed, and what requires an engineer, architect, or attorney.

• Check whether the proposal affects common elements, structural systems, building appearance, or another unit.
• Define approval conditions clearly and keep the plans with the approval record.
• Coordinate shared-system access and water shutoffs through the manager.
• Check relevant permit and inspection status and follow up on incomplete closeout.
• Keep owner and contractor contacts available for an urgent leak or other incident.
• Consider disability-related modification requests through the appropriate fair housing process.

Board approval is not a technical certification that the design is safe or code-compliant. Use qualified professionals where the project requires their expertise.

If work starts without approval or permits

Document what has been observed and contact the owner through the manager. Determine what permission or permit is missing and involve the Building Division for permit or code concerns. For an immediate hazard, use the appropriate emergency response.

Ask association counsel about a lawful stop-work request, enforcement, restoration, or court relief. Do not confront workers or disconnect essential services as an improvised penalty. The association’s access rights must also be exercised within their legal limits.

Existing or inherited alterations should be investigated through records and qualified review. A previous owner’s installation or a neighbor’s similar renovation is not proof that the work was approved.

Association access to units · Rule enforcement · Fair housing

Example: converting a bathtub to a shower

Before demolition, the owner submits the proposed work, contractor information, waterproofing details, and any shared-plumbing impacts. The manager checks the approval process and coordinates a shutoff if needed. The contractor obtains the required permit and completes inspections.

If demolition reveals an unexpected condition, pause the affected work and resolve it through the appropriate professional, permit, and association review. After completion, keep the final inspection and approval records.

Plan first. Protect neighbors. Finish properly.

Official resources

• Palm Beach County — A Guide for Condo Owners.
• County Permit Center — applications, portal links, and contacts.
• Florida Statutes §718.113 — maintenance, material alterations, and safety.

Reviewed October 17, 2026. Educational guidance for Century Village, West Palm Beach. The association’s declaration, project details, current law, and Building Division requirements determine the approvals needed. Obtain professional and legal review where appropriate.

Use a project handoff from approval to closeout

Assign a project reference and coordinator. Keep the owner’s application, approved scope, contractor details, conditions, permits, shutdown arrangements, and emergency contacts together.

• Give the owner a written explanation of what was approved and what remains outstanding.
• Route unexpected conditions and scope changes through the appropriate professional and approval process.
• Document common-area protection, debris arrangements, and reported damage.
• Collect required final inspection and restoration records before marking the association file complete.

Ask counsel before imposing a new fee, deposit, inspection requirement, or penalty. Board approval is an association decision, not a professional certification of structural safety or code compliance.

Connected project and community resources

• Building permits →
• Palm Beach County Permit Center →
• Material alterations →
• Suspected unpermitted construction →
• Palm Beach County Code Compliance →
• UCO POD storage authorization →
• Contractor licensing and insurance →
• Inspection follow-up →
• Moving and delivery procedures →
• Understanding UCO and separate community responsibilities →