The City of West Palm Beach’s Development Services Department is committed to ensuring a smooth permit request and regulation progress between the City and local renters. Whether you plan on listing your property as a “short-term” rental on a platform like AirBnB, or if you are preparing to enter into a contract with designated tenants, the same regulations apply.  

All rental units within the City are required to secure a rental tax application.  This form is available on the City’s web site in the Development Services Department – Business Tax section. Once completed, the request is generally processed within seven to 10 business days. 

Applying for a Rental License

A rental tax application helps ensure that rental properties meet and maintain the minimum housing standards established by the City. You can see the online application for a rental property license here. In addition to completing this application, property owners are asked to complete a zoning review, which verifies the number of units in the request, 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)

To help streamline the inspection portion of the zoning review, please make sure the following steps have been taken for the property:

• 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.

Once you submit your rental license application, please contact Code Enforcement at (561) 822-1465 (TTY: 800-955-8771).

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 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.

Waste and Yard Maintenance

According to ordinances set forth by the City of West Palm Beach, landlords and/or renters are responsible for the overall maintenance of the property. Please refer to your specific contract to determine who is liable for maintaining the property clear of garbage, bulk items and overgrown vegetation. To find out your property’s trash, recycle and bulk pickup days, please visit our sanitation map. Simply type the address into the search bar and click on your highlighted region once it populates.

Sanitation Guidelines

The City of West Palm Beach provides a free trash can – either 48 or 96 gallon – to every residence in the City. If you require an additional trash can, they are available for an $11.60 monthly fee, in addition to a $75 delivery fee. Place your can(s) on the curb after 5:00 P.M. on the day before pick-up day with the lid opening facing the street. Please make sure that there are no objects or overhead items that would obstruct the sanitation vehicle from retrieving your garbage can. The City’s Public Works Department has compiled a few “do’s and don’ts” to help you maintain your property and neighborhood in optimal conditions:

• Do:
  • Put trash in sturdy bags with secure ties.
  • Make sure lids is completely closed.
  • Make sure aerosol cans are completely empty.
  • Place pet waste in proper disposal bag.
  • Keep your trash can from smelling by rinsing with water and soap/bleach from time to time.
• Don’t:
  • Place building or bulk materials (i.e. wood, plaster, concrete, etc.) in can.
  • Put any dead animals in trash can.
  • Put hazardous materials in the trash can (i.e. rechargeable batteries, chemicals, paint, fire extinguishers, medical waste, phone, etc.)
  • Place propane tanks or flammables in trash can.

Please note that the only holidays when pick-up service is not available are: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. After these three holidays, you are allowed to place extra trash bags next to your bin. Regularly scheduled services will be carried out on all other holidays.

If your garbage can is damaged, or worn down from use, please call the City of West Palm Beach’s Customer Service Department at (561) 822-2075.

Recycling Tips

• Yellow bins are for paper products. Blue bins are for metal plastic and glass.
• Do not place plastic bags, Styrofoam or aluminum foil in blue bin.
• Cardboard boxes must be flattened to 3’ x 3’ or smaller.
• Do not place recycle bins on top of other items.
• Do not put garbage in recycle bins.
• No hazardous waste should be put in bins.

Bulk Pick-Up

To better understand what the City clarifies as “bulk” items, they have been split into three separate categories (Note: only three items at a time may be placed for pick-up):

• Bulk (chairs, BBQ grills, tables, gym equipment, mattresses and spring boxes, appliances, etc.)
• White goods (stoves, refrigerators, laundry machines, etc.) Please remove doors from large appliances.
• E-scrap (computers, printers, telephones, microwave ovens, etc.)

Free moving box removal is available on your bulk removal day within 30 days of moving into a property. Boxes must be completely broken down and tied compactly. Please alert Public Works 24 hours in advance by emailing publicworks@wpb.org.

Items that will not be picked up include:

• Construction materials (cabinets, sinks, toilets, roofing, fencing, etc.)
• Propane or water tanks.
• Vehicle scraps or equipment.
• Hazardous materials of any kind (pesticides, paint, oil, etc.)

For collection of these items, please call Solid Waste Authority at (561) 640-4000.

Yard Waste

Yard waste includes leaves, grass clippings, branches, small tree limbs and tree trunks. Wood, boards and lumber are not considered vegetation.

To facilitate yard waste pick up, please make the following accommodations:

• Place small clippings in plastic bags to avoid them getting blown into storm drains.
• Make ONE pile up to 10 cubic yards (18’ long x 4’ wide x 4’ high).
• Place the pile in front of the property no earlier than 6:00 P.M. the night before the scheduled pick-up.
• Cut tree branches to no longer than four feet.
• Cut tree trunks/stumps to no longer than four feet and without exceeding 12 inches in diameter.

For missed trash or recycle pick up, contact the Public Works Sanitation Department at (561) 822-2075 or publicworks@wpb.org.

Code Compliance for West Palm Beach Residential Properties

The City of West Palm Beach’s Code Compliance Division aims to maintain the beauty of our City’s neighborhoods. In efforts to meet this goal, the division has adopted specific codes that create minimum standards for properties within City limits. These standards help regulate sub-standard housing conditions, trash and debris collection, yard maintenance and parking areas. The result is a clean, attractive community with increased property values and reduced crime and vandalism.

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 in a timely manner, 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 safely operate on public streets.
• 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 paves 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 that have been added to the interior or exterior of a structure without the proper permits are illegal.

For more information on the City’s Code Compliance Division, please visit our code enforcement page.