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Town of Palm Beach · Guide
Demolition on Palm Beach.
The short answer
In the Town of Palm Beach, no structure may be demolished from November 1 through April 30, and the Town issues no demolition permits in that season. For 2026, applications were due in EPL by October 1 and every demolition must be cleared by October 31.
Nov 1 to Apr 30
No demolition of structures, Good Friday included.
3 days
The limit for interior demolition in season, debris out.
$250 a day
Per violation of a demolition permit’s conditions.
- Updated
- . Checked against the Town of Palm Beach’s published rules.
- From
- GCS Palm Beach, the company of Philip Modenos, Florida Certified General Contractor CGC057454 (opens the state record)
The demolition season
Under Ordinance No. 15-2026, adopted May 13, 2026, demolition of structures is prohibited from November 1 through April 30, Good Friday included. The Town issues no demolition permits in that period.1
The online Town Code still shows the old season, the Monday before Thanksgiving through March 31. The ordinance changed it, so go by the Town’s demolition notice.12
Interior demolition in season
Interior demolition is allowed during the season if the demolition and the debris removal take three days or less.1 The season’s machinery ban still applies: no jackhammers, hammer-driven pile drivers or dry sandblasting from November 1 to April 30.8
The 2026 deadlines
The Town set two dates for this year.1
October 1, 2026
Thursday
Applications in EPL, paid
October 31, 2026
Saturday
Finished, razed, cleared
November 1, 2026
Sunday
The season begins
A house that missed the October 1 deadline waits for May 1, 2027. Planning the teardown around the season is part of planning the new house.
What a demolition application needs
A complete or major demolition application needs four things on top of the permit itself:3
Erosion and parking
An erosion control and parking plan.
Screening
A construction screening plan for the site.
Trucks
A truck logistics plan for the site.
An Asbestos Notification Statement and Guide is part of the Town’s demolition packet, and the owner notifies the Florida Department of Environmental Protection of asbestos removal when it applies.6
Breaking a demolition permit’s conditions costs $250 per violation per day.25
Notice to neighbors
The neighbor notice is mailed no later than 15 days and no earlier than 30 days before the demolition, on the Town’s 2026 notice.1 The Code text sets the window at no less than 14 and no more than 30 days, to owners within 300 feet.3
The lot after demolition
A demolition permit keeps the perimeter landscaping that is worth saving. If construction won’t start within 30 days of the demolition, the lot is fully sodded and irrigated.24
- The demolition permit, with the bond, the plans and the neighbor notice.
- Demolition and debris removal, between May 1 and October 31.
- Construction within 30 days, or the lot sodded and irrigated.
- The new house through the ARCOM approval and the building permit.
Landmarked houses
The Town Code says demolition permits are not granted for designated landmarks.2 Changes to a landmark go through the Landmarks Preservation Commission instead; see renovating a landmarked house.
The rest of the year
From May 1 to October 31, demolition follows the ordinary construction hours. On summer Saturdays, only quiet interior work is allowed, and demolition of buildings is not.7
- The hours and the no-work days: construction hours.
- Trucks and parking at the site: construction parking and right-of-way permits.
- A teardown and a new house: new homes and rebuilds.
How GCS helps
Philip Modenos pulls the permits with the Town of Palm Beach building department and works with your architect through ARCOM and Landmarks.
- Licensed 1994Florida Certified General Contractor since 1994
- About 25 yearsOn Palm Beach island for over 25 years
Text him the address and what has to come down.
Questions
- Can I demolish a house on Palm Beach in season?
- No. Under Ordinance 15-2026, demolition of structures is prohibited from November 1 through April 30, and the Town issues no demolition permits in that period.
- Can I gut a room during season?
- Yes, if the interior demolition and the debris removal take three days or less.
- When were 2026 demolition applications due?
- In EPL, paid, by October 1, 2026. Every demolition must be finished, razed and cleared by October 31, 2026.
- Do I have to tell the neighbors before a demolition?
- Yes. The Town's notice says the neighbor notice is mailed no later than 15 days and no earlier than 30 days before the demolition.
- Can a landmarked house be torn down?
- The Town Code says demolition permits are not granted for designated landmarks.
Sources
The Town’s own documents and the Town Code, each read on . The numbers in the text point here.
- Town demolition deadlines 2026 (Ord. No. 15-2026)townofpalmbeach.com
- Town Code Sec. 18-113library.municode.com
- Town Code (Sec. 18-114)library.municode.com
- Town demolition conditions of approvaltownofpalmbeach.com
- Town master fee schedule (Rev. 08/11/2026)townofpalmbeach.com
- Town building permits and business tax receiptstownofpalmbeach.com
- Town construction and landscaping hours chart (Rev. 07/16/2026)townofpalmbeach.com
- Town Code Sec. 42-198library.municode.com