A waterfront city with a long history

West Palm Beach is the county seat and the largest city in Palm Beach County, incorporated in 1894. It faces the town of Palm Beach across the Lake Worth Lagoon and the Intracoastal Waterway, and Flagler Drive runs along its downtown waterfront. The housing stock ranges from homes in historic neighborhoods to downtown high-rises, and each calls for a different approach to windows and doors.

Approval rules outside the HVHZ

Palm Beach County is outside Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers only Miami-Dade and Broward. In West Palm Beach, a window or door can be permitted with a Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). What does not change is design pressure: each opening must meet the pressure required for its location, height, and position on the building. Waterfront elevations and upper floors of a tower carry more load than a ground-floor window inland, and we match every opening to an approved product rated for it.

Historic districts

The City of West Palm Beach has 18 locally designated historic districts. Neighborhoods such as Old Northwood, Flamingo Park, Grandview Heights, El Cid, and Prospect Park are recognized historic districts. Exterior changes to a designated historic property must comply with the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance and Design Guidelines, and depending on the scope, a Certificate of Appropriateness may be reviewed by City preservation staff or go to the Historic Preservation Board.

For window and door projects on historic homes, that review often turns on profile, proportion, and the pattern of lites. We check your property’s status before we design, choose impact products that suit the house, and prepare the product information the review needs alongside the building permit.

Permitting with the City of West Palm Beach

Inside city limits, building permits are issued by the Building Division of the City’s Development Services Department, which takes applications, digital plan submittals, and inspection scheduling online. Properties outside the city limits are permitted by their own municipality or, in unincorporated areas, by Palm Beach County. We confirm the jurisdiction, prepare the opening schedule and product approvals, submit the application, respond to plan review, and schedule inspections. You can follow each step in your client portal.

Downtown condos and the waterfront

Condo owners usually need association approval before replacing windows or sliding doors, and many associations specify frame color, glass, and product line. We design to your building’s specifications and coordinate with management on elevators, work hours, and insurance certificates. On waterfront homes along the lagoon, we specify frames, finishes, and fasteners for salt air, and plan large openings around approved sizes.

What we install in West Palm Beach

• Impact windows, including architectural and oversized glass
• French doors and entry doors suited to historic homes
• Sliding, folding, and pivot doors
• Glass railings and balconies
• Storefronts and curtain wall for commercial buildings
• Interior glass: frameless showers, glass walls, wine rooms, and custom mirrors

Nearby, we also work in Palm Beach, Delray Beach, and Boca Raton.

West Palm Beach questions

My house is in a West Palm Beach historic district. Can I install impact windows?

Often, yes. Exterior changes to designated historic properties must meet the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance and Design Guidelines, and may need a Certificate of Appropriateness from staff or the Historic Preservation Board. We choose products that suit the house and prepare the review materials.

Do I need a Miami-Dade NOA in West Palm Beach?

Not necessarily. West Palm Beach is outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so a Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA is accepted, as long as the product meets each opening’s design pressure.

Who pulls the permit?

We do. We submit the application to the City’s Building Division, respond to plan review, and schedule inspections.