Zoning explained · Palm Beach County

Community Facilities Delray Beach, Florida

The Community Facilities (CF) District is a special purpose district primarily intended for uses providing a community service or benefit. Permitted uses include governmental, community, recreation, service and religious uses, public schools, and non-alcohol clubs and lodges; the Medical Arts Overlay adds hospitals and treatment facilities.

17 buildings zoned CF22 permitted business types
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Insights › Zoning & land use › Delray Beach — CF
Permitted uses

What you can operate in CF, Delray Beach

The businesses the CF district in Delray Beach allows. The ones on the left are permitted by right; the ones on the right need a special approval first. (Zoning codes are set by each municipality, so CF here means specifically Delray Beach's CF district.)

Allowed by right
Governmental (civic centers, courts, courthouses, temporary holding facilities, fire stations, governmental offices, public health facilities, law enforcement offices and facilities, post offices, public utility facilities e.g. lift stations, water storage tanks, water treatment plants, water wells, wastewater treatment plants, drainage facilities)Community (civic centers, community centers, community theater, cultural facilities and auditoriums, arts and crafts centers, libraries, museums, public parking lots and garages)Recreation (community centers, tennis centers, swimming centers)Services (abused spouse residences, child care centers, day care centers)Places of Worship with attendant uses of day care, pre-school, educational facilities, other normal educational (Sunday school) and recreational facilities, and support facilities (e.g., parsonage)Restricted usage allowed pursuant to an ordinance enacted to sever development rights under a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) (see Section 4.6.20)Public educational facilities of The School District of Palm Beach County (pursuant to Section 4.3.3(HH))Clubs and Lodges (provided alcoholic beverages are not served or consumed on the property)Assisted Living Facilities that do not comport with the definition of community residence, and Continuing Care Facilities (subject to RM District requirements except setback and height per this Section)Urban Agriculture (pursuant to Section 4.3.3(D))Community Residence housing four to ten individuals, except as required by state law (at least 660 linear feet from closest existing community residence of four or more individuals; operator licensed/certified by State of Florida, nationally accredited, or recognized by Congress)Single-family detached residence resulting from adaptive reuse of a Historic Place of WorshipMedical Arts Overlay District only: Institutional uses (non-residential Licensed Service Provider Facilities; hospitals with or without helipads and associated laboratories; treatment centers; rehabilitation centers; testing facilities; mental health treatment facilities, including residential care)
With special approval
Private educational facilities (pursuant to Section 4.3.3(HHH)) and vocational schools (except training/programs conducted in multipurpose buildings or offices)Services: Senior Housing (as set forth in Section 4.3.3(II))Transportation: bus stations, railway stations, taxi dispatch (more than one taxi), and park and ride areasSpecial Services and Facilities: privately operated parking lots and garagesSpecial Services and Facilities: stadiums and arenasSpecial Services and Facilities: refuse transfer stationsSpecial Services and Facilities: resource recovery facilities (pursuant to Section 4.3.3(Z))Special Services and Facilities: power transfer stationsCommunity Residence housing four to ten individuals, except as required by state law (less than 660 linear feet from closest existing community residence, or operator not state-licensed/accredited/recognized)
Build envelope

Development standards

Headline dimensional limits for this district. Confirm exact figures against the current code for your specific parcel.

StandardDevelopment standards of Section 4.3.4 apply except as modified (no district-specific height or FAR stated in Sec. 4.4.21)
StandardAssisted living/continuing care follow RM District requirements except setback and height
StandardPerimeter setback area, when provided, must be landscaped with no paving except driveways/walkways; increased to 15 ft depth (or wall, decorative fencing or hedging) when adjacent to residential zoning
West Atlantic Avenue Redevelopment Areaminimum ten percent non-vehicular open space
StandardHistoric Place of Worship reused as single-family residence follows R-1-A standards; requires a historic-value sign max 3 sf, 6 ft high if free-standing
StandardHistoric districts/sites subject to Section 4.5.1
Accessory usesParking lots and garages; Service and Refuse Areas; Cafeterias, snack bars, restaurants, exercise facilities, etc. (when contained in the same structure as the principal use); Storage of inventory, equipment, or materials (within a structure or in an approved outside location); Concessions and services provided under a license agreement with the City; Urban Agriculture (pursuant to Section 4.3.3(D))
StandardRead from LDR Sec. 4.4.21; permitted = by right, conditional = needs conditional-use / special-exception approval
The fine print

In plain English

BY RIGHT No hearing needed

If your business is on the by-right list, you can occupy a space in this district and open — no zoning hearing. Building permits and licensing still apply, but the use itself is already allowed.

SPECIAL Approval first

Special-approval uses can work here too, but they go through a public review before opening. Plan for extra time and possible conditions — we'll tell you which path a space needs.

Looking for space zoned CF in Delray Beach?

Tell us what you'll run in it — we'll match you to the right building in Delray Beach and flag anything that needs approval.

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Based on the Delray Beach zoning code.
Educational content — not legal or zoning advice. Verify permitted uses with the municipality for your specific parcel.