Zoning explained · Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County SA (legacy Special Agriculture) - read as ULDC AP, Agricultural Production District (Glades Tier) Unincorporated Palm Beach County, Florida

COUNTY DISTRICT, NOT A CITY DISTRICT. The parcel is unincorporated Palm Beach County land zoned SA (Special Agricultural District) on the county zoning layer, in the Glades Tier. ULDC Art. 3.A.3.B.1.a says SA corresponds to the AP (Agricultural Production) zoning district in the Glades Tier, so the use list is the AP column of the Art.

3 buildings zoned SA34 permitted business types
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Insights › Zoning & land use › Unincorporated Palm Beach County — SA
Permitted uses

What you can operate in SA, Unincorporated Palm Beach County

The businesses the SA district in Unincorporated Palm Beach County 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 SA here means specifically Unincorporated Palm Beach County's SA district.)

Allowed by right
Agriculture, Bona Fide [Agricultural]Agriculture, Light Manufacturing [Agricultural] (DRO site-plan approval)Agriculture, Packing Plant [Agricultural] (DRO site-plan approval)Agriculture, Renewable Fuels Production [Agricultural]Agriculture, Research and Development [Agricultural] (DRO site-plan approval)Agriculture, Storage [Agricultural]Agriculture, Transshipment [Agricultural] (DRO site-plan approval)Aviculture, Hobby Breeder [Agricultural]Community Vegetable Garden [Agricultural]Composting Facility [Utility] (DRO site-plan approval)Electric Distribution Substation [Utility] (DRO site-plan approval)Minor Utility [Utility] (DRO site-plan approval)Nursery, Wholesale [Agricultural]Park, Passive [Recreation]Potting Soil Manufacturing [Agricultural] (DRO site-plan approval)Produce Stand [Agricultural] (DRO site-plan approval)Renewable Energy Solar Facility [Utility] (DRO site-plan approval)Shade House [Agricultural]Stable, Commercial [Agricultural] (DRO site-plan approval)Stable, Private [Agricultural]Sugar Mill or Refinery [Agricultural]Type 1A Excavation [Excavation]Type 1B Excavation [Excavation] (DRO site-plan approval)
With special approval
Agricultural Excavation [Excavation] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Chipping and Mulching [Utility] (Class B conditional use - Zoning Commission)Electric Power Plant [Utility] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Electric Transmission Substation [Utility] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Government Services [Institutional, Public & Civic] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Renewable Energy Wind Facility [Utility] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Solid Waste Transfer Station [Utility] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Type 2 Excavation [Excavation] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Type 3A Excavation [Excavation] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Type 3B Excavation [Excavation] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Water or Wastewater Treatment Plant [Utility] (Class A conditional use - BCC)
Build envelope

Development standards

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

Table 3.D.1.A APmin lot 10 acres, width 300 ft, depth 300 ft, max building coverage 10%, setbacks front 100 ft, side 50 ft, side street 80 ft, rear 100 ft
StandardAP is consistent with all future land use designations in the Glades Tier except conservation (Art. 3.C.1.A.1.b)
Right to Farm noticefarm operations conforming to accepted agricultural practices in AP/AGR are exempt from Art. 5.E noise, vibration, smoke and particulate standards
Accessory usesAccessory uses are those allowed with the principal use under Art. 4 (agricultural and residential accessory tables; not itemized - no residential principal use exists in AP)
StandardRead from PBC ULDC Art. 3 Ch. A Sec. 3.B.1.a (SA correspondence), Ch. C Sec. 1.A (AP district), Table 3.D.1.A; Art. 4 Tables 4.B.1.A-4.B.10.A (AP column); 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 SA in Unincorporated Palm Beach County?

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

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