Zoning explained · Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County RH (legacy high-density multifamily label) - read as ULDC RM, Multifamily Residential West Palm Beach, Florida

COUNTY DISTRICT, NOT A CITY DISTRICT. These parcels are unincorporated Palm Beach County land (county layer FCODE 'RH', Multi-Family Residential High Density). RH is no longer a standard district in the ULDC; the code treats it alongside RM (Table 3.D.1.A note 8, Art. 3.D.1.E.2, 'RH/RM Zoned Beachfront Properties') and Art.

7 buildings zoned RH43 permitted business types
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Insights › Zoning & land use › West Palm Beach — RH
Permitted uses

What you can operate in RH, West Palm Beach

The businesses the RH district in West Palm 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 RH here means specifically West Palm Beach's RH district.)

Allowed by right
Agriculture, Storage [Agricultural] (DRO site-plan approval)Bed and Breakfast [Commercial] (DRO site-plan approval)Community Vegetable Garden [Agricultural]Cottage Home [Residential]Electric Distribution Substation [Utility] (DRO site-plan approval)Family Community Residence [Residential]Large Family Child Care Home [Institutional, Public & Civic] (DRO site-plan approval)Minor Utility [Utility] (DRO site-plan approval)Park, Neighborhood Infill [Recreation]Park, Passive [Recreation] (DRO site-plan approval)Place of Worship [Institutional, Public & Civic] (DRO site-plan approval)Recovery Community [Residential]Shade House [Agricultural]Single Family [Residential]Townhouse [Residential] (DRO site-plan approval)Transitional Community Residence [Residential]Type 1A Excavation [Excavation]Type 1B Excavation [Excavation] (DRO site-plan approval)Zero Lot Line Home (ZLL) [Residential] (DRO site-plan approval)
With special approval
Agricultural Excavation [Excavation] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Agriculture, Bona Fide [Agricultural] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Assembly Institutional Nonprofit [Institutional, Public & Civic] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Cemetery [Institutional, Public & Civic] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Congregate Living Facility [Residential] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Day Care General [Institutional, Public & Civic] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Day Care Limited [Institutional, Public & Civic] (Class B conditional use - Zoning Commission)Electric Transmission Substation [Utility] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Golf Course [Recreation] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Government Services [Institutional, Public & Civic] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Multifamily [Residential] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Nursery, Retail [Agricultural] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Nursery, Wholesale [Agricultural] (Class B conditional use - Zoning Commission)Park, Public [Recreation] (Class B conditional use - Zoning Commission)Produce Stand [Agricultural] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Renewable Energy Solar Facility [Utility] (Class B conditional use - Zoning Commission)Renewable Energy Wind Facility [Utility] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Rooming and Boarding House [Commercial] (Class A conditional use - BCC)School - Elementary or Secondary [Institutional, Public & Civic] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Skilled Nursing or Residential Treatment Facility [Institutional, Public & Civic] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Stable, Commercial [Agricultural] (Class A conditional use - BCC)Stable, Private [Agricultural] (Class B conditional use - Zoning Commission)Type 2 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 RMmin lot width 65 ft, depth 75 ft, max building coverage 40%, setbacks front 25 ft (note 8), side 15 ft, side street 25 ft, rear 15 ft
Art. 3.D.1.Emax height 35 ft; in RM and RH buildings may exceed 35 ft with one additional foot of setback per foot over 35
Art. 4 Table 4.B.1.A note 2the only residential use allowed in RM/PUD with a CLR FLU designation is a Congregate Living Facility
StandardDensity follows the future land use designation, not the zoning district
Accessory usesResidential accessory uses per Art. 4.B.1.D (Table 4.B.1.D) and 4.B.1.E: Accessory Quarters, Caretaker Quarters, Employee Housing, Estate Kitchen, Family Day Care Home, Garage Sale, Guest Cottage, Home-based Business, Limited Pet Boarding, etc. (which apply depends on the principal use)
StandardRead from PBC ULDC Art. 3 Ch. C/D (RM), Art. 4 Table 4.B.1.A and use matrices (RM 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 RH in West Palm Beach?

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

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