Palm Beach County, Florida
Tub-to-shower permits in Palm Beach County, the cities, and arranging a conversion for a parent
Published by Safe In Place
A tub-to-shower permit in West Palm Beach and a permit for an unincorporated Palm Beach County address do not start at the same office. This guide names those two paths, the Palm Beach cities with a tub-to-shower page, and how an adult child can arrange a conversion for a parent from out of town.
Safe In Place offers a free in-home assessment and connects homeowners with a licensed, vetted local contractor. That contractor measures the bathroom and writes the quote. The family decides whether to hire the contractor.
Permits
West Palm Beach and unincorporated Palm Beach County
Plumbing changes on a tub-to-shower conversion typically need a permit. Which office reviews the application depends on the address. Ask the contractor to name that office before anyone files.
The City of West Palm Beach says its Development Services Building Division processes and reviews building permit applications. For a home inside West Palm Beach, that is the office to ask.
Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building describes the county Permit Center as the office that processes building-permit applications for the unincorporated area. Use that description when the address is unincorporated Palm Beach County, and ask the contractor to confirm the address is unincorporated before filing.
An incorporated city often uses its own building department. Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach publish their own building-permit processes, as West Palm Beach does. That pattern is common. It is not a rule for every town. The Town of Gulf Stream says building permits and inspection services are handled under an agreement with the Town of Highland Beach. Treat that as the town’s published description, and confirm the current office for the address before anyone files.
A condominium or homeowners-association approval is separate from the government permit. Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach each have many association-governed communities. Get that approval named in writing, and keep it separate from the city or county permit.
City of West Palm Beach Development Services, Building DivisionPalm Beach County Planning, Zoning & BuildingPalm Beach County Permit Center, for unincorporated addressesTown of Gulf Stream permits page
Palm Beach cities
Cities with a tub-to-shower page
These Palm Beach County cities each have a short tub-to-shower page. The permit office still follows the address. Do not assume one city’s process covers the next town.
Safe In Place also connects homeowners in Miami-Dade County and Broward County. This page stays with Palm Beach permits, these cities, and arranging a conversion from out of town.
Calling for a parent
Arranging a conversion for a parent from out of town
An adult child can start the free assessment for a parent who lives in Palm Beach County, even when the caller lives in another city or another state. Say that the call is for your mom or dad, and name the city where the home is.
When a closer look is needed, the visit is at the parent’s home, at no charge. The caller can join that visit by phone. Safe In Place connects the family with one licensed, vetted local contractor, who measures and writes the quote. The family decides whether to hire the contractor.
Planning prices
A short price reference
Planning ranges for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are on the tub-to-shower conversion cost page. A conversion is planned at $3,500–$8,000, and most land between $4,000 and $8,000. A curbless, zero-entry, or roll-in shower is planned at $8,000–$15,000. Bathroom safety add-ons start at $400. Those figures are a reference. The written quote after a free measurement sets the price for one bathroom.
How to start
What the free assessment covers
The free assessment starts with a short call or an online request. Safe In Place reviews who uses the bathroom and how the room is built, and visits the home when a closer look is needed, at no charge.
Then we connect the homeowner with one licensed, vetted local contractor in Palm Beach County. That contractor measures and writes the quote. The written quote often comes within about two days. There is no obligation to hire the contractor.
Before anyone starts, look up the Florida contractor license and confirm the name matches the person or company on the quote. Ask which office reviews the permit for that address.
How Safe In Place worksWhat to confirm with a contractorLook up a Florida license at myfloridalicense.com
Common questions
Permits, cities, and arranging a conversion
Does Florida's 2026 permit exemption for jobs under $7,500 cover a tub-to-shower conversion?
In West Palm Beach, no for the plumbing part. Confirm the scope with the City of West Palm Beach Building Division for that address before anyone starts. Flood-zone and condo properties fall outside this exemption. The City of West Palm Beach says Florida House Bill 803 (HB 803, 2026), effective July 1, 2026, allows an exemption for some work on a single-family dwelling valued at less than $7,500. Plumbing is not eligible and still needs a permit regardless of cost. Structural, electrical, mechanical, and gas work, and work on a property in a flood hazard area, are not eligible either. A project cannot be split into smaller projects to stay under $7,500. To use any exemption, the owner or contractor must submit a written exemption request, the Permit Exemption Affidavit, and receive an Exemption Certificate from the City of West Palm Beach. The request needs a copy of the contract or other documentation of the nature and value of the work. For other Palm Beach County cities or an unincorporated address, ask the office that reviews permits for that address. Safe In Place connects the homeowner with a licensed, vetted local contractor. Ask that contractor, and the building department for the address, which office reviews the permit.
Who reviews a tub-to-shower permit in West Palm Beach or unincorporated Palm Beach County?
It depends on the address. The City of West Palm Beach says its Development Services Building Division processes and reviews building permit applications. Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building describes the county Permit Center as the office that processes building-permit applications for the unincorporated area. Plumbing changes typically need a permit. An incorporated city often uses its own building department, and Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach publish their own processes. That is not a rule for every town. The Town of Gulf Stream says building permits and inspection services are handled under an agreement with the Town of Highland Beach. Confirm the current office for the address before anyone files. A condo or HOA approval is separate from the government permit.
Which Palm Beach County cities does this guide cover?
This guide links to tub-to-shower pages for Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and West Palm Beach. The permit office still follows the address. Safe In Place also connects homeowners in Miami-Dade County and Broward County.
Can I arrange a tub-to-shower conversion for a parent if I live outside Palm Beach County?
Yes. An adult child can start the free assessment for a parent in Palm Beach County from anywhere. When a closer look is needed, the visit is at the parent’s home, at no charge, and the caller can join by phone. Call (786) 755-1120 or begin the assessment online. Safe In Place connects the family with a licensed, vetted local contractor.
Who does the tub-to-shower conversion?
A licensed, vetted local contractor does the conversion and writes the quote. Safe In Place offers a free in-home assessment and connects homeowners with that contractor. You can check a Florida license at myfloridalicense.com.
Where are the planning prices for a tub-to-shower conversion?
Planning ranges for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are on the tub-to-shower conversion cost page. A conversion is planned at $3,500–$8,000, and most land between $4,000 and $8,000. A curbless, zero-entry, or roll-in shower is planned at $8,000–$15,000. Bathroom safety add-ons start at $400. The written quote after a free measurement sets the price.
Will Medicare, insurance, or the VA pay for a tub-to-shower conversion?
Safe In Place does not promise that Medicare, insurance, or the VA will pay. Original Medicare generally does not cover a permanent bathroom remodel. Ask the program and get any approval in writing before the work is contracted. Veterans can ask their VA medical center and review VA Form 10-0103.
How do I start, and what should the contractor confirm?
Call (786) 755-1120 or start the free assessment online. Safe In Place reviews who uses the bathroom and how the room is built, and visits the home when a closer look is needed, at no charge. Then we connect the homeowner with one licensed, vetted local contractor, who measures and writes the quote. The written quote often comes within about two days. Ask which office reviews the permit, whether a condo or HOA approval is required, and whether the drain stays or moves. There is no obligation to hire the contractor.
Start with a free in-home assessment
Tell us who the shower is for, which Palm Beach city the home is in, and whether you are calling from out of town. Safe In Place reviews who uses the bathroom and how the room is built, and visits the home when a closer look is needed, at no charge. Then we connect the family with one licensed, vetted local contractor, who measures and writes the quote.