Weston and Plantation Construction Permit Guide – Broward County 2026

Weston and Plantation are two of Broward County's premier master-planned communities, each with distinct governance structures, strong community standards, and active building departments. Weston — consistently ranked among the best places to live in Florida — is a City of Weston planned community with strict architectural standards enforced through both city permits and extensive HOA design review processes. Plantation is a more established city with diverse residential, commercial, and industrial development that generates substantial annual permit activity. Both cities serve a highly educated, high-income residential population with corresponding expectations for construction quality and permit compliance.

City of Weston Building Services Department

The City of Weston Building Services Department is located at Weston City Hall, 17200 Royal Palm Boulevard, Weston, FL 33326. Weston was incorporated in 1996 after years as a master-planned unincorporated community. The city's entire development was designed around a series of villages, each with its own architectural character standards, maintained by the Weston Community Authority (WCA) and individual village associations in addition to the city's regulatory oversight.

Weston permit applications are submitted through the Weston online permitting portal. USD permit fees follow the city's adopted fee schedule. Plan review involves building, fire, zoning, and public works disciplines. Standard residential permit review in Weston takes 10 to 15 business days for straightforward projects. Complex projects requiring WCA or village HOA design review may take longer due to the sequential or concurrent reviews required.

Weston Community Authority (WCA) Design Review

The Weston Community Authority administers a design review process for all exterior construction visible from outside a property within Weston's boundaries. Before applying for a city building permit for exterior construction, property owners must obtain a Design Review approval from the WCA. WCA design review covers: additions to homes, new structures, pool installations, fence replacements, driveway modifications, landscaping changes visible from the street, window and door replacements that change the exterior appearance, and any changes to paint color in some villages.

WCA design review applications are submitted to the WCA's Development Services department. USD WCA design review fees are modest but the timeline must be factored into the overall project schedule. WCA design review approval is required before the city building permit can be issued for exterior construction in Weston. WCA and individual village HOA approvals are separate from each other — some Weston villages have additional HOA design review processes on top of the WCA process.

Weston's Planned Development Zoning

Weston's entire developed area is governed by a Planned Development (PD) zoning designation with specific development standards for each district. The PD zoning establishes setback requirements, maximum building heights, impervious surface ratios, and landscaping standards for each village. These PD standards may be more restrictive than standard Broward County residential zoning standards. Before planning any project in Weston, obtain the specific PD zoning standards for the property from the Weston Development Services Department.

Weston's strict impervious surface requirements mean that pool decks, driveways, and covered patios all count toward the maximum impervious surface percentage for the property. Properties that have already reached their maximum impervious surface percentage cannot add paved areas, covered decks, or similar improvements without obtaining variances. This is a frequently encountered constraint in Weston renovations.

City of Plantation Building Department

The City of Plantation Building Department is located at 400 NW 73rd Avenue, Plantation, FL 33317. Plantation is one of Broward County's oldest planned cities — developed in the 1950s and 1960s as a garden city with wide boulevards, mature trees, and a strong residential character. Plantation's building department processes a high volume of residential renovation permits alongside substantial commercial development activity along the University Drive, State Road 7, and Peters Road commercial corridors.

Plantation permit applications are submitted through the city's permitting system. USD fees follow the Plantation fee schedule. Plan review involves building, fire, zoning, and engineering disciplines. Plantation's Zoning Board of Appeals hears variances for properties within city limits. Commercial developments in Plantation's major corridors may require site plan review by the Plantation Planning Council.

Plantation is unique among Broward County municipalities for its extensive tree preservation ordinance. Plantation has designated hundreds of Champion Trees — large, historically significant trees throughout the city — that cannot be removed without extraordinary justification. Construction projects that threaten designated Champion Trees require specific arborist-supervised tree protection plans and in some cases pre-construction meetings with the Plantation Urban Forester.

Plantation Weston Boundary — Confirming Jurisdiction

Properties at the boundary between Weston and Plantation should confirm which municipality's building department has jurisdiction before filing permits. The city boundary runs through some residential neighborhoods in ways that are not always obvious from street addresses or mapping applications. When in doubt, contact both building departments and provide the specific property address for jurisdiction confirmation.

811 One-Call Requirements in Both Cities

Both Weston and Plantation have FPL underground electric service throughout most of their residential areas. The 811 Sunshine State One-Call requirement applies universally — all excavation before pool construction, landscape work, irrigation installation, fence post installation, and foundation work must be preceded by 811 notification at least two full business days in advance. FPL underground cables in Weston and Plantation residential neighborhoods can be as shallow as 18 inches below grade.

USD Permit Costs and Survey Requirements

Building permit fees in both Weston and Plantation are based on standard commercial and residential fee schedules. Boundary surveys are required for permit applications involving new structures, additions, pools, and fences. South Florida surveys expire after one year and cost $800 USD to $8,500 USD to renew. Weston's planned development zoning may require topographic survey information in addition to boundary survey information for grading and drainage analysis in some project types.

Permit expiration in both cities follows the standard Florida Building Code 180-day rule — permits expire if no approved inspection is obtained within 180 days of issuance. USD renewal fees apply for expired permits. Abandoned construction projects in both cities are subject to code enforcement action and USD fines as described in earlier blogs. Do not begin construction projects in Weston or Plantation without confirmed funding and a complete commitment to project completion.