Our mailing address says West Palm Beach. Our local government is Palm Beach County. Understanding the difference helps owners find the right permit office, public services, and elected representatives.
Palm Beach County’s Building Division processes building permits in the unincorporated county. For work at Century Village, start with the county—not the City of West Palm Beach’s building department.
Association approval does not replace a government permit. A government permit does not replace required association approval. The county’s code specifically warns that recorded restrictions and other approvals may apply.
County Permit Center → · ePZB online services →
County guide for condo owners (PDF) · County building regulations, section 105.3.3 · Board Synergy: building permits
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is our public law-enforcement agency. Community gate security is separate. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue serves the unincorporated county. Call 911 for emergencies.
Ambulance transport coverage, contracts, and charges are separate questions; this jurisdiction guide does not establish transport benefits.
The county maintains county-owned rights-of-way. State, municipal, and private roads have different responsible owners. Being unincorporated does not make every road a county road.
For a road or drainage problem, establish ownership and maintenance responsibility before choosing whom to contact.
Residents of unincorporated Palm Beach County qualify for a free County Library System card. Cooperative borrowing arrangements also expand access. Check individual program and borrowing rules.
Our county commissioner and the County Commission are our principal local governmental representatives. Eligible registered voters participate in their applicable county, state, and federal elections; a Century Village residence does not qualify someone to vote in West Palm Beach city elections.
Check your exact address to identify current voting districts. A postal city name is not a voting district.
We do not pay West Palm Beach’s city property tax. We do pay applicable countywide, school, and district taxes, including charges supporting county fire protection and libraries. “No city tax” does not mean services are free.
This is a comparison of selected tax components—not a complete tax bill, an annexation estimate, or a guaranteed saving for your unit. It excludes city debt and other charges. Taxable value is not the sale price, and exemptions can affect different levies differently. Use your actual tax bill and taxing district for a personal comparison. Rates can change annually.
Property Appraiser: published 2025 taxing-authority rates (PDF) · Annual tax-rate information
Potential benefit: lower governmental property-tax costs than a comparable property inside West Palm Beach, while retaining essential county public services and our privately organized community amenities.
Trade-off: we do not have a separate city government elected by our community and other city residents. Local governmental concerns go through a county serving a much larger area. City-resident discounts or program priorities must be checked individually.
This does not mean we lack local representation or cannot enjoy downtown attractions. It means public services and eligibility follow jurisdiction, ownership, and program rules.
Government taxes and private community charges cover different responsibilities. Your condominium association, UCO arrangements, and WPRF recreation payments are separate from county government. Their precise responsibilities and charges come from the applicable governing documents and agreements.
For affordability, consider the whole picture: property taxes, association assessments, applicable UCO-related charges, WPRF payments, utilities, and insurance. Check which charges are already included in an association payment to avoid counting them twice.
A condo inside a city can also have private association and recreation costs. Municipal boundaries alone do not determine who maintains private common property.
Find your unit in the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s records. Review its municipality code, taxing district, exemptions, and taxable values alongside your annual tax bill. The Property Appraiser lists 00 as unincorporated and 74 as West Palm Beach; these correspond to the first two digits of the parcel control number.
Official municipality-code explanation
New-owner checklist · Prospective buyer guide · Topic Index
Reviewed October 29, 2026. Educational guide; confirm project requirements with the county and your association. Tax example uses 2025 rates.
