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1. What is the current zoning and land use designation of my property?

You may view an interactive map or download and print static copies of the most recent zoning and future land use maps in the mapping resources page. If you are unable to locate your property or wish to confirm your zoning and land use designation, call the Planning and Zoning Counter at 741-2323 to connect you with the Planning Tech on call service, or email the Planning & Zoning department.

2. What are the required setbacks for my property?

Please call the Planning and Zoning Counter at 741-2323 to connect you with the Planning Tech on call service. To better assist you please refer to the property by the address and/or subdivision of the property. The Town's setbacks may be determined by the Planned Unit Development (PUD) "rules" that were agreed to when your subdivision was approved by Town Council, or they may be determined by the underlying Zoning District of the property. You will need to know if your property is in a PUD, the appropriate zoning district and the lot dimensions if you plan to check your own setbacks.

Please call the Planning and Zoning counter at 561-741-2323 or email the Planning & Zoning department.

3. What are overlay districts?

An overlay district adds to the provisions of the applicable underlying zoning district. Overlay districts typically apply to a specific corridor or region and ensure that the unique needs of such a corridor or region are met. The Town of Jupiter has one such overlay district: The Indiantown Road Overlay Zoning District (IOZ). Refer to the Town of Jupiter Zoning Map for information about the Indiantown Road Overlay Zoning District (IOZ).

4. What is a variance?

The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) may grant variances authorizing a departure from the requirements of the land development regulations. In granting a variance, the ZBA may establish appropriate conditions or other such safeguards as it deems necessary to protect the public health, safety and general welfare. The ZBA is not empowered to authorize a variance to allow a use which is not permitted as a use-by-right or as a special exception, nor to allow an increase in residential density or non-residential development intensity beyond that which is permitted. Financial or economic hardships alone shall not be a basis for the granting of a variance.

The standards for the evaluation of legal hardship are:

1. That special conditions and circumstances exist which are peculiar to the land, structure, or building which is the subject of the variance application and which are not applicable to other lands, structures or buildings in the same zoning district.
2.That the special conditions and circumstances do not result from the actions of the applicant.
3.That literal interpretation of the provisions of these land development regulations would deprive the applicant of the rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same zoning district, under the terms of these regulations, and would work unnecessary and undue hardships on the applicant.
4. That the variance granted is the minimum variance that will make possible the use of the land, building or structure
5. That the grant of the variance is not contrary to the town's comprehensive plan
6. That the grant of the variance will be in harmony with the general intent and purpose of these land development regulations
7. That the grant of the variance will not be injurious to the area involved or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare. You may download and print the application for a variance in the resources page. It is advisable that you speak with a planner to go over the submission of the variance application.

Please contact the Planning and Zoning Counter at 741-2323 to connect you with the Planning Tech on call service. Varience Application.

5. Can I get a variance for the use I want on my property?

You may never apply for a variance for a use. Variances only apply toward regulations of the code, such as setbacks, height requirements, lot coverage, etc when a hardship can be demonstrated. Whether a certain use is "by-right", "special exception", or prohibited can not be changed by a variance as it is not the approriate article of law. Changes in use regulations (or "what can go where") must occur through a Zoning Text and/or Comprehensive Plan Amendment.

6. How do I get a copy of a permitted site plan or an old survey of my home?

You may call the building counter at 741-2286 or visit the Building Department webpage and request research for site plans and surveys that are public record. The time and fees are variable to the request and workload of the Research and Records department of the Building Division, please allow them time to get your request completed. If you wish to see proposed or approved site plans that have not been built yet, visit the Planning and Zoning Counter.

7. What is an easement?

An easement is a specified dedication of land to serve the purpose of the provision of services or the provision of access. A utility easement is a common example of an easement. To find out if you have an easement on your property, provide a recent survey to the planning and zoning counter and staff would assist you. You may also check the Engineering Division, where a Recorded Plat of your property may be located. There are different easements withvarying less than fee simple rights to your land, and these easements will effect how you can utilize the land and whether you may build over them. More specific information about easements are in store for the homeowners page currently in development.

8. What is my PCN (Property Control Number)?

Property control numbers are assigned by metes and bounds. You may find your property control number by agreeing to the conditions of the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser. Visit the PAPA site and select the owner, address or name of the subdivision of the property if you need to find the properties PCN number. If you have the PCN number and would like to find the property information made available to the public, you may select by PCN number.

9. May I split my property into two or more parcels?

You may split your property into two or more parcels assuming that all parcels meet minimum lot dimensions based on the zoning designation of the property. A table of the lot dimensions will be provided in the resources page. The splitting of your property requires an application to the Engineering Division. For more information on this process, call the Engineering Division at 741-2372. Site plan approval may also be required. Contact the Planning and Zoning Department for more information.

10. What is the Comprehensive Plan?

The Comprehensive Plan is a long term blueprint for future growth of the Town. It summarizes relevant information such as population projections, the pattern of existing development, suitability of land for development, the capacity of public facilities to serve future development, and the financial capacity of the Town to make improvements to those facilities. It establishes official Town policies toward land use and growth. It includes the Future Land Use Map (FLUM), which regulates the general type of land use that is allowed (ie: C.R.I.: Commercial, Residential or Industrial, etc.) and the maximum density (living units per acre) or intensity (square feet of building area) allowed for those uses. The State of Florida requires all counties and municipalities to adopt a comprehensive plan. All land use decisions made by the Town must be in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan must consist of the following Elements, or chapters: Future Land Use, Transportation, Infrastructure (water, wastewater, drainage, etc), Recreation and Open Space, Conservation, Coastal Management, Housing, Intergovernmental Coordination, and Capital Improvements. Every seven years the Comprehensive Plan is evaluated and usually rewritten to update the blueprint for the NEXT seven years. The next Comprehensive Plan evaluation will be in 2022. The Five Year Community Investment Progam (or CIP) is updated annually.

11. What is the difference between a Future Land Use and a zoning district?

Zoning is a tool to help implement the Town's Comprehensive Plan. As a part of the Comprehensive Plan, the Future Land Use Element was adopted to assign Future Land Use designations to various areas of the Town. The Future Land Use designation determines the general type of land use that is allowed (such as commercial, residential or industrial), provides for location criteria (or the reasons why they should exist in certain locations of the Town and not others) and the maximum density or intensity of those uses. Within each Future Land Use designation, certain zoning district classifications can be assigned to provide a more detailed category of regulations. The zoning districts are located in the Town Code, which is an instrument of regulation passed by the Town Council and must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.