Bolthole Index

Broward County, Florida

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Hollywood, Florida

Hollywood, Florida requires a building permit from the city's own Building Division for new construction, repairs, driveways, fences, sheds and pools1. The city adopts and administers its own zoning rules, the Zoning and Land Development Regulations2. Septic permits come from Broward County rather than the city, and only where no public sewer is available3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the City of Hollywood Building Division1
Zoning
City-run Zoning and Land Development Regulations2
Septic
County permit, only where no public sewer is available3
Minimum lot, RS-1
4,000 sq ft and 40 ft wide4
Minimum home size, RS-1
800 sq ft5
Owner-builder
Allowed for your own one- or two-family home, with conditions6
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask Planning and Urban Design7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Hollywood Building Division

Building permits inside Hollywood city limits

954.921.3471

2600 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL 33020-4807

Zoning

City of Hollywood Planning and Urban Design (zoning program)

Zoning and land-use applications inside Hollywood city limits

954.921.3471

2600 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, FL 33020-4807

Septic permits

Florida Department of Health in Broward County, Environmental Public Health Program

Septic (onsite sewage) permits and water-well permits for Broward County, including inside Hollywood

954-467-4700

2421A SW 6th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Hollywood means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Hollywood, Florida?

Yes. Inside Hollywood city limits, a building permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building or structure, and the city counts driveways, decks, fences, sheds, pools and spas as structures1. Hollywood enforces the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023)8.

Hollywood's Building Division says permit processing takes a maximum of 30 working days after plans are submitted, and that clock excludes planning, zoning, engineering and fire reviews9. Applications go through the city's Accela online portal9.

Who issues building permits in Hollywood, and how do you reach them?

The City of Hollywood Building Division issues building permits for addresses inside the city; Broward County's building office serves unincorporated land and is the wrong counter for a Hollywood lot1. For building-permit questions, call the city at 954.921.3471 and select option 110.

A homeowner can apply for an owner-builder permit on a one- or two-family residence they own and occupy, but cannot sell the house or duplex for one year after the final inspection on that permit6. The owner must sign and notarize the application unless a qualifying contractor does the work6.

Does Hollywood have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and home size?

Hollywood has its own zoning. The city adopts and administers the Zoning and Land Development Regulations, with single-family districts RS-1 through RS-10 set on the Official Zoning Map2. Zoning applications go through Planning and Urban Design, 954.921.3471, option 27.

In RS-1, the main single-family district, a new lot needs at least 4,000 sq ft and 40 ft of width4. A new RS-1 home must be at least 800 sq ft and no taller than 30 ft, not to exceed 2 stories511. Main structures need a 25 ft front setback12, and side yards must total at least 25% of lot width (capped at 50 ft) with no side yard under 7.5 ft12.

In the Ely Boulevard Residential Overlay District, homes facing Ely Boulevard need 3,750 sq ft lots and 1,200 sq ft of floor area1314. Check the zoning map for your parcel's district before relying on any of these figures.

How do septic permits work inside Hollywood?

Hollywood does not issue septic permits. Where no public sewer is available, a septic tank needs prior permitting from Broward County agencies, and the city will not issue a building permit for work that generates wastewater until the county permit or approval is in hand15. Septic permits in Broward County are issued by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, 954-467-47001617.

Where a public sewer is available, the city code bars installing a septic system18. Owners with an existing system must stop using it 90 days after sewer becomes available19. Most Hollywood lots will therefore be on city sewer; we could not confirm how close the main must be to trigger a mandatory connection for a new home.

Soils matter if you do qualify for septic: USDA rates essentially none of Broward County's soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and often an engineered system20.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Hollywood, Florida?

We could not confirm Hollywood's rules on living in an RV, a tiny home or a manufactured home, or on temporary camping, on private land inside the city. Ask Planning and Urban Design at 954.921.3471, option 2, before buying a lot for that purpose7.

Florida law lets a city adopt an ordinance allowing accessory dwelling units in single-family zones, and an accessory-unit building-permit application must include an affidavit that the unit will be rented at an affordable rate to an income-qualified person21. We could not confirm whether Hollywood has adopted such an ordinance.

Building a home in Hollywood: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district with Planning and Urban Design, 954.921.3471, option 27.
  2. Find out whether public sewer is available at the lot; if not, apply to the Florida Department of Health in Broward County for a septic permit first, because the city will not issue the building permit without it15.
  3. Submit plans for a building permit through the city's Accela portal; review takes a maximum of 30 working days, not counting planning, zoning, engineering and fire reviews9.
  4. Build to the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023)8.
  5. Schedule inspections and a certificate of occupancy with the Building Division; we could not confirm the city's inspection and certificate steps, so ask at 954.921.3471, option 110.

What stays with Broward County, and what to check before you buy in Hollywood

Septic permits and water-well permits stay with the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, not the city1622. Broward County's own zoning code applies only to the Broward Municipal Services District, so it does not govern a lot inside Hollywood23. Land outside the city is covered on the Broward County page.

Broward County's effective property tax rate is 0.9% and the median property tax bill is $3,610 a year2425. A typical Broward home insurance premium is $6,148 a year26. We could not confirm Hollywood's permit fees, lot-coverage limits or flood requirements; ask the Building Division and Planning and Urban Design.

Watch-outs

  • Hollywood's lot-size, height and setback figures here are for the RS-1 district and the Ely Boulevard overlay only; other districts have different standards27.
  • The city says the 30-working-day permit review excludes planning, zoning, engineering and fire reviews, so total time can run longer9.
  • The city's planning page warns of a fraud scheme in which scammers impersonate city staff and demand fees for permits; pay only through the city's Accela portal and verify with the number in the office listing7.
  • We could not confirm Hollywood's rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, lot coverage, permit fees or certificates of occupancy; call the Building Division at 954.921.3471, option 1, or Planning and Urban Design, option 2107.

Sources

  1. City of Hollywood Building Division FAQs (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Hollywood, FL Code of Ordinances overview (American Legal Publishing) (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  3. City of Hollywood Code of Ordinances, Chapter 52 Sewer Use, § 52.05 and § 52.06 (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Hollywood Zoning and Land Development Regulations, § 4.1 Single Family Districts (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Hollywood Zoning and Land Development Regulations, § 4.1 Single Family Districts (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Hollywood Building Division FAQs (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Hollywood Planning and Urban Design (zoning program) (hollywoodfl.org)
  8. City of Hollywood Building Division FAQs (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Hollywood Building Division FAQs (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Hollywood Building Division (hollywoodfl.org)
  11. City of Hollywood Zoning and Land Development Regulations, § 4.1 Single Family Districts (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Hollywood Zoning and Land Development Regulations, § 4.1 Single Family Districts (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  13. City of Hollywood Zoning and Land Development Regulations, § 4.1 Single Family Districts (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Hollywood Zoning and Land Development Regulations, § 4.1 Single Family Districts (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Hollywood Code of Ordinances, Chapter 52 Sewer Use, § 52.05 and § 52.06 (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  16. Onsite Sewage FAQ - Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  17. Florida Department of Health in Broward County, Environmental Public Health Program (broward.floridahealth.gov)
  18. City of Hollywood Code of Ordinances, Chapter 52 Sewer Use, § 52.05 and § 52.06 (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  19. City of Hollywood Code of Ordinances, Chapter 52 Sewer Use, § 52.05 and § 52.06 (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked
  20. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Florida Statutes § 163.31771 — Accessory dwelling units, quoted and re-checked
  22. Water Well Construction, quoted and re-checked
  23. Urban Planning Services, quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  27. City of Hollywood Zoning and Land Development Regulations, § 4.1 Single Family Districts (Hollywood), quoted and re-checked

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Hollywood

Hollywood’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, move or demolition of buildings inside Hollywood city limits

    • Permit is required before work; the city's FAQ says the permit is needed where work changes use or occupancy and includes structures such as driveways, decks, fences, sheds, pools and spas.
    • Wireless or battery-operated alarms do not need a permit (per the FAQ).
    “you need a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, remove or demolish any building, structure, or any part thereof”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owner-builder permits for one- or two-family homes inside Hollywood city limits

    • Available only where the owner owns the one- or two-family residence and uses it for their own use or occupancy.
    • The owner may not sell the house or duplex for one year after the final inspection on an owner-builder permit; additional restrictions may apply.
    • The FAQ refers to Florida Statutes 489.503(6) for further information.
    • The owner must sign and notarize the application unless a qualifying contractor does the work (per the FAQ).
    “yes, as long as you own the one-family or two-family residence, and the residence is used for your own use or occupancy.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Hollywood city limits

    • The city's own statement names the Florida Building Code, 8th edition (2023); the Florida Building Code is a state-adopted code, so the state rule also applies.

    code edition: Florida Building Code 8th edition (2023)

    “the city of hollywood follows the follows the florida building code 8th edition(2023).”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hollywood city limits. The city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, titled Zoning and Land Development Regulations (LDR).

    • The LDR is published as a separate code on American Legal Publishing alongside the city's general Code of Ordinances.
    • Zoning districts (RS-1 through RS-10 single-family series, plus multiple-family, commercial and other districts) are set by the LDR and the Official Zoning Map.
    “rs- 1 = 4000 rs- 1 = 40 rs- 1 = 800 30 feet, not to exceed 2 stories”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Land inside Hollywood city limits: the single-family district series RS-1 through RS-10 in LDR § 4.1

    • Only the single-family series was opened. The multiple-family, commercial, mixed-use, PUD and PD districts are in other LDR sections (§§ 4.2, 4.3, 4.6, 4.15, 4.16) and were not read.
    “rs-10 = 15000 rs-10 = 100 rs-10 = 2000/1650”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family homes in the Ely Boulevard Residential Overlay District inside Hollywood city limits

    • Applies only inside the overlay boundary.

    minimum unit size: >= 1200 sq ft (Ely overlay, single-family and townhouse columns both 1,200)

    “minimum unit size (sq. ft.) 1,200 1,200 maximum building height 30 feet, not to exceed 2 stories”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    New single-family dwelling lots in the RS-1 single-family district inside Hollywood city limits (main single-family residential district)

    • The minimum is shown in the LDR § 4.1 development-standards table for RS-1.
    • Platted lots or lots of record as of April 6, 1994 that are smaller than the minimums are legal non-conforming and may be developed consistent with the regulations, if they also comply with LDR §§ 3.8 and 3.9.
    • The table is flattened in the captured text; column alignment was confirmed by the row structure.

    minimum lot area: >= 4000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 40 ft

    “rs- 1 = 4000 rs- 1 = 40 rs- 1 = 800 30 feet, not to exceed 2 stories”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Main structures in the single-family (RS) districts inside Hollywood city limits; the RS-1 main district is the reference case

    • Front setback 25 ft for the main structure.
    • Side setbacks: the sum of side yards must be at least 25% of lot width, capped at 50 ft, with no side yard less than 7.5 ft; platted and recorded lots 50 ft wide or less may have a 5 ft setback, but only for one-story additions and new one-story construction. Any construction over one story must meet the 25% rule with a 7.5 ft minimum.
    • Street-side and rear values appear in the same block as '15 ft. 15% of the lot depth; 15 ft. min. 50 ft. max.'; column order is inferred from the flattened table and should be confirmed in the printed code.
    • Lots adjacent to a lake in the lakes area have a 25 ft setback (per the same subsection).

    front setback, main structure: >= 25 ft · sum of side setbacks: >= 25 % of lot width (capped at 50 ft; no side yard less than 7.5 ft) · minimum side setback: >= 7.5 ft (5 ft on platted lots 50 ft wide or less, one-story only)

    “the sum of the side yard setbacks shall be at least 25% of the lot width, but not to exceed 50 ft. with no side yard less than 7.5 ft.;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the RS-1 district inside Hollywood city limits

    • Maximum 30 ft, not to exceed two stories, per the RS-1 row of the LDR § 4.1 table.

    maximum building height: <= 30 ft (not to exceed 2 stories)

    “rs- 1 = 4000 rs- 1 = 40 rs- 1 = 800 30 feet, not to exceed 2 stories”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Non-sewer (septic or other private) wastewater systems on land inside Hollywood city limits

    • Septic systems are allowed only where public sewer is not available, under the county permit.
    • Owners must operate and maintain private wastewater systems in a sanitary manner at their own expense.
    “no septic tank or other subsurface disposal facility shall be installed where a public sewer is available.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    A new home on land inside Hollywood city limits where a public sanitary sewer is available

    • Under the city code, property owners must connect to the public sewer within 90 days after the sewer becomes available; the code makes it unlawful to keep using an on-site system after that period.
    • The city code section on availability (§ 52.02) and the 200-foot provision in the industrial pretreatment chapter (§ 57.04) were not confirmed from the opened text, so the distance from the sewer main that triggers a mandatory connection for a new home is not recorded.
    • Water connection is not addressed in the sources opened, so water is not recorded as required.
    • Septic-to-sewer conversions in the Washington Industrial Park area are handled through a 90-day notification letter and sewer reserve capacity charge; that process applies to that area's conversion and not to every lot.

    connection period after sewer availability: 90 days (applies to on-site systems that are in use after sewers become available)

    “it shall be unlawful for any person to permit, suffer or allow the use of any on-site sewage disposal system (septic tank and drain-field system) 90 days after the availability of public sewers.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building permit review timing inside Hollywood city limits

    • Applications are submitted through the city's Accela Citizen Access portal (per the FAQ and city pages); the portal step was not read in full.
    • Review time excludes planning and zoning, engineering and fire reviews.
    • Resubmittals are also subject to the 30-working-day maximum.

    permit review maximum: <= 30 working days (after plans and/or specifications are submitted; excludes planning, zoning, engineering and fire review time)

    “processing of permits is performed within a maximum of 30 working days after the plans and / or specifications are submitted”

Rules another office applies inside Hollywood

Hollywood does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site sewage (septic) systems on land inside Hollywood city limits where a city sewer is not available; county permitting applies inside the city

    • The city code requires a septic permit from the Broward County agencies named bcphu and/or bcdnrp (the excerpt does not expand the abbreviations; read as Broward County agencies, to be confirmed).
    • The city will not issue a building permit for effluent-generating work until the applicant has the county permit or approval.
    • Under the city code, no septic system may be installed where a public sewer is available.
    • Scope geography is recorded as district-specific because the schema does not allow a county scope with municipality-specific geography; the rule applies inside Hollywood city limits.
    “no person shall construct a septic tank or other wastewater disposal facility without prior permitting by the bcphu and/or bcdnrp.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New septic tanks or other on-site wastewater disposal facilities on land inside Hollywood city limits where no public sewer is available

    • Prior county permit or approval is required before construction; the city will not issue a building permit for effluent-generating work until the county permit or approval is obtained.
    • No septic system may be installed where a public sewer is available.
    • Scope geography is recorded as district-specific because the schema does not allow a county scope with municipality-specific geography; the rule applies inside Hollywood city limits.
    “no person shall construct a septic tank or other wastewater disposal facility without prior permitting by the bcphu and/or bcdnrp.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Hollywood or Broward County directly.

  • Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Hollywood city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Hollywood city limits
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage for single-family lots inside Hollywood city limits
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Hollywood city limits
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hollywood city limits
11 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Hollywood publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Broward County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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