Palm Beach ARCOM: Architectural Commission Review for Renovations & New Construction.

The Town of Palm Beach Architectural Commission (ARCOM) is responsible for ensuring that exterior building changes are consistent with the architectural character of the Town. ARCOM reviews new construction, significant renovations, additions, fence and gate installations, accessory structures (including pool houses, cabanas, and tennis pavilions), and exterior color and material changes.

ARCOM is composed of architects, designers, and residents appointed by the Town Council. The Commission meets monthly, with submittals due approximately four weeks before each meeting. Review packages include drawings, material samples, color samples, photo simulations from public viewpoints, and a streetscape analysis showing the project in context with neighboring properties.

ARCOM’s standards are unwritten in much of the practical sense — the Commission applies judgment based on architectural appropriateness rather than strict code language. This makes ARCOM submittals heavily dependent on the architect’s familiarity with local precedent and the Commission’s preferences.

Palm Beach has hundreds of designated landmark properties — homes designed by Addison Mizner, Maurice Fatio, Marion Sims Wyeth, John Volk, and other founding architects. Work on these properties requires Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approval in addition to ARCOM review.

LPC review focuses on preserving historic fabric: original materials, period details, ornamental elements, and overall composition. Replacing a historic clay tile roof with concrete tile, for example, would typically be denied even if visually similar.

LPC approvals can take 4–8 months for major work and may require multiple revision cycles. Owners considering a substantial renovation on a landmarked property should engage a preservation architect early — design that doesn’t respect historic fabric will be repeatedly rejected.

Construction in the Town of Palm Beach is restricted to 8 AM through 5 PM Monday through Friday. Saturday work is prohibited in residential districts. Sunday work is prohibited entirely.

During the winter social season (typically December 15 through April 15), additional restrictions apply in certain neighborhoods to minimize construction impact during peak residency. These restrictions are codified in some HOA covenants and as Town ordinances in others.

Material deliveries are restricted in scope and time. Flatbed and large-truck deliveries on Worth Avenue and several other commercial corridors require advance permits. Concrete pumping, crane operations, and oversized loads must be scheduled with Town Public Works.

A typical Palm Beach new-construction project — site purchase to certificate of occupancy — runs 30–48 months. Approximately 12–18 months of that is design and approvals (architectural design, ARCOM, LPC if applicable, plan check), and 18–28 months is construction.

Renovations and additions typically run 18–30 months total, depending on scope and whether the property is landmarked. Like-for-like replacements (roofing, windows in the same profiles, paint in approved colors) move much faster — typically 6–10 months for ARCOM approval through completion.