Does a condo association have to approve my lease in Florida?

Only if the condo's documents require approval. If they do and allow a fee, it is capped at $150 per applicant, and no fee can be charged when the same tenant renews.

Can the condo association collect my rent?

Yes, if the owner is behind on association payments. After written notice you pay the association instead, and the owner must credit what you paid against your rent.

Where is the Brightline station in West Palm Beach?

At 260 Quadrille Plaza Drive downtown. Tri Rail's West Palm Beach station is at 203 South Tamarind Avenue, west of downtown.

Renting in downtown West Palm Beach

Most downtown homes are in large buildings: 58% of homes in 33401 are in buildings of 20 or more units, and 43% were built in 2000 or later. If you rent a condo from its owner, the association's rules apply to you and the association may have to approve you before you move in. Power is FPL and water is the City of West Palm Beach. The area's Brightline station is downtown.

Apartment building or condo?

	Rental apartment building	Condo rented from its owner
Who you deal with	A leasing office or management company	The owner, and the association for building rules
Approval	The landlord's application	The owner's, plus the association's if its documents require it
Rules you follow	The lease and building policies	The lease, plus the declaration, bylaws and association rules
Repairs inside the home	The landlord	The owner, not the association

Condo approval, fees and rules

If the association must approve a lease and its documents allow a fee, the fee cannot be more than $150 per applicant. Spouses, or parents and their dependent children, count as one applicant (section 718.112(2)(k))
No approval fee can be charged when the same tenant renews the lease
Tenants must follow the declaration and bylaws (section 718.303). Ask for the rules on pets, parking, moving hours and guests before you sign
If the owner falls behind on association payments, the association can tell you in writing to pay your rent to it instead. Paying it on time protects you from a claim by the owner for that rent, and the owner must credit what you paid (section 718.116(11)). Homeowners associations have a similar power (section 720.3085(8))
Do not give notice on your current home until the approval is in writing

Rent

The median gross rent in 33401 was $1,776 a month in the Census Bureau's 2024 5 year estimates, plus or minus $82, the highest of the six ZIP codes we cover. Gross rent includes any utilities the tenant pays. It covers 2020 to 2024 and long standing tenancies, so asking rents for homes on the market today can differ.

Getting around

Brightline. The West Palm Beach station is at 260 Quadrille Plaza Drive, with trains south to Miami and north to Orlando
Tri Rail. The West Palm Beach station is at 203 South Tamarind Avenue, west of downtown, linking to about ten Palm Tran routes
West Palm Move. The city's electric fixed route runs between the Norton Museum of Art and Northwood Village every 8 to 10 minutes for $1. On demand rides cost $2 and cover most of the city east of Interstate 95
Parking. Ask whether a space comes with the home and what guest parking costs

Historic homes downtown

The city's historic districts in 33401 include El Cid, Flamingo Park, Grandview Heights, Mango Promenade, Northwest, Sunshine Park and St Anns, and about 12% of homes in the ZIP code were built before 1960. Exterior changes there must meet the city's preservation ordinance. For a home built before 1978, the landlord must give you the EPA lead pamphlet and disclose any known lead paint.

Utilities and flood cover

Service	Who supplies it	How to set it up
Electric	FPL	Online with FPL. Orders received by 12 p.m., Monday to Saturday, are usually connected the same day
Water and sewer	City of West Palm Beach	Call (561) 822 1300. A deposit is required and same day service is not guaranteed
Trash and recycling	City of West Palm Beach	Billed on the city utility account. Look up your days on the city's Pickup Schedule

In some buildings water or internet is billed to the building, so ask what the rent includes. Check the flood zone on the city's flood map or the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, or call the city on (561) 805 6705. The association's or landlord's insurance does not cover your belongings, so price renters insurance and a separate flood policy; NFIP contents cover goes up to $100,000 and usually starts 30 days after you buy it.

At move in

Get the association's approval letter, parking permit and fobs before move in day
Take dated photos and video of every room, and report anything damaged in writing
Clean before you unpack with our move in cleaning checklist, or book a deep clean downtown if the home was left dirty

More about the neighborhoods is on our downtown West Palm Beach page, and our Florida deposit guide covers getting your deposit back.

Send a request for a move in clean and a local cleaner will call you to quote.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and your lease may add terms. For advice on your situation, speak to a Florida attorney or the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.