Zoning explained · Palm Beach County

R-B-1 Motel-Business District (Ch. 28, Art. XI, Div. 3, §§ 28-741 to 28-751) Boca Raton, Florida

RB1 is Boca Raton's R-B-1 Motel-Business District, a corridor district (found along N. Federal Highway and similar arterials) intended for lodging, residential and supporting commercial uses. Hotels, motels and tourist homes are CONDITIONAL uses under § 28-743, along with restaurants containing a dance floor, bars/nightclubs, new car agencies, substance abuse treatment facilities, and (recently added by ordinance) carwashes.

72 buildings zoned RB150 permitted business types

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Education › Zoning & land use › Boca Raton — RB1

Permitted uses

What you can operate in RB1, Boca Raton

The businesses the RB1 district in Boca Raton allows. The ones on the left are permitted by right; the ones on the right need a special approval first. (Zoning codes are set by each municipality, so RB1 here means specifically Boca Raton's RB1 district.)

Allowed by right

Small luxury/exotic car showroom, ≤6 cars, ≤5,000 sf, no serviceBoutique auto broker / dealer office with enclosed showroomClassic / collector car gallery (enclosed, no repair)City hall annex, municipal office or civic buildingPolice station / substationFire station / fire-rescue facilityPublic park / greenspacePublic playground or ballfieldPublic community/recreation center (city-operated)Public tennis or pickleball courts (city-operated)Municipal water or sewer pump station / lift stationStormwater management facility (city-owned)

With special approval

HotelMotel / motor lodgeBoutique hotelExtended-stay / all-suites hotelApartment hotel / aparthotelTourist home / guest house / bed and breakfastResort innRestaurant with a dance floor or dancing areaSupper club / dinner-and-dancing venueLatin dance / salsa restaurant venueBar / tavern / pubNightclub / loungeCocktail lounge / craft cocktail barSports barWine bar / tasting room (on-premises consumption)Beer garden / taproom (on-premises consumption, no production)Rooftop / hotel barNew car agency / new car dealershipAutomobile dealership showroom exceeding § 28-1302 by-right limitsCarwash (full-service)Express / tunnel carwashAutomatic drive-through carwashAuto detailing in conjunction with a carwashSubstance abuse treatment facilityDrug and alcohol rehabilitation centerDetox / residential recovery facilityIntensive outpatient (IOP) addiction treatment programSober living / recovery residence (treatment-affiliated)Restaurant without dance floor (sit-down)Cafe / coffee shopMulti-family apartment buildingCondominium / residential dwelling unitsBusiness or professional officeMedical or dental officeRetail store / shopHair salon / barbershopNail salon / day spaBank or financial institution branch

Build envelope

Development standards

Headline dimensional limits for this district. Confirm exact figures against the current code for your specific parcel.

Open areamin. 40% of total plot area as open/green space for any hotel, apartment hotel or motel plot (§ 28-750)

By-right car agencyshowroom incl. office ≤5,000 sf; max 6 vehicles displayed, all fully enclosed (§ 28-1302)

By-right car agency1-mile separation from another such use; no on- or off-site vehicle service, prep or bodywork (§ 28-1302)

By-right car agencyno outdoor display/storage; underground excess parking may hold up to 10 vehicles; +1 parking space beyond showroom requirement (§ 28-1302)

Substance abuse treatment facilityminimum 1,000-foot radius separation from another existing facility (§ 28-743)

StandardDimensional standards set by §§ 28-744 (plot size), 28-745 (building area), 28-746 (height), 28-747 (min plot area/DU), 28-748 (yards), 28-749 (min floor area) — numeric values not retrieved

The fine print

In plain English

BY RIGHT No hearing needed

If your business is on the by-right list, you can occupy a space in this district and open — no zoning hearing. Building permits and licensing still apply, but the use itself is already allowed.

SPECIAL Approval first

Special-approval uses can work here too, but they go through a public review before opening. Plan for extra time and possible conditions — we'll tell you which path a space needs.

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