Licenses
Below is a list of licenses that may be obtained through local governmental agencies.
*Please note that the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce does not issue licenses of any kind.
Animal Care and Control
May be obtained through Palm Beach County's Animal Care and Control department. All dogs and cats must be vaccinated and registered. The cost is $15 plus a $15 immunization shot for sterilized animals, $75 plus a $15 shot for non-sterilized animals. For an impounded animal, the tag prices remain the same, and the shot is $15. Call 561.276.1344 (South County) or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/publicsafety/animalcare/ for details.
Automobile, Plates, Registration, Titles & Parking Placards
The Motor Vehicle Services (County Tax Collector) is the agent for titling and registering all vessels (boats) and vehicles, including motorcycles and mopeds, as well as issuing disabled parking placards. All motorized vessels, commercial and private, must be titled and registered with the Tax Collector before they can be used in Florida waters. Vessel trailers also must be registered. Titling and registration fees are separate charges.
Delray Beach Motor Vehicle Services (County Tax Collector)
501 S. Congress Ave.
Delray Beach, FL 33435
561.355.2264
Open: Mon-Fri 8:15am-5pm
Vessel registrations are renewed during June and expire June 30 of the following year. The registration fees are determined by the length of the vessel. Any vessel registered for the first time between January and May 31 is eligible for a half-year fee. New residents must register their vehicles and obtain Florida license plates within 10 days of establishing legal residency, accepting employment or enrolling children in public school. Florida statue provide for an additional registration fee of $100 the first time certain vehicles are registered. An important fact to know about registering your motor vehicle is that some private businesses call themselves "tag services." But, the service provide is costly and unnecessary. These agencies still must bring all applications to the Tax Collector's Office. Only the Tax Collector and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles can register or title a vehicle. Registration for short-term leased vehicles expire in six months. Registration expirations for long-term leased vehicles are assigned an expiration month based on the first letter of the leasing company's or registrant's name, e.g. A=June, G=October.
All Florida drivers must have at least $10,000 in personal protection (PIP) auto insurance and at least $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) insurance. For more information, contact the Department of Insurance Consumer HotLine, 800.342.2762, or a local insurance agent. Most vehicles must pass an emission inspection before they can be registered or titled.
The Office or Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is at the Tax Collector's Office (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) and can be reached at 561.355.2622. The Boca Raton Police Station supplies a vehicle identification form for those with out-of-state titles. You'll need proof of insurance, title or registration, and your vehicle ID number. Call 561.338.1234.
Boating
All motorized vessels must be titled and registered before they can be used in Florida waters, regardless of size. A valid out-of-state registration for pleasure craft is recognized for up to 90 days. After that, registration in Florida is required. Registration fees vary depending upon the size of the boat. Title and registration fees are separate charges. Vessel trailers must also be registered. Vessel registrations are renewed during June and expire June 30 of the following year. The registration fees are determined by the length of the vessel. Any vessel registered for the first time between January and May 31 is eligible for a half-year free. Call the Tax Collector's Office at 561.355.2622 for further details.
Declaration of Domicile
Forms are available at the South County Courthouse for $8. For more information, please call 561.930.2962.
Driver's Licenses
Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles issues driver licenses, driving tests, and ID Cards.
The Delray Beach office is located at:
501 S. Congress Avenue, Delray Beach
561.681.6333
Open: Mon-Fri 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
http://www.pbcgov.com/tax/services_driver_license.shtml
License Classification Fee Amount
Class E (Original) $54.25
Class E (Renewal) $54.25
ID Cards $31.25
Replacements (Address Change) $31.25
Duplicate (Lost/Stolen) $31.25
D-6/Child Support Clearances $66.25
Expired Driver License Late Fee $15.00
All fees include a state-required $6.25 Tax Collector service fee.
Fishing and Hunting
Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975 must have passed an approved hunter education course before being licensed to take wildlife in Florida with a firearm. Both hunting and fishing licenses may be obtained at any of the Tax Collector's branch offices or various tax collector agents such as sporting goods stores, bait and tackle shops and select retail stores. Hunting and fishing regulations and guides are available free of charge. Call 561.355.2622 for information on exemptions.
All Annual privileges expire 12 months from the date issued. Lifetime and five-year fishing licenses are available only at the Tax Collector's Office. Florida residents may purchase a license by telephone with a MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card by calling 888.FISH.FLO or 888.HUNTFLO.
Homestead Exemptions
Applicable exemptions such as homestead, disability, widow and widower are filed with the Property Appraiser's Office and must be made between Jan. 1 and March 1. From March through Dec. 31, you may pre-file for homestead for the next calendar year. To ease the burden on taxpayers. The Property Appraiser has elected to automatically renew homestead exemptions. As long as nothing has changed and the property in question is still your primary residence, your homestead exemption will be automatically renewed each year on Jan. 1. For further information regarding exemptions, call 561.355.2866.
Taxes and non-ad valorem assessments become delinquent April 1, at which time 3 percent interest and advertising costs are added. The amount due on delinquent payments is determined by date received, not by postmark. The Offices of the Property Appraiser are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding legal holidays). Call 561.355.2866 or 561.276.1250 in South Palm Beach County for more information.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses are issued by the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Marriage Records are kept by the County Clerk's Indexing Department. A marriage license is valid for 60 days prior to the ceremony and is effective upon issuance. It is valid in any county in the state of Florida, and no extensions can be made. Both individuals must be present upon applying for a marriage license. One of the following forms of identification is required: a drivers license issued in the state of Florida, a federal or state ID card, or passport with the person's name and date of birth.
It takes about 20 minutes to get a marriage license and no appointments are necessary. The charge is $88.50, cash only. A clerk will perform the ceremony for an additional $20 in cash in the couple appears before 4:15 p.m. If either party has been married before, sate the date that the marriage ended. If the previous marriage ended in death, a death certificate is unnecessary. If it ended in divorce, desolution or annulment, a certified copy of the judgment, decree or annulment is necessary. Applications are taken weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 930.2230 (only in Palm Beach County).
Occupational Licenses
The Tax Collector has a contract with the Board of County Commissioners to issue occupational licenses for the privilege of operating a business anywhere in the county, including municipalities. If your business is located within the City of Boca Raton limits, you must apply for a city license first. Anyone providing merchandise or serves to the public, as a proprietor or home-based business, must obtain a license. Some businesses are also subject to county zoning codes and state regulations.
Occupational licenses expire Sept. 30 and can be renewed on or after Aug. 1. On Oct. 1, they are delinquent and subject to penalties every month thereafter. Any City of Boca Raton licenses that are not renewed on or before the end of February will incur an additional $250 penalty in accordance with city ordinance. New licenses are issued at any time during the year and are pro-rated April 1, at which time, half-year fees apply.
Any changes made in a license status, such as address, ownership or name change, must be reported to the Tax Collector's Office and the City License Section.
Public access to information about new businesses is required by law. Daily listings may be obtained either as a printout, on diskettes or by modem. Information on fees for those services is available by calling 561.355.2272 and pressing 4.
For county occupational licenses, call the Palm Beach County Tax Collector, Occupational Licenses section toll-free at 561.355.2272. For City of Boca Raton occupational licenses, call 561.393.7937.
Passports
For first-time passports, you will need an original birth certificate, driver's license and two passport photos. For renewal, only the old passport and new photos are necessary.
Effective 2/1/08:
Passport Book (age 16 and older) $75 + $25 Execution Fee = $100
Passport Book (under 16 yrs. old) $60 + $25 Execution Fee = $85
New: Please note that Passport Cards can only be used for land and sea travel between the US and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean (wallet size).
Passport Card (age 16 and older) $20 + $25 Execution Fee = $45
Passport Card (under 16 yrs. old) $10 + $25 Execution Fee = $35
For information and forms: www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Passport offices: South County Courthouse, 200 W. Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach
Boca Raton Post Office, 170 NE 2nd St. (Mizner Park), Boca Raton [Must call for an appt. 561.417.3204]
Social Security
Social Security Office is located in Delray Square, 14548 S. Military Tr. (NE corner of Atlantic Ave), Delray Beach 561.495.4198
*Please note that the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce does not issue licenses of any kind.
*Info updated: May 2010
