Florida’s Construction Lien Law requires a recorded Notice of Commencement before work begins on most improvements to real property. In Palm Beach County, the NOC has to be complete, correctly notarized, and recorded with the Clerk before your first inspection.
Swift E-Recording lets you submit an eligible Palm Beach County Notice of Commencement electronically from your office, your truck, or the jobsite. Track the submission and receive the recorded copy in your Swift-E account.
A Notice of Commencement puts your project on the public record and establishes when work began. It identifies the property, the owner or lessee, the contractor, the lender if there is one, the surety if a payment bond applies, and the person designated to receive notices.
For the owner, a properly recorded NOC preserves protection under the Construction Lien Law and limits exposure to paying twice for the same improvement. For the contractor, the recorded NOC is a permit prerequisite, and the certified copy posted at the site is what allows the first inspection to move forward.
Two pieces of information come from the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser rather than from your job file:
Property Control Number (PCN), also shown as Tax Folio No: Required at the top of the form alongside the state and county.
Legal description: Subdivision and lot, block, and similar detail, or section, township, and range, plus the complete property address.
Both are available on the Property Appraiser’s website at pbcpao.gov. If the legal description runs long, attach it on a separate page and note on the form that the legal description is attached.
All information must be typewritten or legibly printed. Items 1, 2, 3(a), and 4(a) are always required. Items 5 through 9 are completed only when they apply to the job.
The "Prepared by" statement needs to be on the top left hand corner of the document. Fill it out providing the name of the person who prepared the document — not the company name — followed by the complete mailing address.
The legal description and complete address, pulled from the Property Appraiser's records.
RequiredThe type of work being performed on the property.
RequiredFull legal name of the owner or lessee of record, with complete address including city, state, and ZIP. If the lessee contracted for the improvement, the lessee's information goes here.
Required · 3(a)Contractor name and complete address with city, state, and ZIP. If the property owner is acting as their own contractor, write OWNER/BUILDER.
Required · 4(a)Applies when a payment bond is in place. List the guarantor's name, address, phone number, and the bond amount. A copy of the payment bond must be attached to the instrument.
If ApplicableThe person or business financing the work. List name, complete address, and phone number.
If ApplicableThe person within Florida the owner has designated to receive notices and documents for the property. List name, complete address, and phone number.
If ApplicableIf a lienor's notice is filed, list anyone other than the owner who should receive a copy. Include name, address, and phone number.
If ApplicableA Notice of Commencement expires one year from the recorded date unless a different date is specified on the form.
If ApplicableThe printed name must match the name in item 3(a). If someone is signing for a business or trust, list their name and their title within that business or trust.
The owner's signature must be notarized before the Notice of Commencement is recorded. The person signing must appear before a notary public, who completes the acknowledgment portion of the form and affixes their seal. Current government-issued photo identification is required, such as a driver's license.
The "Prepared by" statement needs to be on the top left hand corner of the document. Fill it out providing the name of the person who prepared the document — not the company name — followed by the complete mailing address.
Log in and upload your completed document, then submit it in the portal. From your phone, your truck, anywhere.
Your document is transmitted electronically to your County Clerk the same business day.
Once the County records and stamps it, the recorded document returns to your account with the official Clerk's file number, ready to download and post on the job.
Submit Notices of Commencement from your office or jobsite.
Reduce trips to the Clerk's office in West Palm Beach.
Track the status of each submission in real time.
Receive recorded copies electronically.
View County Clerk rejection information.
Manage NOCs across multiple projects and permits.
Access the platform from a phone, tablet, or computer.
Get responsive client support when you need it.
The PCN, also shown as Tax Folio No., is available on the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s website at pbcpao.gov. The legal description comes from the same source.
Yes. Eligible Notices of Commencement can be submitted electronically to the Palm Beach County Clerk through your Swift E-Recording account.
The owner contracting the improvements signs it, and the printed name must match item 3(a) on the form. If someone signs for a business or trust, they list their title within that entity.
Yes. The signature must be notarized before the document is recorded, and the notary must complete the acknowledgment and affix a seal that does not cover any information on the form.
Write OWNER/BUILDER in the contractor field, item 4.
One year from the recorded date, unless a different expiration date is specified on the form.
A new Notice of Commencement has to be recorded. Payments made after the NOC expires can cost the owner protection under the Construction Lien Law.
Yes. Every permit issued requires its own recorded Notice of Commencement.
The owner records the NOC before work begins. A Notice to Owner is served by subcontractors and material suppliers within 45 days of starting work to preserve their lien rights. Different documents, different parties, different points in the job.
Swift E-Recording supports contractors across a wide range of construction trades. Submit eligible Notices of Commencement, terminations, construction liens, lien releases, and other project documents electronically.
Roofing, general, HVAC, window and door, solar, pool, remodeling, electrical, plumbing, concrete and masonry, restoration, and specialty trade contractors working throughout Palm Beach County.
Handle Palm Beach County recording for every contractor you represent from a single account.
Owners contracting improvements directly, including owner/builders, can submit their own eligible Notice of Commencement.
Record eligible documents for impact windows, exterior doors, and installation projects.
Submit eligible construction documents for residential and commercial solar installations.
Manage recording needs for pool construction, renovations, decking, and enclosures.
Submit eligible documents for renovations, additions, and whole-property remodeling projects.
Record eligible documents for panel replacements, wiring projects, and electrical upgrades.
Submit supported documents for repiping, water heaters, and other plumbing projects.
Record eligible documents for foundations, driveways, structural concrete, and masonry work.
Submit eligible documents for water, fire, storm, and property restoration projects.
Support for eligible fencing, flooring, painting, landscaping, demolition, and other trade documents.
If your project requires a document to be recorded with a supported Florida County Clerk, Swift E-Recording may be able to help.
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View Palm Beach County Services →Submit eligible Notices of Commencement, terminations, construction liens, and releases electronically to the Palm Beach County Clerk.
