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Residential-Only Barrier Island
A three-mile barrier island town between Delray Beach and Boca Raton with no commercial district, its own police force, and oceanfront estates from $2 million to $25 million+. Direct beach access, full-service condo buildings, and Intracoastal waterfront with private docks.
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487
Highland Beach, 33487

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Highland Beach is a three-mile barrier island town in southern Palm Beach County, never more than a quarter-mile wide, situated between Delray Beach to the north and Boca Raton to the south. Incorporated in 1949, the town of approximately 4,000 year-round residents has no commercial district, no retail, and no short-term rentals. It is governed by strict development standards and served by its own police department.
The real estate market splits between oceanfront condominiums and single-family waterfront estates. Buildings like Toscana, Boca Highland Beach Club, Dalton Place, and Coronado line the Atlantic side with private beach access and on-site management teams. On the Intracoastal side, single-family estates with private docks trade from $2 million to $8 million. Direct oceanfront estates along Ocean Boulevard are the island’s most limited and highest-priced segment.
Highland Beach’s appeal is structural rather than aspirational: residential-only zoning that cannot be reversed, a narrow geography that places every property within walking distance of either the ocean or the Intracoastal, and a town government that has consistently prioritized residential character over growth. Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue dining is five minutes north; Boca Raton’s Mizner Park is five minutes south. Palm Beach International Airport is 25 minutes away.
The Highland Beach Lifestyle
Beach access, building services, and proximity to Delray Beach and Boca Raton's dining and cultural scenes.

Three miles of Atlantic coastline. Most condo buildings maintain private beach clubs with attendants, chairs, and dedicated access points for residents.

Top buildings offer pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, spas, and concierge services. Toscana's staffing and amenity package is comparable to what buyers find at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis branded buildings elsewhere in the county.

Highland Beach funds its own police department for a town of 4,000. Most condo buildings add 24-hour lobby security, gated vehicle entry, and controlled elevator access.

Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue and Boca Raton's Mizner Park are each a short drive from the island. Palm Beach International Airport is 25 minutes north; Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International is 35 minutes south.
Market Intelligence
Pricing tiers, property types, and supply dynamics across Highland Beach's three market segments.
Highland Beach’s real estate market is shaped by a constraint that cannot change: three miles of barrier island with no remaining developable land. Every transaction is resale. New supply comes only through teardowns or condo renovation, both of which face the town’s strict permitting and development review process.
The oceanfront condo market is anchored by Toscana (2003 to 2006), where units range from $2 million to over $12 million for residences of 3,000 to 8,000+ square feet. Boca Highland Beach Club, Dalton Place, and Coronado are older buildings (1980s to 2000s) that have undergone varying degrees of renovation; Boca Highland trades from $1.5 million to $5 million, Dalton Place from $1 million to $4 million, and Coronado from $800,000 to $3 million. Direct oceanfront estates along Ocean Boulevard rarely trade below $10 million and have exceeded $25 million for properties with significant beach frontage.
Intracoastal estates with private docks and deep-water access range from $2 million to $8 million depending on lot size, water frontage, and renovation level. Highland Beach draws buyers who prioritize quiet over social infrastructure. The buyer pool skews toward long-term holders; turnover in top buildings and oceanfront estates is measured in years, not months, and off-market transactions are common.
Common Questions
Key insights for buyers considering Highland Beach.
$2 million to over $25 million for the properties most relevant to luxury buyers, based on BeachesMLS closed transaction data. Oceanfront condos at Toscana range from $2 million to $12 million for residences of 3,000 to 8,000+ square feet with private elevator entry, ocean-view terraces, and full building services. Boca Highland Beach Club and Dalton Place trade from $1.5 million to $5 million. Direct oceanfront estates along Ocean Boulevard, the island’s most limited inventory, trade at the top of the range.
Intracoastal estates range from $2 million to $8 million, typically offering 75 to 120 feet of water frontage, private docks that can accommodate vessels up to 50 to 60 feet (depending on the lot), and direct Intracoastal access without fixed-bridge restrictions to the ocean. Below the $2 million threshold, older condo buildings offer entry points starting around $800,000, but the market’s character and long-term positioning are defined by the upper tier.
The four buildings that define the luxury segment are Toscana, Boca Highland Beach Club, Dalton Place, and Coronado. Toscana (2003 to 2006, three towers) is the top tier, with units from 3,000 to 8,000+ square feet, private elevator lobbies, and a fully staffed beach club. Boca Highland Beach Club (1989, renovated) offers two- to three-bedroom units of 1,800 to 3,000 square feet in an established community with tennis, a large pool complex, and an active resident social calendar. Dalton Place is a boutique building with fewer than 50 units and larger floor plans that attract buyers who want space and low density. Coronado underwent renovations in recent years and provides a lower entry point with updated common areas.
Building selection typically comes down to three variables: unit size, service level, and monthly maintenance. Toscana’s fees are the highest, reflecting concierge staffing and beach club operations. Boca Highland’s fees are mid-range. Coronado’s are lower but cover fewer services. All four provide beach access, attended lobbies, and controlled-access parking. Our condos directory includes building-level details across Palm Beach County’s oceanfront market for comparison.
Highland Beach is a residential-only town. There are no storefronts, no restaurants, no bars, and no short-term rental activity within the town limits. Boca Raton and Delray Beach both have walkable downtowns, restaurant scenes, and mixed-use development. Buyers who want to walk to dinner choose Delray or Boca. Buyers who want to drive five minutes to dinner and return to a quiet residential island choose Highland Beach.
The trade-off is tangible: no through-traffic, no bar noise, and no tourist foot traffic, but also no neighborhood coffee shop or corner restaurant. The town’s quarter-mile width means every property is within a short walk of either the ocean or the Intracoastal. The comparison to Palm Beach and Jupiter is worth making: all three offer waterfront living with strong municipal services, but Highland Beach’s residential-only zoning and absence of commercial activity produce a quieter daily experience.
Yes, and they represent the most limited inventory on the island. Direct oceanfront single-family homes along Ocean Boulevard occupy narrow lots between A1A and the Atlantic, typically 75 to 150 feet of ocean frontage on parcels of 10,000 to 20,000+ square feet. Most existing homes are older CBS construction that buyers either renovate extensively or tear down and rebuild, subject to Highland Beach’s permitting process and coastal construction setbacks. These properties rarely trade below $10 million and have closed above $25 million for estates with larger lots, based on BeachesMLS closed data.
Oceanfront estate inventory in Highland Beach turns over slowly; in a typical year, only a handful of properties change hands. Buyers at this level often wait for specific properties rather than choosing from active inventory. The combination of direct oceanfront positioning and a residential-only town with no commercial traffic creates a security and privacy profile that few other Palm Beach County communities can match at this price point.
Toscana is Highland Beach’s top condominium development, consisting of three oceanfront towers completed between 2003 and 2006 at 3720, 3740, and 3760 South Ocean Boulevard. Each tower has its own lobby and elevator bank, with two to four units per floor depending on the building. The development was designed for large-format living: most units are three and four bedrooms with private elevator foyers, separate service entrances, and terraces deep enough to furnish as outdoor rooms. Construction is reinforced concrete with impact glass throughout.
What separates Toscana from the other Highland Beach buildings is scale of service: a fully staffed beach club, 24-hour concierge, valet parking, and an on-site management team that operates more like a hotel than a condo association. Monthly fees reflect this (approximate, subject to change, verify directly with the association). Resale pricing depends heavily on tower, floor, and whether the unit has been renovated; the spread between an original-condition unit and a designer renovation at the same address can exceed $1 million. Our condos directory includes current Toscana inventory alongside other oceanfront buildings in the county.
In the buildings most relevant to luxury buyers, monthly fees range from $1,500 to $4,000+ depending on unit size and building amenity level. Toscana carries the highest fees, reflecting its concierge staffing, beach operations, and extensive common areas. Boca Highland Beach Club and Dalton Place fall in the mid-range. Coronado’s recent renovations may be reflected in updated fee schedules. Fees generally cover building insurance, reserves, common-area maintenance, security, and beach access (approximate, subject to change, verify directly with each building’s association).
Florida’s post-Surfside structural inspection legislation (Senate Bill 4-D, signed in 2022, with key compliance deadlines beginning in 2024) requires coastal buildings meeting age and height thresholds to complete milestone inspections and maintain fully funded reserves. Several Highland Beach buildings fall within these timelines. Buyers should review each building’s reserve study, milestone inspection status, and any pending special assessments during due diligence. Our condos page includes building-level financial details across Palm Beach County.
Highland Beach has appreciated over the past five years, supported by structural factors that are unlikely to change: zero developable land, residential-only zoning that prevents commercial encroachment, and a prohibition on short-term rentals that keeps the buyer pool limited to owner-occupants and long-term renters. The island’s three-mile footprint between Delray Beach and Boca Raton means new supply is functionally impossible.
The same constraints that support pricing also mean thinner resale volume than larger markets; when a well-positioned unit at Toscana or a waterfront estate comes to market at the right price, it moves quickly, but the overall pace of transactions is slower than in Boca Raton or Delray Beach. The luxury condo segment (Toscana, Boca Highland Beach Club) tends to hold value more consistently than older buildings facing reserve funding pressure under Florida’s structural inspection requirements. Our waterfront and oceanfront pages provide broader market context across Palm Beach County. These observations reflect general market trends and should not be construed as investment advice.
Flood insurance premiums for Highland Beach condo units typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 per year depending on floor level, building elevation, and coverage limits. Single-family estates with direct ocean exposure carry higher premiums. The island is a barrier island with most properties in FEMA flood zones AE or VE, so flood insurance is required for any mortgage-financed purchase and strongly recommended for cash buyers. FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 methodology, implemented in 2023, prices policies based on property-specific risk rather than zone designation alone. Verify a specific property’s flood zone at FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.
Windstorm coverage, provided through Citizens Property Insurance or private carriers, adds $3,000 to $10,000+ annually depending on property value and construction specifications. Many Highland Beach condo buildings carry master policies covering common elements, with unit owners responsible for HO-6 (interior and contents) coverage. We coordinate with insurance specialists as part of every transaction to ensure buyers have accurate premium estimates before closing.
No short-term rentals. Highland Beach prohibits rentals of less than three months by town ordinance, and most condo buildings impose stricter minimums of six to twelve months. Some buildings limit the number of lease terms per year or require board approval of tenants. This is a deliberate policy choice that reinforces the permanent-resident character of the community.
For buyers evaluating Highland Beach as a seasonal residence, the rental restrictions mean the property will sit vacant during the off-season rather than generating income. The trade-off is a quieter building with fewer transient occupants year-round. Buyers seeking rental income from a Palm Beach County oceanfront condo should consider buildings with hotel programs or flexible rental policies elsewhere in the county.
Highland Beach is served by the School District of Palm Beach County. Zoned public schools are in the Boca Raton area, and the district’s controlled open enrollment and magnet programs provide additional options. Private schools nearby include Saint Andrew’s School (pre-K through 12, Boca Raton), Pine Crest School (pre-K through 12, Fort Lauderdale), and American Heritage School (pre-K through 12, Delray Beach). School assignments depend on property address and can be verified through the Palm Beach County School District website.
Highland Beach’s year-round population skews older than most Palm Beach County communities, and families with school-age children are a smaller segment of the buyer pool. That said, the town’s location between Boca Raton and Delray Beach puts strong public and private school options within a 10- to 20-minute drive. Our neighborhood guide covers school district details for communities throughout the county.
Highland Beach property taxes follow Palm Beach County’s standard structure. The town levies its own millage on top of county and school district rates. Primary residents who file for homestead exemption receive up to $50,000 in assessed value reduction, and the Save Our Homes provision caps annual assessed value increases at the lower of 3% or the change in CPI. Non-homesteaded properties (seasonal residents, second homes) are assessed at full market value each year with no cap. Details and filing deadlines are available through the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser.
For a $5 million Highland Beach condo, annual property taxes for a non-homesteaded owner typically run $90,000 to $105,000 based on current combined millage rates. Homesteaded owners at the same value pay significantly less after exemptions and the assessment cap take effect over time. Florida has no state income tax and no state estate tax, which factors into the total tax calculus for buyers relocating from higher-tax states. Tax planning should be coordinated with your advisors; we provide the property-specific data they need to run the analysis.
The process begins with identifying whether your priority is an oceanfront condo, an Intracoastal estate with dock access, or a direct oceanfront single-family home, as each segment operates differently. For condos, we evaluate building financials, reserve studies, milestone inspection reports, and pending assessments before recommending a building. For single-family estates, we assess lot dimensions, seawall condition, dock permits, and flood zone classification. Once we identify a target property, we handle the offer, negotiate terms, and engage a title company.
Highland Beach’s small market means off-market opportunities surface regularly; owners in a community like Highland Beach often prefer a quiet sale over a public listing. We maintain relationships with owners and building managers throughout Highland Beach and can identify properties before they reach the MLS. Closing timelines typically run 30 to 45 days for resale properties. Contact our team to discuss current inventory and begin a property-by-property evaluation.
Inventory above $2 million in Highland Beach is limited and turns over quietly. We track every building and estate on the island and can brief you on current availability, pricing history, and off-market opportunities.