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Delray Beach, Florida · checked Oct. 20, 2026

Living in Delray Beach, Florida

The short answer

Living in Delray Beach, Florida means a city of 70,140 people on July 1, 2024, per the Census Bureau, in Palm Beach County, with Atlantic Avenue as its downtown spine. The City runs the beach, parking and Freebee; the CRA runs the GreenMarket; the DDA runs downtown events. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and beachfront homes follow sea turtle lighting rules.

Last checked October 20, 2026

Aerial view over a low-rise town of white and pastel buildings and dense green tree canopy, with a white multi-storey office tower in the centre foreground and straight streets running toward the horizon.
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0 (cropped)

This page is about the practical side of living in Delray Beach, Florida: how big the city is, who runs what downtown, and the rules that matter on the coast. It uses public sources only, each linked, checked Oct. 20, 2026. It does not cover home prices, schools or market figures.

How many people live in Delray Beach?

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 estimates put Delray Beach at 70,140 people on July 1, 2024, up from an April 1, 2020 estimates base of 66,846. Palm Beach County as a whole was 1,582,055 on July 1, 2024, up from 1,492,202. For scale, the Delray Beach Historical Society says Delray’s population was first counted in the 1910 U.S. Census, at 904 people. Source: Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 estimates.

Who runs what

Three public bodies shape life around Atlantic Avenue, and knowing which is which saves phone calls.

  • The City of Delray Beach runs the beach and Ocean Rescue, parking, the Freebee ride service and the City Code. Beach parking permits come from Park Delray Beach, 95 NE 1st Ave., (561) 265-2100.
  • The Delray Beach CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) was established by the City Commission on June 18, 1985, it says. It runs the GreenMarket. Office: 20 N Swinton Avenue, phone 561-276-8640.
  • The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) produces First Friday Art Walk, Art and Jazz on the Avenue, Savor the Avenue and Restaurant Month, and runs the Downtown Safety Ambassadors. Office: 350 SE 1st St, phone 561-243-1077.

The city itself dates from May 11, 1927, when the Town of Delray and the Town of Delray Beach united, according to the Historical Society. The National Civic League lists Delray Beach as an All-America City winner in 1993, 2001 and 2017. Read more on our history page.

Hurricane season

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. During a storm watch or warning, follow official instructions from Palm Beach County and the City.

Beachfront homes and sea turtle lighting

If a home faces the beach, its lights matter. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sets out three golden rules of beachfront lighting:

  • Keep it low: fixtures mounted as low as possible, with the lowest wattage needed.
  • Keep it long: long-wavelength light only, 560 nm or greater, which means amber, orange or red.
  • Keep it shielded: fully downward-directed, with the bulb, lamp or glowing lens shielded from the beach.

FWC also says to close blinds or curtains to shield interior lights, and to keep decorative lights off until nesting season ends on October 31. FWC’s table of local lighting ordinances lists one for Delray Beach in the City code, so check the City’s rules before you change outdoor lights on a beachfront property.

  • FWC's three golden rules of beachfront lighting: Keep it LOW (fixtures mounted as low as possible, lowest wattage needed); Keep it LONG (only long-wavelength light, 560 nm or greater: amber, orange or red); Keep it SHIELDED (fully downward-directed, with the bulb, lamp or glowing lens shielded from the beach). FWC also says to close blinds or curtains to shield interior lights, and that decorative lights should stay off until after sea turtle nesting season ends, October 31. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Sea Turtles and Lights
  • FWC's table of local sea turtle lighting ordinances lists Delray Beach's ordinance as Title 9, Chapter 91 of the City code, adopted/updated 1987/2001. (A search-engine quote of City outreach material mentions Ordinance 11-14, adopted May 2014, for beachfront lighting; not verified.) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Lighting Ordinances by County/Municipality

Beach parking permits

The City says beach parking permits run October 1 to September 30 and are valid in the City lots on A1A: Sandoway Park, Anchor Park, Ingraham Park, Atlantic Dunes and Orange Grove/North Lot. Permits come from Park Delray Beach. Ask that office who qualifies and the current price; we did not confirm either. Downtown garage and meter rates are on the parking page.

  • The City says beach parking permits run October 1 to September 30 and are valid in the City lots on A1A: Sandoway Park, Anchor Park, Ingraham Park, Atlantic Dunes and Orange Grove/North Lot. Permits come from Park Delray Beach, 95 NE 1st Ave., (561) 265-2100. City of Delray Beach: Delray Municipal Beach facility page

Everyday downtown

Sunny street view of a continuous row of three- and four-storey stucco buildings in peach, pink and cream, with orange and striped awnings over ground-floor restaurants and shops; SUVs are parked and driving along the street in front.
Shops and apartments on NE 2nd Avenue in the Pineapple Grove district, April 2026. Photo: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Getting around: Freebee is free, east of I-95 to A1A, Sunday to Wednesday 11 AM to 9 PM and Thursday to Saturday 11 AM to 11 PM. Palm Tran Route 81 runs along Atlantic Monday to Saturday. See getting here.
  • Saturday market: the GreenMarket runs at Old School Square, 9 AM to 2 PM, from Oct. 24, 2026 to May 22, 2027. The CRA says SNAP is accepted and Fresh Access Bucks add up to $40 every market day for local produce at participating vendors. See the GreenMarket page.
  • The beach: lifeguards 365 days a year, no dogs on the sand, and leashed dogs allowed on the A1A sidewalk strip. See the beach guide.
  • Open containers: City Code bans drinking on streets, sidewalks, the beach and in parks, except for seated patrons of a permitted sidewalk cafe.

Thinking about a move?

Atlantic Avenue Guide is published by LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage. If you want to talk about buying or selling in Delray Beach, the contact details are at the foot of this page. This guide stays a guide: we do not publish listings or price figures on it.

Living in Delray Beach FAQ

How many people live in Delray Beach?

The Census Bureau's Vintage 2024 estimates put Delray Beach at 70,140 people on July 1, 2024, from an April 2020 base of 66,846.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 City and Town Population Estimates, Florida (sub-est2024_12.csv)

What is the population of Palm Beach County?

The Census Bureau's Vintage 2024 estimates put Palm Beach County, Florida at 1,582,055 people on July 1, 2024, up from an April 1, 2020 estimates base of 1,492,202.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 City and Town Population Estimates, Florida (sub-est2024_12.csv)

When is hurricane season in Delray Beach?

NOAA's National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Climatology

What are the sea turtle lighting rules for beachfront homes?

FWC's three golden rules: keep it low (fixtures mounted low, lowest wattage needed), keep it long (only amber, orange or red light of 560 nm or greater) and keep it shielded (fully downward-directed and shielded from the beach). FWC also says to close blinds or curtains and to keep decorative lights off until nesting season ends on October 31.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Sea Turtles and Lights

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Delray Beach (official site)

Living here

Like a day on the Avenue? See what living near it looks like.

LPE Realty LLC, a licensed Florida real estate brokerage serving South Florida, is behind this guide. If a Saturday at the GreenMarket or an evening on Atlantic Avenue has you thinking about a home in Delray Beach, talk to us about buying or selling here.

Visit LPE Realty LLC Call LPE Realty LLC (561) 652-6917

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