The City of Miami is the urban core of South Florida, and building permits inside city limits are issued by the City of Miami Building Department — not Miami-Dade County. Because Miami sits in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, the city enforces both the Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade County's code, including HVHZ product approvals.
This City of Miami building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the iBuild and ePlan submission process, HVHZ product approvals, trade permits, and inspections — so your downtown- or neighborhood-Miami project starts clean.
This guide covers work inside the City of Miami. The City of Miami Building Department permits only projects within city limits. Surrounding jurisdictions — unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah, and Doral — each have their own building departments with separate portals and fees.
What requires a building permit in City of Miami?
Under the Florida Building Code (§105.1) and Chapter 8 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, a permit is required before you erect, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures and systems. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New buildings, additions, and commercial tenant build-outs
- Structural / load-bearing alterations, demolition, and relocation
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior cladding
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC changeouts, refrigeration, and boilers
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Pools and spas, signs, fences, and seawalls
- Solar PV and battery storage systems
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and like-for-like cosmetic work
- Minor repairs that don't alter structure or systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Starting work before your permit is issued triggers double permit fees plus penalties in the City of Miami. Paying the doubled fee is not a defense against enforcement — apply and receive issuance first.
Who handles permitting in City of Miami?
Permitting inside city limits is administered by the City of Miami Building Department from the Miami Riverside Center. Reviews route across Building, Zoning, Fire, and Public Works as the project's scope requires. Note that contractors must register with the city before initiating a project.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Miami Riverside Center, 444 SW 2nd Avenue, 4th Floor, Miami, FL 33130 |
| Phone | (305) 416-1100 (Building Department call center) |
| building@miamigov.com / eplanbuilding@miamigov.com | |
| Online portal | iBuild (apply/manage) + ePlan (electronic plan review) |
| Contractor registration | Required before starting; free, ~2–3 business days (Ord. 14279) |
| Enforced code | Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), incl. HVHZ; Miami-Dade County Code |
Apply and manage every permit in iBuild. Building permit applications, plan uploads through ePlan, fees, and inspection scheduling all run through the city's online system — fees are calculated in iBuild at application.
City of Miami building permit cost
City of Miami building fees are set by Section 10-18 of the City Code and calculated in iBuild based on the type and valuation of work, with separate fees for each trade. Additional surcharges (such as solid waste) and a state surcharge may apply.
Because the schedule is adjusted periodically, confirm the current figure in iBuild or against the City of Miami fee schedule before budgeting. Work started without a permit is charged double.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building / construction fee | Calculated in iBuild from type and valuation of work; minimum fees apply |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade unless rolled into a master permit |
| Surcharges | Solid waste and other applicable city surcharges |
| State surcharge | DBPR surcharge added per Florida statute |
| Contractor registration | Free; required before starting (Ord. 14279) |
| Work-without-permit penalty | Double the normal permit fee plus penalties |
Want a precise number for a specific City of Miami project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
City of Miami trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and licensed contractor, each filed against the master building permit in iBuild.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations. The City of Miami enforces the electrical provisions of the Florida Building Code with HVHZ amendments.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping. Fees follow the §10-18 schedule with a per-permit minimum.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, refrigeration, and boilers. Life-safety systems (fire alarm, medical gas) are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools and spas, signs, fences, and seawalls are permitted separately. In the HVHZ, roofing and exterior products must carry a current Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or Florida Product Approval — verify NOAs before ordering materials.
Verify your contractor's license. Confirm the contractor is licensed in Florida (the Florida DBPR at (850) 487-1395), registered with Miami-Dade County, and registered with the City of Miami before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in City of Miami
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit and confirm the parcel is inside City of Miami limits — not unincorporated Miami-Dade, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, or another city.
Register & prepare documents
Ensure your contractor is registered with the city, then assemble the application, valuation, signed/sealed plans, energy calcs, and HVHZ product approvals (NOAs) where applicable.
Submit through iBuild / ePlan
Create or use your iBuild profile, generate the application, and upload plans through ePlan for electronic review.
Plan review & corrections
Building, Zoning, Fire, and Public Works review per scope. Upload revisions promptly if comments are issued; resubmittals re-enter review.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated fees in iBuild and download the permit. Record and post a Notice of Commencement (jobs over $5,000) and keep approved documents on site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections in iBuild using your permit number. Clear all inspections to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy or Completion.
Inspections in City of Miami
Schedule inspections in iBuild — select the required type (footing, framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, final) and a date, typically within 1–2 business days. Check iBuild after 7:30 a.m. on inspection day for assignment details.
Post the permit and Notice of Commencement on site with approved documents available. A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy.
Official City of Miami permitting resources
- 🏛️ City of Miami Building Department
- 💻 iBuild permit portal
- 💵 Building permit fee schedule (§10-18)
- 📘 Florida Building Code (8th Ed.)
- ✅ Miami-Dade NOA / product approval
- 🪪 DBPR license verification
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The City of Miami's HVHZ requirements, NOA product approvals, contractor registration, and multi-department review make it one of Florida's most demanding municipal jurisdictions. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for the City of Miami — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know iBuild and ePlan, so your Miami submissions go in clean and move faster.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for City of Miami because we deliver:
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Florida permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the City of Miami Building Department before filing. This is not legal advice.