Miami Shores, Florida Building Permit Guide

Permits in Miami Shores come from the Miami Shores Village Building Department at 10050 NE 2nd Avenue, and applications are filed in the Village’s EnerGov Citizen Self-Service (CSS) portal with two copies of every submittal document. Most permits are processed in 5 to 10 business days, and a residential addition carries a $200 application fee at submittal.

What requires a permit in Miami Shores?

The Village states that permits are required for construction, alteration, conversion, repair, enlargement, movement and demolition of buildings and structures. Its FAQ identifies new residential and commercial construction, additions and remodeling, re-roofing, solar work, electrical upgrades, gas testing, fire sprinklers, signs, pools, decks, patio covers and carports among common permit scopes.

The Village lists some work that does not need a building permit, such as interior cosmetic work like cabinets and flooring, and sheds under 120 square feet with no electricity. Concrete work is also on that list, but driveways need a right-of-way permit from Public Works.

The Village Code itself exempts painting a single-family home. On larger jobs, each trade is a separate application: the Village’s residential addition checklist lists plumbing, electrical, mechanical, pool, driveway, septic, roof, windows and doors, and paint as their own permits.

Miami Shores building department: who handles permitting

Miami Shores permit types and local forms

The Building Forms page has the general MSV Permit Application plus separate applications for mechanical work, emergency mechanical work, re-occupancy, painting and storage pods. Requirement sheets explain what to submit for awnings, docks and seawalls, sheds, decks, trellises and pergolas, demolition, kitchen and bathroom renovations, windows, doors and shutters, each fence type, septic systems, solar, pools and spas, driveways and patios, and residential additions. The Roofing Permit Package is separate.

Other forms include the Owner Builder Disclosure Statement, Notice of Commencement, Survey Affidavit, Special Inspector Form, Substantial Improvement Form, Change of Contractor form, the 30-day temporary electric service affidavit and the 2026 private provider forms. Driveway and right-of-way work uses the Public Works Permit Application with its covenant.

Contractor registration: the Building Department keeps each contractor’s licence and insurance on file for a $50 initial fee and a $30 annual update. Licences and insurance must be current before an inspection can be requested; send renewals to BuildingDepartment@msvfl.gov.

Permit fees and payment

Village Council sets building fees by resolution under Section 6-7 of the Village Code, and the fee is paid at submittal. Published charges include:

• $200 application fee due at submittal for a residential addition, per the Village’s 2024 checklist
• $600 for a one-time, non-refundable dry run (preliminary) review
• $85 for a re-inspection after a second rejection
• $50 to register a contractor and $30 a year to update the file
• Double the normal permit fee for work started without a permit

Miami-Dade County impact fees for additions, alterations and new construction are paid to the county, not the Village, and proof of payment goes in the permit package.

Trade permits and inspection days

Inspection days differ by trade. Building, roofing and electrical inspections are available Monday through Friday, plumbing inspections Monday through Thursday, and mechanical inspections only on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Plumbing, electrical and mechanical plans for an addition are submitted as 2 sealed sets each; mechanical plans drawn by an AC company need an architect’s or engineer’s stamped approval. An emergency mechanical application is available for urgent AC replacements.

Application and correction-package requirements

All permit applications must include 2 copies of the submittal documents. Apply through CSS after setting up an account; the office also takes submittals Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A residential addition package needs:

• The completed, notarised building permit application and proof of ownership (recorded warranty deed)
• Two copies of a current signed and sealed survey, and an elevation certificate if in a flood zone
• Two plot plans showing setbacks, and energy calculations
• Two sealed sets each of structural plans and calculations, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical plans
• Two sets of product approvals for windows and exterior doors
• DERM approval, health department approval where septic work is involved, and proof the Miami-Dade impact fee is paid
• The Notice of Commencement and contractor licence and insurance copies

Corrections are not accepted while any plan review discipline is still pending, and partial correction packages are not accepted: address and submit every disapproved trade’s comments together.

How to apply: 6-step Miami Shores process

Miami Shores inspections

Inspection requests submitted before 3:30 p.m. are scheduled for the following available business day for that trade. Inspectors work in the field from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The permit card and approved plans must be available at the site. Work must be accessible and exposed for inspection. Re-roof inspections require a ladder to be set and secured by the applicant.

The online request form asks for the permit number, job address, inspection type and date; same-day appointments are not offered. To cancel, call 305-795-2204.

Review times, permit life and local rules

The Village says most permits are processed within 5 to 10 business days. Residential addition, remodel and new-home applications have up to 15 business days for a completeness check, then 10 business days for plan review. Commercial permits have a 15-business-day review period.

Permits are valid for 180 days, and each approved inspection extends the permit for another 180 days. A permit with no approved inspection for 180 days becomes invalid.

Floor elevations: under Section 6-9 of the Village Code, a new home or change of use must have its lowest floor at least 8 inches above the crown of the abutting road (4 inches for nonresidential buildings), or the flood-zone elevation if that is higher. New structures, additions and moved buildings also need a registered land surveyor’s certificate and plan.

Construction hours: work is allowed Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; no work on Sundays or holidays.

Driveways and drainage: a sketch of parking, driveways and drainage is required before building, paving or grading permits are issued, and driveways need a Public Works right-of-way permit.

Florida building code

The Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), has applied statewide since 31 December 2023; the Florida Building Commission has proposed the 9th Edition (2026) to take effect on 31 December 2026. Florida permit rules

Miami Shores permit search and official resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Inspection requests
• Building Department FAQ
• Citizen Self-Service / online services
• Building Department
• Florida Building Commission
• Miami Shores building forms and requirement sheets
• Miami Shores residential addition permit checklist
• Miami Shores dry run and preliminary review
• Miami Shores outside agency requirements
• Miami Shores Village Code of Ordinances

Miami Shores permit FAQs

Can permits be submitted online?

Yes. The Village's Citizen Self-Service portal accepts permit applications and supporting documents and can be used to check plan-review status.

Can I submit one correction while another trade is still pending?

No. Miami Shores states that corrections are not accepted while disciplines remain pending and that all disapproved trade comments must be addressed together.

When is the inspection cutoff?

Submit the request by 3:30 p.m. for the next available business day for that trade.

How long does a permit take in Miami Shores?

Most permits are processed in 5 to 10 business days. Residential additions and new homes allow up to 15 business days for completeness and 10 for plan review; commercial review takes up to 15 business days.

Do I need a permit for a shed or fence?

Sheds of 120 sq ft or more, or with electricity, need a permit. For residential fences, the Village asks you to call 305-795-2204 for guidelines and publishes requirement sheets for each fence type.

Do I need a permit to paint my house?

Not for a single-family home; the Village Code exempts it. For other painting work, the Village publishes a separate paint permit application.

What does a re-inspection cost?

$85 after a second rejection.

Simplify Miami Shores permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Florida. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Miami Shores permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.