The City of Sunny Isles Beach Building Department, on the 3rd floor of the Government Center at 18070 Collins Avenue, issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for the city, and every application is filed online through its permit portal. Residential permits are charged 2–2.75% of the job value, and inspections requested before 3:00 p.m. are typically done the next business day.
What requires a building permit in Sunny Isles Beach?
The Building Department issues permits for new construction and renovations. City staff can help with any stage of the construction process by phone, email or in person, so ask the department if you are not sure whether your work needs a permit.
Sunny Isles Beach publishes permit checklists for common scopes, including A/C replacement, flooring, new construction and interior remodeling, driveways and sidewalks, exterior painting, fences, patio decks, pools, storm shutters, windows and doors.
| Permit / scope | What the city publishes | Local document or review note |
|---|---|---|
| A/C replacement | Mechanical permit package | City lists permit application, ownership documents, equipment/AHRI information, mounting details and structural calculations; condo work requires association approval. |
| Flooring in condominiums | Flooring permit | City lists association approval, permit application, ownership proof, unit floor plan and sound-control specifications. |
| Interior remodeling / new construction | Building permit with plans | City lists two sets of signed and sealed plans; plans must be reviewed and approved by WASD, DERM, Miami-Dade County and the Fire Department. |
| Fence | Fence permit | City lists recent survey/site plan, fence type/height and engineered wind information for solid fences. |
| Pool | Building plus trade permits | City specifically lists building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits for pool work. |
| Windows / doors / shutters | Permit with product approval and wind design documentation | City lists Miami-Dade product-control approval and site-specific wind-pressure calculations. |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Sunny Isles Beach building department: who handles permitting
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Building Department | 18070 Collins Avenue, 3rd Floor Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 |
| Phone / Email | 305-947-2150 info.building@sibfl.net |
| Counter hours | Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Walk-in number by 3:00 p.m. |
| Fax | 305-792-1567 |
| Apply and request inspections | Online Permit Portal (SmartGov) |
The Building Department became fully digital on January 2, 2024, and offers its services online.
Sunny Isles Beach permit types and digital filing
The building-permit process is fully digital. The city says all permit applications must be submitted online through the applicant’s portal account. That account covers plan review, comments, permit issuance, inspections and permit closeout.
Many of the city’s checklists require an approval letter from the condominium association for work in a condo building.
Condominium rule published by the city: Sunny Isles Beach states that a licensed contractor is required for work in a condominium building. The city describes owner-builder eligibility only for qualifying single-family or duplex residential projects under Florida law.
Sunny Isles Beach building permit fees
The city publishes valuation-based residential and commercial fee tiers for estimating building-permit fees. It also cautions that the table does not include every charge that may apply.
| Category | Published fee basis |
|---|---|
| Residential — up to $1,000 job value | $25 minimum |
| Residential — $1,000 to $50,000 | 2.75% of job value |
| Residential — $50,000 to $100,000 | 2.50% of job value |
| Residential — over $100,000 | 2.00% of job value |
| Commercial — up to $1,000 job value | $25 minimum |
| Commercial — $1,000 to $100,000 | 2.75% of job value |
| Commercial — $100,000 to $1,000,000 | 2.50% of job value |
| Commercial — $1,000,000 to $100,000,000 | 2.00% of job value |
| Commercial — over $100,000,000 | 0.50% of job value |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →The city says additional charges include DBPR, Community Affairs, Training and Technology fees, and that the typical minimum permit fee per trade is $125. The amount due is the one invoiced through the portal.
Specialized permitting service: for interior remodeling permits, the city offers a paid service with a pre-construction meeting with the Building Official or a designee, counter service by appointment, expedited plan review, help setting up the online account and a concierge through permitting and inspections. It costs $1,000 or 1% of the total job cost, whichever is higher, on top of the permit fees; contact the Building Services Manager at 305-792-1790.
Sunny Isles Beach trade permits and outside reviews
The city expressly states that separate permits are required for electrical, plumbing and heating/air-conditioning work. Pool work is one clear example: the city’s pool checklist calls for building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits.
| Scope | Authority | Local filing / inspection note |
|---|---|---|
| Building | City of Sunny Isles Beach Building Department | City issues permits for new construction and renovations. |
| Electrical | City Building Department | Separate electrical permit required when electrical work is part of the project. |
| Plumbing | City Building Department | Separate plumbing permit required when plumbing work is part of the project. |
| Mechanical / A/C | City Building Department | Separate HVAC/mechanical permit; city publishes an A/C replacement checklist. |
| Outside agency review | WASD, DERM, Miami-Dade County and Fire Department | The city’s new construction and interior remodeling checklist says plans must be reviewed and approved by these agencies. |
| Public Works scope | City Public Works permitting where applicable | The Building Department page links separately to Public Works permits. |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to apply for a Sunny Isles Beach permit
Use the city’s permit checklists or contact the department at 305-947-2150. Identify every building and trade permit before submitting.
All permit applications must be submitted online through your portal account.
Submit the city checklist items for the permit type: ownership records, plans, product approvals, association letters, calculations and outside-agency approvals as applicable.
Answer the plan reviewer’s comments with corrected documents through the portal.
Pay the fees the city invoices through the portal.
The contractor requests progress inspections throughout the job and the final inspections needed to close the permit.
Sunny Isles Beach inspections and scheduling
The contractor is responsible for requesting progress inspections throughout the job, through the city’s online inspection request. Inspections requested before 3:00 p.m. are typically performed the next business day, but the date is not guaranteed if fees are pending or contractor licences are out of date.
A business moving into a space also needs a Certificate of Use inspection, which checks that the use is allowed in the zoning district.
Local Sunny Isles Beach details that matter
Building recertification: buildings must be recertified at 30 years old and every 10 years after that. Condo and co-op buildings three stories or taller within three miles of the coast, built in 1998 or later, recertify at 25 years. Single-family homes, duplexes and buildings with an occupant load of 10 or less and up to 2,000 sq ft are exempt. After the city’s Notice of Required Recertification, the engineer’s or architect’s structural and electrical reports are due within 90 days, and any repairs must be finished within 150 days under permits pulled by a licensed contractor. Buildings that miss the deadline are referred to the Unsafe Structures section.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Flood zones: look up a property’s flood zone, Base Flood Elevation and Design Flood Elevation on the city’s Forerunner site, which also shows past improvements and damage that count toward the substantial improvement threshold. The city keeps elevation certificates for floodplain buildings it has permitted since 1998. Any alteration to a building or land needs a permit, including re-grading or filling in the floodplain.
Right-of-way: work in public streets and sidewalks is permitted separately by Public Works.
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
Sunny Isles Beach permit FAQ
Is Sunny Isles Beach permitting fully online?
Yes. The city says its building permit process is fully digital and all permit applications must be submitted through the online portal account.
Can a condo owner act as an owner-builder?
The city states that condominium work must use a licensed contractor. Its owner-builder discussion is limited to qualifying single-family or duplex residential projects under Florida law.
Are electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits separate?
Yes. Sunny Isles Beach explicitly states that separate permits are required for electrical, plumbing and heating/air-conditioning work.
How are fees calculated?
The city publishes residential and commercial job-value percentage tiers and warns that other fees can apply. The city invoice is the final amount due.
How are inspections scheduled?
The contractor requests inspections online. Requests made before 3:00 p.m. are typically performed the next business day, but dates are not guaranteed.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Does the city require association approval for condo work?
Yes. Many of the city’s checklists require an approval letter from the condominium association on its letterhead, dated and signed by the board.
How much is a building permit in Sunny Isles Beach?
Residential work is charged 2.75% of the job value up to $50,000, 2.50% up to $100,000 and 2.00% above that, with a $25 minimum; the typical minimum per trade is $125, plus state, training and technology fees.
Can I pay to speed up a remodel permit?
Yes. The specialized permitting service for interior remodels, with expedited review and a concierge, costs $1,000 or 1% of the job cost, whichever is higher.
Does my condo building need recertification?
Yes, at 30 years old and every 10 years after; coastal condo buildings three stories or taller built in 1998 or later start at 25 years.
Sunny Isles Beach 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.
- Florida Statutes §713.135
- Florida Building Commission
- Inspections
- Building Permits & Requirements
- Building Department
- Sunny Isles Beach online permit portal
- Sunny Isles Beach specialized permitting services
- Sunny Isles Beach building recertification program
- Sunny Isles Beach flood protection
- Sunny Isles Beach flood zone lookup (Forerunner)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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More Florida permitting guides
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Read guide →Suwannee County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Sweetwater Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Sunny Isles Beach permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.