The City of Sunny Isles Beach Building Department issues building permits inside city limits. It handles permit applications, inspections, building recertification and flood protection, and its permit process is fully digital.
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 →Who handles permitting in Sunny Isles Beach?
| 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. |
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.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →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 |
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.
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.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| 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 not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →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.
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.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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.
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.
Official Sunny Isles Beach permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Florida Statutes §713.135
- Florida Building Commission
- Inspections
- Building Permits & Requirements
- Building Department
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More Florida permitting guides
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.