Overview
The City of Miami Building Department serves properties inside the City. Miami Beach and unincorporated Miami-Dade have separate authorities. The City applies Florida codes and relevant Miami-Dade construction requirements; that does not make the County the issuer of every City permit.
Jurisdiction
City of Miami; not Miami Beach or unincorporated Miami-Dade
Permit authority
City Building Department
Trades
Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.
Electrical permits and contractor scope
Miami Building / Florida DBPRApplicable Code
2020 NEC with applicable Florida and local administrative provisions.
License Requirement
Verify the Florida electrical contractor category and the business qualifier; specialty or alarm licensing has a limited scope.
License Fee
DBPR electrical-contractor schedule
CEUs
Use the electrical category’s DBPR renewal curriculum
Permit Fee
2026 Exhibit C: residential up to 3 units 0.50% of construction cost; commercial up to $30 million 1%; $110 minimum and $40 application component, before surcharges.
Plan Review Time
Stand-alone versus subsidiary trade routing affects the application; confirm plan requirements.
Common Pitfalls
- Identify whether the electrical permit depends on a master permit.
- Include labor and materials in the declared construction cost.
Permit-to-closeout workflow
Confirm the jurisdiction
Identify City of Miami property, zoning and the complete building/trade scope.
Prepare the application
Choose the master, subsidiary trade or stand-alone application and responsible contractor.
Submit plans
Use iBuild and the City’s ProjectDox instructions for digital drawings and supporting approvals.
Complete review and payment
Resolve comments and obtain each issued permit; other agencies and surcharges can apply.
Arrange inspections
Use the Building Department inspection service and keep approved project documents available.
Complete the certificate
Confirm whether the finished scope needs a certificate of occupancy or completion.
Permit fees and worked estimates
The City identifies R-26-0200, adopted April 23, 2026, as its current schedule. Exhibit C provides actual rates; its template adoption blanks should be read with that official publication statement. These are components, not a complete invoice.
| Trade | Permit fee | License fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical permits and contractor scope | 2026 Exhibit C: residential up to 3 units 0.50% of construction cost; commercial up to $30 million 1%; $110 minimum and $40 application component, before surcharges. | DBPR electrical-contractor schedule |
| Fixtures, piping and gas coordination | 2026 Exhibit C: residential 0.50% / commercial 1% construction-cost basis for plumbing, with $110 general minimum and $40 application component; special categories and surcharges separate. | DBPR construction-industry application schedule |
| HVAC equipment, ducts and ventilation | 2026 mechanical permit: 0.50% residential up to 3 units or 1% commercial up to $30 million; surcharges and minimums remain separate. | DBPR category-specific schedule |
| Alarm, sprinkler and life-safety coordination | Building Department Exhibit C lists a $57 reinspection component. This is not a complete fire-system permit quote; request the system-specific assessment. | System-specific credential schedule |
| Building construction and renovations | A $50,000 residential construction-cost basis gives $250 at 0.50%, plus $40 application = $290 component subtotal; exclude city/state/county surcharges and other approvals. | DBPR firm and qualifier schedule |
Codes and amendments
The Building Department identifies the 2023 eighth-edition Florida Building Code volumes, 2020 NEC and eighth-edition Florida Fire Prevention Code. Confirm project-specific local, flood and environmental requirements with the reviewing departments.
Submission checklist
Homeowner rules
The City’s free Homeowner Assistance Program is available to homesteaded residential properties. Use that service to confirm owner-builder eligibility, required signatures and trade responsibilities before applying; assistance does not waive permits or contractor qualifications.
Enforcement and scope changes
The Department handles unsafe structures, violations and recertification. Resolve existing conditions and revisions through the appropriate City service. The Annual Facility Permit program has defined scope limitations and cannot be used for occupancy changes or as a substitute for every new project permit.
Inspections and closeout
The City provides inspection requests, inspection history and certificate services. Its department page distinguishes a CO for new construction or changed use from a CC for remodels, renovations and shell buildings. Confirm the required finals before requesting the certificate.