Building permits in Miami-Dade County, Florida
Find the right authority before you build. Miami-Dade County permitting follows Florida law — here is exactly who issues the permit and where to start.
County + cities (mixed)
Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources — Building
Miami-Dade County’s Building department issues permits for unincorporated Miami-Dade and also processes municipal building permits for many municipalities that contract with the county (via the e-permitting / plan-tracking system). Some municipalities run their own building departments. Verify whether your property is in an unincorporated area or a contracting municipality.
Open the official permit portal →
Permit applications, plan tracking and inspections use the Miami-Dade Building permit portal (miamidade.gov/building/plantrack.asp). Contractors can use e-Permits for work not requiring plan review.
Check a home project's permit in Miami-Dade County, Florida
Select a project to see its Florida permit rule. Whether the county or your city issues it depends on incorporation status — see the authority note above.
Florida
Exact permit fees are set by the local building department. WikEst shows the published or code-based range where one exists, linked to its official source — verify the final amount at the source before budgeting.
🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permit fee in Florida
Permit requiredRestrictedcity authority
Permit fee range
Permit and plan-review fees set by the city. Verify with the local building department.
Typical timeline
Varies by city; 2–8 weeks.
Setback
Per local zoning.
Exempt if
Allowed where local zoning permits (e.g., Miami 21, Orlando, Tampa).
Exempt criteria: None — where allowed, ADUs require a permit.
Florida has no statewide by-right ADU mandate; ADUs are allowed only where the local ordinance permits, with size/setback set by that ordinance.
Official sources: City of Orlando — Permits & Inspections · City of Miami — Building & Permitting (iBuild)
Representative cities for Florida: Miami, Orlando, Tampa.
All 20 project fee ranges in Florida
Official-source ranges where published; “By local jurisdiction” means no flat fee is published and the amount is set case by case.
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Fee range | Go / no-go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | yes | city | Permit and plan-review fees set by the city. Verify with the local building department. | restricted |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | conditional | city | Set by the city — typically a flat plus valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | conditional | city | Usually no building permit under the height threshold; zoning setback rules apply. Verify locally. | allowed |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit fee applies if over the threshold. | allowed |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | yes | city | Valuation-based building permit fee. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | yes | city | Valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | yes | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | yes | city | Mechanical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | yes | city | Building + electrical + plumbing permit fees. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | yes | city | Building + plumbing + electrical fees. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | yes | city | Valuation-based building permit; impact fees may apply. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | restricted |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | yes | city | Roofing permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | conditional | city | Private flatwork generally needs no building permit; right-of-way/curb cut needs a separate permit. | allowed |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | yes | city | Building permit + electrical; fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | allowed |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit applies if over the threshold. | allowed |
| 💥 Demolition / Teardown | yes | city | Demolition permit fee set by the city/county building department; verify locally. | allowed |
| 🚰 Septic System | yes | county | Septic permit fees set by the county health department; verify locally. | allowed |
| 🔌 EV Charger | conditional | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | allowed |
| ⚡ Standby Generator | yes | city | Electrical (and often mechanical/gas) permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | allowed |
Permit cheat-sheet (Florida rules)
| Project | Permit? | Authority | Typical fee | Timeline | Go / No-Go | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Permit required | city | Permit and plan-review fees set by the city. Verify with the local building department. | Varies by city; 2–8 weeks. | Restricted | Florida has no statewide by-right ADU mandate; ADUs are allowed only where the local ordinance permits, with size/setback set by that ordinance. Exempt: Allowed where local zoning permits (e.g., Miami 21, Orlando, Tampa). |
| 🪵 Deck / Porch | Conditional | city | Set by the city — typically a flat plus valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | 1–4 weeks. | Generally allowed | Attached or raised decks need a building permit. Exempt: Decks >30 in above grade or attached require a permit (FBC R105). |
| 🧱 Fence / Wall | Conditional | city | Usually no building permit under the height threshold; zoning setback rules apply. Verify locally. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Generally allowed | Height/setback set by local zoning; HOA rules may also apply. Exempt: Typically no building permit under ~6 ft (zoning). |
| 🛖 Shed / Outbuilding | Conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit fee applies if over the threshold. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Generally allowed | Larger or serviced sheds need a building permit. Exempt: One-story detached accessory structure ≤120 sq ft is exempt (FBC R105.2). |
| 🪜 Basement Finish | Permit required | city | Valuation-based building permit fee. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Uncommon in Florida; finishing a basement requires egress and permits. Exempt: N/A |
| 🚗 Garage / Carport | Permit required | city | Valuation-based fee. Verify with the city building department. | 2–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | A new garage requires a building permit under the Florida Building Code Residential. Exempt: N/A |
| ☀️ Rooftop Solar PV | Permit required | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 2–4 weeks. | Generally allowed | Rooftop PV requires an electrical permit; products in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade, Broward) require Florida Product Approval / NOA. Exempt: N/A |
| 🌡️ HVAC Replacement | Permit required | city | Mechanical permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 1–2 weeks. | Generally allowed | Furnace, AC, or heat-pump replacement requires a mechanical permit and inspection. Exempt: N/A |
| 🍳 Kitchen Remodel | Permit required | city | Building + electrical + plumbing permit fees. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Moving plumbing/electrical or walls triggers permits. Exempt: N/A |
| 🛁 Bathroom Remodel | Permit required | city | Building + plumbing + electrical fees. Verify with the city building department. | 2–6 weeks. | Generally allowed | Plumbing/electrical relocation requires permits. Exempt: N/A |
| 🏗️ Room Addition | Permit required | city | Valuation-based building permit; impact fees may apply. Verify with the city building department. | 3–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | Expanding the footprint requires FBC plan review and zoning compliance. Exempt: N/A |
| 🪟 Window / Door Replacement | Conditional | city | Permit fee if changing the opening; in-kind swap is often exempt. | Same day / Over-the-Counter where required. | Restricted | In the HVHZ (Miami-Dade, Broward) windows within 1 mile of the coast must be impact-rated / Florida Product-Approved. Enlarging openings needs a permit. Exempt: In-kind same-size replacement generally needs no permit. |
| 🏘️ Roof Replacement | Permit required | city | Roofing permit fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 1–3 weeks. | Generally allowed | Re-roofing requires a roofing permit; the HVHZ requires product-approved materials. Exempt: N/A |
| 🅿️ Driveway / Parking Pad | Conditional | city | Private flatwork generally needs no building permit; right-of-way/curb cut needs a separate permit. | Varies. | Generally allowed | A curb cut or work in the public right-of-way requires a separate permit from the city / public works. Exempt: N/A |
| 🏊 Swimming Pool / Spa | Permit required | city | Building permit + electrical; fee set by the city. Verify with the city building department. | 3–8 weeks. | Generally allowed | Pools require a permit and barrier per FBC Section 454 / R4101 (self-closing gate, alarms, entrapment protection). Exempt: N/A |
| 🧱 Retaining Wall | Conditional | city | No fee under the exemption; a permit applies if over the threshold. | 2–4 weeks if required. | Generally allowed | Taller or surcharge-supporting walls need design and a permit. Exempt: Retaining walls ≤4 ft (bottom of footing to top), not supporting a surcharge, are exempt (FBC R105.2). |
| 💥 Demolition / Teardown | Permit required | city | Demolition permit fee set by the city/county building department; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A full teardown or major strip-out requires a demolition (building) permit from the city or county building department under the Florida Building Code. Demolition permits commonly require utility disconnects and, for older homes, asbestos/lead clearance before work begins. |
| 🚰 Septic System | Permit required | county | Septic permit fees set by the county health department; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | New or replacement onsite wastewater (septic / OSTDS) systems require a permit from the county health department (or, in 16 designated counties, the FL Dept. of Environmental Protection) under the Florida Administrative Code. Engineered design and a site/soil evaluation are typically required. |
| 🔌 EV Charger | Conditional | city | Electrical permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A home EV charging station needs an electrical permit (dedicated 240V circuit and wall unit) issued by the city under the Florida Building Code. Florida has no single statewide EV-permitting fast-track, so review time varies by city. Work must meet the NEC. |
| ⚡ Standby Generator | Permit required | city | Electrical (and often mechanical/gas) permit fee set by the city; verify locally. | — | Generally allowed | A permanently installed standby generator with a transfer switch and fuel (gas/propane) line requires electrical and often mechanical/gas permits, plus inspection. Setback, noise, and carbon-monoxide rules may apply, and HOAs may restrict installation. Verify with the city building department. |
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Miami-Dade County, Florida?
Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources — Building is the permitting authority for Miami-Dade County. Permitting is split — cities issue for incorporated areas, the county for unincorporated areas. Start at the official portal linked above.
Do I go to the county or my city for a building permit in Miami-Dade County?
Permitting is split — cities issue for incorporated areas, the county for unincorporated areas.
What home projects need a permit in Miami-Dade County?
The same project types shown in the cheat-sheet above (ADU, deck, fence, shed, solar, and more) — rules follow Florida state law. Whether the county or your city issues it depends on your property's incorporation status.
How do I apply for a permit in Miami-Dade County?
Use the official permit portal linked above. Most offices accept online submissions; have your plans, site information, and contractor details ready before applying.