1. Before you Begin
NOTE: If you started your permit application in-person, before the launch of ePlan, you will need to submit corrections in-person.
Keep in mind the below information, before you apply.
- By law, the State of Florida requires you to get a permit for most projects.
- This process is an overview of the step(s) involved in getting a permit from the following City of Miami Departments
- Building
- Resilience & Public Works
- Planning
- Zoning
- Depending on your application, additional permits/permissions from other City departments and/or from other government entities may be required (Hearing Boards, PZAB, etc).
2. Look for Instructions
We have created apermit landing page, or a catalog ofinstructions regarding different types of permit applications. This page is being continuously updated.
View Permit Catalog
The Permitting Landing page offers a lot of information as well.
3. Apply for a Permit
If you are applying for a Building Permit, that will take place in iBuild. The City of Miami recently implemented an online application process called Electronic Plan Review (ePlan). Whenyou're ready to apply, you will be required to submit an online application.
We strongly suggest you visit the permit catalog.
Permit Instructions
If you'd like to simply enter the application "portals" directly, see below.
For a Building Permit, pleaseVisit iBuildto submit your application.
For a Public Works Permit, please visit thePublic Works Appto submit your application.
For a Planning and/or Zoning special permit request, please visitePlan/ProjectDoxto submit your application. This is also where you'll eventually need to upload documents for Building permits.
Once you've applied, you may be instructed to gather documents. You can find these on permitting forms and documents. (NOTE: This is not how you begin an application).
NOTE: If you are submitting a request for a building permit and your project requires approval from Miami-Dade County’s Department of Environmental Management (DERM), Water and Sewer Department (WAS-D), or payment of Impact Fee(s), you will be required to complete the Miami Dade County Municipal Application included in the PDF application package that is generated from iBuild.
4. Pay Upfront Fees
Depending on your application, you will be required to pay an upfront fee prior to uploading or an in-person submission of your document and drawing. You will be notified of this fee after you fill out your application.
- For building/planning/zoning, select "use transactional ID" (not customer number).
- For public works utility companies, use customer number (not transactional ID)
Note: The payment of upfront fees for the City of Miami Building Department does not include the upfront fees accessed by Miami-Dade County external agencies (DERM, WAS-D, Impact Fees). All upfront fees accessed by the above agencies shall be paid separately once a Miami Dade County Project Number (M#) has been issued.
5. Name & Prepare Your Files Properly
You will be required to collect certain documentation, depending on the permit type. You can view the checklists for a variety of permitshere, and other specifics on our "Get a Permit" page. We will be adding to this page continuously.
Each page of your plans/drawings must be named individually, and must follow a standard naming convention before you can upload to our system (below). Each page must be submitted as a single file.
View Instructions for Naming Convention
NOTE:Your application will not be accepted if the naming convention is not followed.
If any of your documents need to be "signed and sealed" you will need to do so digitally.
6. Submit Drawings & Documents
Online:The City of Miami now allows you to submit drawings and documents electronically, using the City’s Electronic Plans Review (ProjectDox) portal. You will receive an e-mail from eplans@miamigov.com with the subject “Applicant Upload Task” with instructions for this step.
NOTE: If you are a first-time user of the City’s Electronic Plans Review Portal (ProjectDox), in addition to the “Applicant Upload Task” you will also receive a Welcome and New Account Request e-mail with instructions on how to activate your account. Once you have activated your account you will be able to use the e-mail and password you used previously every time thereafter.
NOTE:If you have a legacy paper plans project that you would like to drop off for digitization OR you need help uploading plans/documents, we have coordinated a service with Blue Digital, scanning vendor. Customer may contactePlanBuilding@miamigov.comor dial (305) 416-1605 for additional information.
View Blue Digital Directions(PDF,1MB)
- To view/claim legacy projects that have been scanned and uploaded to our system, log in to ProjectDox.
NOTE: If your request was for a utility construction or non-construction permit administered by the Department of Resilience & Public Works you may also present hard copy documents to the Department of Resilience & Public Works for scanning at 444 SW 2nd Avenue, 8th Floor, Miami, FL 33130.
7. Wait forApplication Acceptance
Once your drawings and documents have been received by the City of Miami, a Permitting Coordinator will review your submittals for acceptance.
NOTE: We will notify you via e-mail if there is a problem with your submission.
TIP:A common mistake is not following the City’s standard file naming conventions or having more than one page per file for drawings or document files.
8. Respond toReview
Once your application has been accepted, it will undergo review, and we will send you comments back.
NOTE: For a Building permit application it usually takes14 businessdays for the first cycle of review to be completed. For a Special permit application, it usually takes35 business daysfor the first cycle of review to be completed. For an Utility-Excavation or Non-Construction, it usually takes40 businessdaysfor the first cycle of review to be completed.
9. Submit Revised Drawings and Documents
If corrections are required, you will receive an e-mail fromeplans@Miamigov.comwith the subject“Resubmit Applicant Task,”with instructions regardingcorrected sheets for additional reviews and approvals.
You will need to replace each sheet that the reviewers applied a "Changemark" on, or requested changes to in the comment checklist.
NOTE: If you are re-submitting corrected pages, please give the corrected pagethe exact same name as you did previously.We will know it’s a new version, and will review accordingly.
NOTE: Re-submittals may occur multiple times for a single application to ensure that the plans and documents as submitted are compliant with Florida Statute and City Ordinance.
10. Await Approval, Finalize
Once your plans have been approved. You will be required to complete several finalization steps, which may include “Adding/Updating Contractor” or paying any outstanding fees that may be applicable.
For the Department of Resilience & Public Works the main point of contact will be required to accept and pay all related permit fees for a permit to be issued.
11. Meet with Hearing Boards, if Applicable
Some special permits require that you go before the Hearing Boards division - rezones, exceptions, and more. You must follow these detailed instructions for how to request a hearing, which start with a Hearing Boards meeting.
12. Pay Permit Fees
You will be notified of the review and/or permit fees owed via email.
NOTE: For building permits, you will pay review fees, then pull your permit, then pay permit fees.
- For building/planning/zoning, select "use transaction ID" (not customer number).
- For public works utility companies, use customer number (not transaction ID).
13. Pull & Print Permit Card
If you are applying for abuilding permit,you will be required to pull and print your permit. A building permit can be pulled onlineherebyselecting "Permit, Pull Permit."
From there, you need to pay & print, by selecting the “Print Permit Card” option. Enter the permit number (from above) and the permit card will be made available for you to print. You can also do this in person at the Building Department: 444 SW 2nd Ave, 4th floor).
- If you are the owner, and you plan to complete a home project on your own, you will be required to complete the Owner/Builder test. This test is administered in person at the Building Department.
- If you are a contractor and the master permit holder, you may pull a permit online if you are eligible based on your respective qualifier(s). This is also applicable to all sub-contractors who plans to pull a sub-permit online.
14. Download Approved Plans & Documents
After you have paid your fees, we will e-mail you to let you know your final plans are available for download. You will need to log-in to ProjectDoxhereand download your plans from the Approved Folder.
Note: If your request is for a Construction or Non-Construction permit administered by the Department of Resilience & Public Works, your permit card will also be available in the Approved Folder.
15. Apply for Sub-Permits, if Necessary
Get a Sub-Permit
16. Begin Construction or Permitted Work
Don’t forget to always have your permit card and a job site copy of the approved plans at your project site.
17. Inspections
After you've finished work, you'll have to undergo inspections in order to close your permit. We've outlined some of the steps for getting inspections on the below page.
Inspections
