Welcome to Miami Beach! The City of Miami Beach has undergone an incredible transformation in the last few years. Investors and entrepreneurs from around the world are enthusiastically seeking to capitalize on this success. A major reason for the City’s success has been the high standards that the City has maintained throughout the years to protect and enhance its beauty. We invite you to join the exciting and diverse business community growing within our City. The Miami Beach Business Information Guide is a reference tool designed to assist businesses within the City in following local codes and regulations. The guide highlights the required processes of opening a new business and also provides general guidelines to properly maintain a business in the City. Certificate of Use & Occupational Licensing All business owners are required to obtain both a City of Miami Beach Certificate of Use and an Occupational License to operate a business within the City. Operating a business without a license is prohibited. A Miami-Dade County Occupational License must also be obtained. For more information, call the Finance Department’s Occupational Licensing Office at 305-673-7420 or 305-673-7590. A Certificate of Use (C.U.) is a pre-requisite to the issuance of a City of Miami Beach Occupational License. The C.U. fee must be submitted at the time of application and each year thereafter by May 31. Inspections by the Building Department, Fire Department, Planning Department, and others, must occur following the submission of an application. Application must be made in person at City Hall, Licensing Office, 1700 Convention Center Drive, first floor. Upon approval of your C.U., you will be eligible to obtain an Occupational License. Occupational License applicants may be required to submit certain documents, including, but not limited to:
The Occupational License year begins October 1 and expires September 30. Fee collections for new businesses are prorated as follows: October 1 to April 30, full-year fee; May 1 – June 30, half-year fee; and July 1 – September 30, quarter-year fee. Home-based Business Offices The City’s Zoning Ordinance allows some home-based businesses to operate in accordance with certain prescribed restrictions. Businesses should basically be conducted by phone, computer or fax only. There is a license fee to operate a home-based business and an occupational license for the specific type of business conducted must be also obtained. For more information, call Occupational Licensing at 305-673-7420. Commercial Leases and Contracts – Zoning Compliance Before signing a lease or contract to purchase, be sure that the type of business you propose is permissible in the location you have chosen. The Planning Department can provide you with information about the different zoning classifications throughout the City. For more information, call the Planning Department at 305-673-7550. Building Permits Building permits are required for new construction, additions, and alterations of commercial space, multi-family or single family residence, or changes to an interior or exterior that will require construction, demolition, or rehabilitation of the space. This includes any electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning, heating, or other work. Obtaining permits assures that the work meets the South Florida Building Code and all applicable regulations. The permit process offers the opportunity to have the plans reviewed by professional zoning and design review staff, as well as code administrators, and includes inspections by certified experts who will make sure that the work is safely and professionally completed. Hiring a Contractor The permit process requires that the contractor you select is certified, authorized, licensed and insured to perform the work and that the contractor has obtained all of the permits required prior to starting the work. Examples of work requiring permits (not all-inclusive):
To apply for a permit or obtain more information, contact the Building Department at 305-673-7610, or visit the office at City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, second floor. Design Review Approval Most building permits require design review approval. Depending on the scope or complexity of the work proposed, your permit will be approved by either Planning Department staff or the City’s Design Review Board (DRB). In addition, if your business is located within one of the City’s historic districts, the proposed work will also require the approval of the Historic Preservation Board. For more information, call the Planning Department at 305-673-7550. Commercial Façade Renovation Programs Matching grants programs are available to property owners in eligible areas for the renovation of commercial properties. For more information, call the Community and Economic Development Department at 305-673-7193. Signs All signs must go through the City’s design review process, obtainable through the Planning Department. For a sign application, contact the Planning Department at 305-673-7550. Building permits are required for all exterior signs and permanent window signs. Signs are an important part of your business identity and the collective image of the City. For this reason, every effort is made to promote effective and harmonious signs. Signs must meet color, size and location requirements as outlined in the City’s Zoning Ordinance. Businesses are allowed the following: one primary sign, limited generally to 20 square feet; window signs in six-inch letter for the business name and address; hours of operation, and telephone number of the business in two-inch letters. Signs that require repair must also go through the design approval and permit process. Banners, flags, sandwich boards, balloons, signs on parked vehicles, and other items designed to attract attention to a location are generally prohibited, except as provided for in the Zoning Ordinance. Real estate signs, advertising the rent or sale of a property, must also meet color, size and location requirements. A permit must be obtained from the Finance Department’s Occupational License Office located on the first floor in City Hall, or call 305-673-7420. Promoting Your Business The distribution of newsletters, flyers, posters, cards, stickers, etc… on vehicles, light poles, bus benches and public property are prohibited and carry expensive fines and penalties. For more information, call the Department of Code Compliance at 305-673-7555. Promoters Promoters utilizing bar and club venues must comply with new City licensing and bond requirements. For more information, call Licensing at 305-673-7420. Sidewalk Cafes Restaurants must obtain a sidewalk café permit before providing sidewalk service to patrons. This permit, which is reviewed by various City departments to ensure safety and design appropriateness, must be obtained prior to the placement of any tables or chairs on public property. Fees apply. For more information, call the Finance Department’s Occupational License Office at 305-673-7420. Safe Occupancy Levels are Essential Business owners are required to apply for an Occupancy Load Sign by submitting architectural plans to scale, in triplicate, to the Building Department. An occupant load sign will be issued after the Building and Fire Departments review the plans. Any alcohol beverage establishment with an occupant load of 300 or more persons requires Conditional Use approval by the City’s Planning Board (contact the Planning Department for scheduling). Sale of Liquor and Tobacco For information regarding liquor licenses and permits to sell tobacco products, please contact the State of Florida Alcohol and Tobacco Division at 305-470-6783. Package sales of beer, wine and liquor is limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sanitation Every commercial business is required to contract with a private solid waste company to remove garbage and debris. The City is served by five solid waste franchisees. For more information, call the City of Miami Beach Sanitation Department at 305-673-7616. Street Vending Street vending is prohibited by the Miami Beach City Code. No special permits are available for street vendors or performers. Non-profit vendors may submit an application on a quarterly basis to participate in a lottery for five locations in the City. For applications or further information, contact the Finance Department at 305-673-7466. Entertainment Industry The City of Miami Beach is a major venue for the film, fashion, print and music industries, as well as a host of many important special events. If planning to open an office in the City, all of the applicable procedures to opening a business must be followed. Film, print, and special event permits are issued for public property only. Activities taking place on private property do not require a permit as long as those activities (including vehicles) are completely self-contained on the property. Activities taking place on private property that request City services are required to obtain a permit. For more information, call the Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment at 305-673-7070 or 305-673-7577 for permits and assistance. The City of Miami Beach is working to serve you. CiviCall City of Miami Beach Comment and Information Service - 305-604-CITY (2489) City of Miami Beach Departments Arts, Culture and Entertainment Office - 305-673-7577 Building Department - 305-673-7610 City Clerk’s Office - 305-673-7411 Code Compliance Department - 305-673-7555 Community and Economic Development Department - 305-673-7193, kevincrowder@miamibeachfl.gov. Fire Department - 305-673-7123 Occupational Licensing Office - 305-673-7420 or 305-673-7590 Parking Department - 305-673-7505 Planning Department - 305-673-7550 Police Department - 305-673-7900 Public Works - 305-673-7080 or 305-673-7620 Sanitation Department - 305-673-7616 General Business Information & Groups Beacon Council - 305-579-1300 City of Miami Beach - Community and Economic Development Department - 305-673-7193 Enterprise Florida - 407-425-5313 Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce - 305-672-1270 Miami Beach Community Development Corporation - 305-538-0090 Miami Beach Latin Chamber of Commerce - 305-674-1231 Miami-Dade Community & Economic Development Department - 305-579-2730 Miami-Dade County Occupational License Office - 305-270-4949 South Beach Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - 305-604-9876 Non-profit Groups Assisting Businesses Middle Beach Partnership - 305-535-9441 North Beach Development Corporation - 305-865-4147 Miami Beach Community Development Corporation - 305-538-0090 City of Miami Beach - City Hall |