Business Resources

• Expedited Permit Program Application

1. Program Overview & Purpose

The City of Miami Beach is committed to diversifying the local economy by attracting and retaining targeted industries including financial services and technology. As part of this effort, the City is offering an Expedited Plan Review and Permitting Program to incentivize companies in these industries to encourage targeted relocations or expansions and associated development. Expedited plan review and permitting helps to increase the supply of office inventory by expediting the approval process for Building Permits applicable to office developments and renovations.

2. Eligibility Requirements

• a. Companies within the following industries are eligible to apply for the Program*:
  Financial Services, Technology, and Corporate headquarters (including regional headquarters) for any industry.

*Industry eligibility will be determined by the City of Miami Beach in its sole discretion through the Economic Development Department.

b. Project Type: Renovations and new construction projects for businesses including office and related ancillary space.

c. Incentive application must be submitted by the company (“Applicant” or “Participant”) which will benefit from the incentive and will lease, purchase and/or occupy the office space. Although the property owner, landlord and/or developer may apply for the building permit, the incentive will be awarded through the Applicant.

d. Applicant must have current or future site control as demonstrated through property title, executed lease agreement or signed Letter of Intent (LOI).

e. Pre-submittal meeting required prior to plan submittal and permit application. Pre-submittal meeting to include members of the development team (architect, engineer, and/or contractor, etc.).

f. Media Announcement: Applicant must (a) mention the City of Miami Beach by name within its initial press release announcing the new office location, (b) at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance, provide the exact date and time of when the press release will be published, and (c) at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance, provide a copy of the press release. The City’s Marketing and Communications Department will also issue a press release and encourage media coverage. Applicant must provide a quote for the City’s press release from business owner, or executive (CEO, COO, CIO, etc.). Once the City and Company determine the appropriate timing, joint and/or independent announcements including a press release will be issued.

3. Application Process & Guidelines

a. Company owner or authorized representative submits completed application form and property title, executed lease or LOI to City of Miami Beach Economic Development Department (mbbiz@miamibeachfl.gov).

b. Economic Development Department reviews application and informs Applicant of eligibility status. Eligibility status is based on Industry category and Building Permit process only. Eligibility does not apply to Land Use Board approval requirements including Planning Board, Design Review Board, Historic Preservation Board and Board of Adjustment.

c. If Applicant is eligible, Economic Development Department coordinates pre-submittal meeting with Planning & Zoning and Building Departments and the Applicant.

d. If Applicant is eligible, the City of Miami Beach will draft and issue a media announcement as described above.

e. After pre-submittal meeting, Applicant (or property owner/landlord/authorized representative) submits plan(s)/building permit application(s) ONLINE for review (see helpful links below). Plans/permit applications submitted separately (at a later time) or requiring sequential approval will be reviewed and evaluated by the City in the order in which it is submitted.

• How to Register & Apply for Permits Online
• Permit Application Submittal Checklist
• Online Permit Application Portal – Citizen Self Service
• Contractor License and Insurance (if Contractor is doing work for the first time in Miami Beach)

f. City of Miami Beach Planning & Zoning and Building Departments provide an expedited review of plans and issue permits in accordance with City of Miami Beach Code and Florida Building Code. Permits will not be issued automatically. Plan review and permitting costs will not be waived or discounted.

g. If a plan/application revision or secondary submittal is required, the review process will begin again (see III F).

• How to submit Plans and Corrections Online
• Job Creation Incentive Program

1. Background and Purpose

The City of Miami Beach is invested in economic resiliency through economic diversification. New or existing businesses in the City of Miami Beach may be eligible for a performance-based incentive known as the Job Creation Incentive Program (JCIP). The purpose of the JCIP is to strategically attract companies and expand existing businesses within the City of Miami Beach while increasing the number of quality, high-wage jobs in the community. The applicant must create or relocate a minimum of ten (10) new, fulltime equivalent jobs which average annual wages meeting or exceeding 125% of the County’s average wage at the time of the application.

2. Eligibility

The City of Miami Beach JCIP will be available to new-to-market businesses or expanding businesses that will either hire or relocate, a minimum of ten (10) new employees to the City of Miami Beach within a four (4) year period for New-to-Market businesses or three (3) year period for existing businesses.

The Program is available to the following industries:

a. Financial/Professional Services

b. Technology

c. Headquarters including regional headquarters

The following subsectors within the technology and financial services are also eligible:

o Arts and Culture
o Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Web3, and decentralized finance
o Health and Wellness
o Hospitality and Tourism
o Sustainability and Resiliency

The City Commission, at its discretion, may waive the eligible industry requirement at the request and recommendation of the City Manager.

a. Companies applying for the JCIP Program must be “new-to-market” or an “expanding” business already operating within the City of Miami Beach. New-to-market businesses may relocate from anywhere outside of the City of Miami Beach.

b. Requirements for Expanding Businesses at the time of application:

• An expanding business must either own its office space property or have an executed multi-year lease (3-year minimum) for the office location within the City of Miami Beach.
• An expanding business must have a valid Miami Beach business tax receipt (BTR) and may not have any pending City fees or fines, or be involved in any litigation with the City of Miami Beach.
• An expanding business must be properly licensed and approved by the State and County as applicable.

c. All awarded Expanding businesses and New-to-Market businesses must meet the requirements above when the incentive will be claimed and disbursed for each eligible fiscal year.

d. Businesses that do not report employees’ wages are not eligible for assistance under the JCIP Program. The JCIP is contingent on annual funding availability, City Commission approval, and the execution and continued compliance with the requirements of an agreement between the City and the applicant, and is not to be construed as an entitlement or right of an applicant or property owner.

3. Requirements

a. New Job Category: A New Job must be a fulltime equivalent position (minimum of 2,080 hours annually) and shall:

• be created in the City of Miami Beach and add to the City’s total job base;
• add incrementally to the company’s payroll;
• result in a net increase in the number of employees of the applicant company; and
• involve only a new employee working on-site (at least partially) at the company’s facility located in the City of Miami Beach.

A New Job excludes an existing employee on current payroll of the business at the time of the application.

b. Relocated Job Category: A Relocated Job includes fulltime equivalent positions (minimum of 2,080 hours annually) currently identified on the company’s payroll at the time of application.

• Only New-to-Market companies (moving to Miami Beach) can utilize relocated jobs as part of the incentive application.
• Existing Miami Beach companies seeking to expand operations in Miami Beach may not utilize relocated jobs as part of the job creation requirement.

c. Job Creation Timeline: Approval of the JCIP application and agreement by the City Commission must occur before the jobs are added or relocated. A business that enters into an incentive agreement with the City of Miami Beach and is located in or relocating to existing office space that does not require significant tenant improvements must add the minimum number of jobs (10) within an agreed to number of months after the effective date of the incentive award. The company and the City of Miami Beach will negotiate a job creation/relocation timeframe.

d. Living Wage Requirement: The JCIP will not be available to companies that pay any of their employees less than the Living Wage Rate as defined by Section 2-8.9 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, as adjusted annually by the Department of Small Business Development or its successor department, or as defined by Section 2-408 of the Code of the City of Miami Beach and by choosing the higher rate of both. Companies receiving JCIP awards must continue to pay all its employees no less than the Living Wage Rate to remain eligible for the Program.

e. Wages of New Jobs Created or Relocated: New Jobs or Relocated Jobs must pay an estimated Average Annual Wage at least equal to 125% the average of wages in Miami-Dade County or the State of Florida (across all industries or occupations) as determined by Miami-Dade County or the State of Florida using the most currently available data as determined by the City of Miami Beach and by choosing the higher rate.

f.  Job Creation: Participating businesses must create at least ten (10) New Jobs within four (4) years for New-to-Market Businesses or within three (3) years for Expanding Businesses. The time begins to toll once the business begins operation in the City of Miami Beach (designated by issuance of a BTR) or once the Agreement is executed, whichever is later.

g. New or Relocated Jobs must be maintained for a minimum of one (1) additional year. City of Miami Beach staff will verify compliance with New Job creation and wage requirements as specified in the City Commission approved JCIP application/agreement prior to any disbursement of City of Miami Beach incentives. The Company must agree to furnish all documents necessary for City of Miami Beach staff to verify the Company's compliance with the New Job or Relocated Job salary requirements pursuant to the City of Miami Beach JCIP application/agreement.

h. Taxes, Fines or other Fees: Where a Company is delinquent in paying its taxes, fines, or any other fees due to the City of Miami Beach, the City of Miami Beach shall withhold Incentive funds until the Company is current. Where a Company is more than one (1) year delinquent, the Company's City of Miami Beach incentive award shall be canceled, and the Company shall be disqualified from participating in the Program.

i. Media Announcement: Applicant must (a) mention the City of Miami Beach by name within its initial press release announcing the new office location, (b) at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance, provide the exact date and time of when the press release will be published, and (c) at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance, provide a copy of the press release. The City’s Marketing and Communications Department will also issue a press release and media coverage.

j. Media Appearances: The company must provide an employee representative, of at a minimum a senior level executive position, for a minimum of four (4) engagements in year 1, two (2) engagements year 2, two (2) engagements in year 3, and if applicable, two (2) engagements in year 4, to assist with recruitment efforts of the City of Miami Beach to attract additional companies to the City. Required engagements will consist of a presentation, panel discussion, interview, quote for media story, or comparable engagement.

4. Incentive Award

The amount of the JCIP award is determined based on the information provided and verified in the application process and requires approval by the City Commission. The actual award will be determined after the Company has begun operations, and at the end of each City of Miami Beach fiscal year, upon the verification of New Jobs or Relocated Jobs as specified in the City Commission-approved application/agreement, and all other obligations set forth in the application/agreement and the Resolution approving authorizing the award.

The maximum award amount is based on the number of employees brought or relocated to the City of Miami Beach during the initial move, and any subsequent new hires. For expanding companies already located in the city, the maximum award is based on the New Jobs created. The incentives over the four (4) year or three (3) year period after the applicant’s start of operations or the execution of this agreement, whichever is later, may not exceed:

• $600 per employee for the first 50 jobs (minimum of 10)
• $400 per employee for each job added between 51 – 100
• $250 per employee for each job added above 100

Applicant may be eligible for the following bonuses for new hires only:

• An additional $125 per employee if a company is located within the North Beach area, as defined by the City of Miami Beach
• An additional $125 per employee if new hire received a degree from a public university, private university, or technical school located within Miami-Dade County and graduated within three (3) years of the hire date
• An additional $125 per employee if previously unemployed or employed below the Living Wage Rate immediately preceding employment with company
• An additional $150 per employee if their primary residence is within the City of Miami Beach

Applicants specializing in technology and/or financial services industry subcategories related to cryptocurrency, blockchain, web3, decentralized finance, sustainability, resiliency, hospitality, tourism, health and wellness, and arts and culture are eligible for additional incentives, and may not exceed:

• $650 per employee for the first 50 jobs (minimum of 10)
• $450 per employee for each job added between 51 – 100
• $300 per employee for each job added above 100

Applicants specializing in technology and/or financial services industry subcategories related to cryptocurrency, blockchain, web3, decentralized finance, sustainability, resiliency, hospitality, tourism, health and wellness, and arts and culture are eligible for additional bonuses for new hires and relocated employees: 

• An additional $175 per employee if a business is located within the North Beach area, as defined by the City of Miami Beach
• An additional $175 per employee if new hire received a degree from a university, college, or technical school located within Miami-Dade County
• An additional $175 per employee if previously unemployed or employed below the Living Wage Rate immediately preceding employment with Applicant
• An additional $200 per employee if their primary residence is within the City of Miami Beach; and

A Company may not receive more than $60,000 in incentive awards in any single fiscal year, even if all the New Jobs are created or relocated in one (1) year. A Company may not receive more than $240,000 in award payments over the four (4) year period for new-to-market or $180,000 in award payments over the three (3) year period for expansions.

The City Commission, at its discretion, may waive the applicable $180,000 or $240,000 total award cap at the request and recommendation of the City Manager.

Click Here to Download the JCIP Incentive Calculator

5. Application Process

• A company wishing to participate in the Program will apply to the City of Miami Beach. Upon request, a Company's confidentiality will be protected, to the best of the city’s ability, for any information regarding a project's location and/or expansion evaluation of any Miami Beach site.
• The application will be evaluated by City of Miami Beach staff and approved by the City Commission.
• An application must be signed by an executive officer or owner of the applying company.
• Any New-to-Market company that commits the Company to a location within the City of Miami Beach prior to City Commission approval of the Application/Agreement will render a Company ineligible to participate in the JCIP. The City Manager may waive this prior decision rule and forward the Company's Application to the City Commission for consideration upon the written request by the Company to preserve the incentive for a limited time. However, the City Commission retains the sole and absolute discretion to approve or deny the Company's Application. This prior business decision rule waiver shall not be available to a Company that has already publicly disclosed the intent to locate or expand its operations in the City of Miami Beach.
• Within thirty (30) days of application receipt and initial review, City of Miami Beach Administration shall inform the City Commission and schedule an application presentation at the following available Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC) meeting (applicable public notice and agenda deadlines apply). Staff will notify the Applicant when the application is scheduled for consideration at any public meeting.
• Pending recommendation from the FERC, City of Miami Beach Administration shall prepare its recommendation on the Application to the City Commission, including an economic impact analysis.
• Each City Commission approved Application shall serve as the written Agreement between City of Miami Beach and the Company, and shall include all Application requirements outlined in this Section and, at a minimum, specify:

a.  The total number of New Jobs to be created or relocated and that will be dedicated to the project;

b. The Average Annual Wage of those jobs, any capital investment, and a time schedule or plan for when such jobs will be in place and active;

c. The fiscal impact to the City of Miami Beach;

d. The maximum amount of JCIP awards which the Company is eligible to receive and the maximum amount of JCIP awards that the Company is eligible to receive for each fiscal year;

e. That the City of Miami Beach may review and verify the financial and personnel records of the Company and/or perform onsite visits to verify employment relating to the New or Relocated Jobs, wages paid, and determine whether the Company is in compliance with the terms of the Application/Agreement;

f. The date by which, in each fiscal year, the Company must file a claim to be considered to receive a JCIP award for the following fiscal year (October 1 – September 30);

g. That compliance with the terms and conditions of the approved Application/Agreement is a conditional requirement for the receipt of any JCIP award in a fiscal year and that the Company's failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the approved Application/Agreement results in the loss of eligibility for receipt of JCIP awards and the revocation by the City Commission of the certification of the Company as a City of Miami Beach eligible business;

h. That payment of JCIP incentives is conditioned on and subject to specific annual appropriations by the City of Miami Beach sufficient to pay amounts under the approved Application/Agreement; and

i. That the amount of the Incentives received will be based on the Incentive levels specified.

6. Award Disbursement

a. Annual disbursements will be contingent on the verification of the new jobs created and retained.

b. Disbursement will begin in the City of Miami Beach fiscal year following the Project's start of operations. The City of Miami Beach’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30 of the following calendar year.

c. Companies will be monitored annually to ensure compliance with the projected number of new jobs and the wages associated with the new jobs. Disbursements to the Company will only be made after it has met all commitments as set forth in the City of Miami Beach application/agreement and the City Commission approved Resolution,

d. Disbursement amounts are set forth and limited in each year of the disbursement schedule approved in the Agreement and Resolution.

e. To be eligible to claim any award under the JCIP, an Applicant that has entered into an approved application/agreement must annually apply to the City of Miami Beach for such award by July 1^st. An appropriation, if made by the City Commission, will be paid in the City of Miami Beach fiscal year that begins on October 1 following the claims-submission date.

f. The City of Miami Beach shall designate staff, or a third party, to administer the JCIP and determine Company compliance. Any awards determined to be due to Companies and processed by said designated staff shall require written approval and authorization of the City of Miami Beach.

Interested parties may contact the City of Miami Beach Economic Development Director via email at rickellewilliams@miamibeachfl.gov for more information or clarification related to the Miami Beach Job Incentive Program.

• Emergency Small Business Reimbursement Grant Program

The City of Miami Beach Emergency Small Business Grant Program will reimburse participating small businesses up to $20,000 in relief from the economic distress caused by COVID-19. Pursuant to the CARES Act, the Community Development Block Grant-Corona Virus (CDBG-CV) program funding is intended to “avoid job loss caused by business closures related to social distancing, by providing short-term working capital assistance to small businesses, to enable retention of jobs held by low- and moderate-income (LMI) persons.” The goal of the Program is to support and promote business longevity by retaining or creating jobs.