A lot of people searching for a Miami demolition permit aren't actually in the City of Miami. Miami-Dade has dozens of cities and a large unincorporated area, and each has its own building department and rules. So the first step is making sure you're applying to the right place. If you are in the city, the steps below are what the City of Miami asks for.
Before you apply
Make sure it's really the City of Miami
Check the folio number
Look the property up on the county property search. In Miami-Dade, a folio number that starts with 01 means the property is in the City of Miami. Anything else goes to a different city or to the county.
Check for historic designation
If the property is designated historic or sits in one of the city's historic districts, demolition also needs a Special Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board. Find this out before anything else, because it changes the timeline.
Line up a licensed contractor
The City of Miami only accepts demolition permit applications from a qualified licensed contractor. Homeowners can't apply for this one themselves.
The paperwork
What the City of Miami asks for
| Item | What it is | The detail that trips people up |
|---|---|---|
| Site survey | A survey by a certified surveyor, drawn to scale, showing what's being demolished. | It can't be more than six months old. |
| DERM approval | Clearance from Miami-Dade's environmental department, which reviews things like the sewer or septic connection. | It's needed before the city will move forward, so start it early. |
| Tree survey | Every tree on the property and in the right-of-way, located and identified. | No more than one year old. Commercial properties need a Florida licensed surveyor to prepare it. |
| Tree protection plan | Tree protection drawn to scale on the demolition plan, with a protection detail. | The protection zone is sized to each tree's trunk, so it can limit where equipment works. |
| Notarized application | The application package, printed, signed and notarized where required. | Files have to follow the city's naming rules, and names can't be changed once uploaded. |
Public Works, Environmental Resources or Zoning can ask for more documents during review. Utilities still have to be disconnected before demolition starts.
Applying
From application to permit card
Start the application in iBuild
Choose the total or partial demolition permit and name a main point of contact. City emails about the application go to that person.
Pay the upfront fee
The fee depends on the size of the project. If the demolition is the result of a violation, such as an unsafe structure case, the fee is doubled plus an additional charge.
Upload to ePlan
Documents and drawings go into the right folders in the city's ePlan system, one drawing page per file, with digital signatures on anything signed and sealed.
Pre-screening and review
The city pre-screens the submission, then reviews it. The first review cycle can take up to 14 business days, and comments mean another cycle.
Pull the permit
Once approved, the permit is pulled, remaining fees are paid, and the printed permit card has to stay on site the whole time.
Pull the sewer cap sub-permit
After the demolition permit is issued, the sewer cap sub-permit is pulled from it in iBuild. There's no separate review, just payment.
Timing
Where the time actually goes
Surveys and DERM
Getting a current survey, a tree survey and DERM clearance usually takes longer than the city review itself.
Review cycles
Up to 14 business days for the first cycle, more if there are comments. A complete, correctly named submission avoids extra rounds.
Historic review
If the property is designated or in a historic district, board review adds weeks, so check first.
Related
Keep reading
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can a homeowner get a demolition permit in the City of Miami?
No. The City of Miami only accepts demolition permit applications from a qualified licensed contractor.
What do I need for a City of Miami demolition permit?
A certified site survey no more than six months old, DERM approval, a tree survey no more than a year old with tree protection drawn onto the demolition plan, and the notarized application submitted through iBuild and ePlan. Other departments can ask for more during review.
How long does a City of Miami demolition permit take?
The first review cycle can take up to 14 business days, and comments add more cycles. Surveys, DERM clearance and any historic review often take longer than the review itself.
How do I know if my property is in the City of Miami?
Check the folio number on the Miami-Dade property search. A folio that starts with 01 is in the City of Miami. Other properties fall under a different city or the county.
What is the sewer cap sub-permit?
After the demolition permit is issued, the contractor pulls a sewer cap sub-permit from it in iBuild. There's no separate plan review, only payment, and the cap is inspected as part of the job.
This article is general information based on the City of Miami's published demolition permit process as of October 2026. Requirements and fees change, so confirm current requirements with the City of Miami Building Department before applying.