Zoning rules and regulations have been developed (and modified) over the years to encourage the best community and growth opportunities for Miami and its surrounding cities and municipalities. Zoning laws have been established to keep different land uses separate so that a big warehouse is not built right up against a single-family home, for example.

In addition to specifying land use, zoning laws also dictate whether there are any restrictions or allowances related to the building itself. Things such as building height or parking requirements (or restrictions) are often included in zoning laws.

Even if you aren’t trying to rezone a property, there are many special and/or historic districts – specifically in the City of Miami & Miami Beach – that require a special certificate of appropriateness (SCOA) before you go on the permit run. Below is everything you need to know about getting a zoning verification letter (ZVL).

How to Get a Zoning Verification Letter in Miami

The City of Miami offers a fairly straightforward process for securing a ZVL for your commercial or residential construction project.

The first step is to determine whether the property itself is within the City of Miami limits. Once your address has been verified, you will select what you want to do with your request, such as seek a zoning designation or request certificate of use information. Depending on your request, you will also need to include backup documentation with your application.

This is a case-by-case basis, and it is really vital that you speak with an expert in pre-construction in the city your property resides in before trying to secure a ZVL. Often there is a committee whose approval you will need that meets only once per month and if there is an error in your documentation – or you accidently omit a piece – you will have to wait at least another month before you can go in front of them again.

Requesting a zoning verification letter in Miami takes roughly 20 business days and comes with a $200 fee per folio. While you’ll be anxious to get to permitting so that you can then start work on construction, taking the time upfront to secure necessary approvals, letters and permits for your project will save you time, money and headaches down the road.

At Seacoast Construction, we make sure all the necessary approval and permitting steps are taken during pre-construction so your build goes off without a hitch. To learn more about building requirements in Miami, please get in touch with our team today.