What Miami Regulates: A Complete Ordinance Overview

Miami is a mid-sized city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, with about 442000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 219 ordinances across 50 categories that affect daily life in Miami.

Noise Ordinances

Amplified Music & Events: City of Miami Chapter 36 restricts amplified music audible at 100 feet. Entertainment venues in Wynwood, Brickell, and downtown face enhanced enforcement.

Also covered: Aircraft Noise (moderate), Industrial Noise (moderate), Barking Dogs (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Miami for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Registration Rules: City of Miami operators must obtain a Certificate of Use, a Business Tax Receipt, a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental License under FS 509.241, and register for the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Tax (6%) plus Florida sales tax (7%) before listing a property on Airbnb, Vrbo, or any platform..

Also covered: Occupancy Limits (strict), Insurance Requirements (moderate), Repeat Violator Strikes (strict). See the full short-term rentals guide for Miami for details.

Parking Rules

Abandoned Vehicles: Miami treats a vehicle as abandoned under City Code Chapter 42 and Florida Statutes Chapter 705 when left on public property more than 72 hours or in a wrecked, inoperative, or junked condition on private property. Code Compliance posts a 72-hour notice sticker, then tows.

Also covered: EV Charging (permissive), Curb Color Rules (moderate), RV & Boat Parking (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Miami for details.

Animal Ordinances

Mandatory Spay/Neuter: Miami-Dade County Code requires sterilization of all owned dogs and cats over six months unless the owner buys an annual unaltered-animal permit and meets breeder standards. The rule applies inside Miami because the city defers to county Animal Services for animal control..

Also covered: Animal Hoarding (strict), Wildlife Feeding (moderate), Coyote Management (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Miami for details.

Fence Regulations

Pool Barriers: Miami enforces Florida Building Code pool barrier requirements under Florida Statute 515 and Miami-Dade Code Section 33-12. All residential pools must have a minimum 48-inch non-climbable barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates..

Also covered: Retaining Walls (moderate), Height Limits (moderate), Neighbor Fence Rules (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Miami for details.

Accessory Structures

Tiny Homes: Miami regulates tiny homes as accessory dwelling units or primary structures depending on size and lot placement. Tiny homes on foundations must meet Florida Building Code HVHZ standards.

Also covered: Carport Rules (moderate), ADU Permits (moderate), ADU Rental Restrictions (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Miami for details.

Home Business

Signage Rules: Home businesses in the City of Miami are prohibited from displaying external signage. The dwelling must maintain residential character.

Also covered: Home Daycare (moderate), Zoning Restrictions (moderate), Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate). See the full home business guide for Miami for details.

Fire Regulations

Outdoor Burning: City of Miami Chapter 19 Section 19-26 restricts outdoor burning. Open burning of rubbish or refuse is prohibited.

Also covered: Propane Storage (strict), Wildfire Zones (permissive), Fire Pit Rules (moderate). See the full fire regulations guide for Miami for details.

Firearms

Concealed Carry: Florida HB 543 (2023) authorizes permitless concealed carry of handguns by law-abiding adults aged 21 and over statewide. Miami follows state law unchanged; the city cannot impose extra permits, training mandates, or carry zones beyond those listed in Chapter 790..

Also covered: Open Carry (moderate), Firearms in Vehicles (permissive), Local Firearms Preemption (permissive). See the full firearms guide for Miami for details.

Single-Use Items

Plastic Bag Rules: Miami cannot ban or tax plastic carryout bags. Florida Statute §403.7033, on the books since 2008 and reinforced by HB 7045 in 2019, expressly preempts local regulation of "auxiliary containers" including plastic carryout bags.

Also covered: Plastic Straw Rules (permissive), Polystyrene Foam Rules (permissive). See the full single-use items guide for Miami for details.

Rental Property Rules

Relocation Assistance: Florida law does not require relocation payments to displaced tenants, and Miami has no local relocation-assistance ordinance. Renters forced out by demolition, conversion, or owner move-in receive only their deposit back, not statutory relocation pay..

Also covered: Security Deposit Rules (moderate), No-Fault Evictions (permissive), Tenant Anti-Harassment (moderate). See the full rental property rules guide for Miami for details.

Employment Preemption

Paid Leave Preemption: Miami has no local paid sick leave or paid family leave mandate, and cannot adopt one for private employers. Fla.

Also covered: Worker Scheduling Preemption (permissive), Minimum Wage Preemption (strict). See the full employment preemption guide for Miami for details.

Immigration Policy

Sanctuary Policy Preemption: Florida SB 168 (2019) prohibits sanctuary policies and requires state and local agencies to honor federal immigration detainers and cooperate with ICE. Miami complies; the city does not have, and cannot adopt, a sanctuary policy..

Public Health Rules

Restaurant Grade Cards: Florida regulates restaurants through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Hotels and Restaurants, not local health departments. Inspections are unannounced twice yearly but Florida does not post letter grades; results are searchable online by establishment name..

Also covered: Rodent Control (moderate), Syringe Disposal (permissive), Food Handler Certification (moderate). See the full public health rules guide for Miami for details.

Cannabis Regulations

Personal Cultivation Limits: Florida prohibits all home cultivation of cannabis. Even qualified medical patients under FL §381.986 must purchase from licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers; growing a single plant remains a third-degree felony statewide.

Also covered: Dispensary Zoning (moderate), Home Cultivation (strict). See the full cannabis regulations guide for Miami for details.

Environmental Rules

Stormwater Management: Miami enforces comprehensive stormwater management under Chapter 17 of the City Code (Stormwater Utility) and Miami-Dade County Environmental Resource standards. The city operates a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) under an NPDES permit issued by the Florida DEP..

Also covered: Gas Leaf Blower Ban (permissive), Vehicle Idling Restrictions (permissive), Climate Emergency Mobilization (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Miami for details.

Zoning Overlays & Bonuses

Specific Plans Overview: Miami 21 is one of the first major US form-based zoning codes, organizing the city into Transect Zones T1 through T6 plus Districts and Civic Spaces. Special Area Plans allow large parcels nine acres or more to negotiate custom regulating plans..

Building Safety

Fire Sprinkler Requirements: Miami enforces the Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code, requiring NFPA 13 sprinklers in nearly all new commercial, multifamily, and high-rise buildings. NFPA 13D residential systems are encouraged but not yet mandatory for single-family homes..

Also covered: Green Building Code (moderate), Childcare Center Rules (strict). See the full building safety guide for Miami for details.

Water Use Rules

Lawn Watering Restrictions: South Florida Water Management District Rule 40E-24 imposes year-round, two-day-per-week lawn watering limits on Miami properties, enforced jointly by Miami-Dade County and city code compliance. Watering is allowed only before 10 a.m.

Business Licensing & Operations

Adult Entertainment: Miami restricts adult-entertainment establishments through Code Chapter 4 alcohol rules and Miami 21 form-based zoning. Such uses are confined to specific T6 urban-core transect zones with distance buffers from schools, churches, parks, and other adult businesses..

Also covered: Massage Establishments (moderate), Tobacco Retail License (permissive), Secondhand Dealers (moderate). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Miami for details.

Public Conduct

Loud Party Ordinance: Miami Code Chapter 36 noise rules ban amplified residential disturbances, and a loud-party cost-recovery provision lets the city bill repeat offenders for second-response police time. Daytime limits are 65 dB and nighttime limits 55 dB at the property line..

Also covered: Aggressive Panhandling (moderate), Public Urination (moderate), Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (moderate). See the full public conduct guide for Miami for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Miami hotel guests pay roughly 13 percent total tax: Florida state sales tax of 6 percent plus Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) of 6 percent. Hosts and operators must register with the Florida DOR and Miami-Dade Tax Collector and remit monthly..

Tree Protection

Protected Tree Species: Miami Code Chapter 17 and Florida Statute Sec. 163.045 protect specimen and heritage trees.

Also covered: Heritage & Protected Trees (strict), Tree Replacement Requirements (strict), Tree Removal Permits (moderate). See the full tree protection guide for Miami for details.

Drone Rules

Recreational Drones: Miami enforces strict drone limits via federal FAA rules and Florida Statute 330.41. Pilots must register drones over 0.55 lbs ($5/3 years), pass TRUST, fly under 400 feet AGL within line of sight.

Also covered: Event Drone Restrictions (strict), Airport Proximity Rules (strict), Park Drone Restrictions (moderate). See the full drone rules guide for Miami for details.

Solar Energy

Community Solar: Florida Statute 366.91 allows investor-owned utilities to offer voluntary community-solar subscription programs, but bars third-party shared solar facilities. Miami residents subscribe through Florida Power and Light's SolarTogether rather than independent community arrays..

Also covered: Expedited Solar Permitting (permissive), HOA Restrictions (moderate), Panel Permits (moderate). See the full solar energy guide for Miami for details.

Trash & Recycling

Yard Waste Collection: Miami collects yard trash twice monthly through the bulky waste program. Residents may set out tree limbs, palm fronds, and bagged leaves curbside on scheduled pickup weeks.

Also covered: Mandatory Organics Recycling (permissive), Bulk Item Disposal (moderate), Recycling Requirements (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Miami for details.

Privacy & Surveillance

License Plate Readers: Florida Statute 316.0777 authorizes automated license plate readers for law enforcement and limits data retention to three years for non-evidentiary scans. Miami Police operate fixed and mobile ALPRs across city streets and ports of entry..

Noise from Specific Sources

Bar & Nightclub Noise: Miami prohibits amplified music from businesses between 11 PM and 7 AM under Section 36-5, with enhanced enforcement in Wynwood, Brickell, and downtown. The Wynwood Entertainment District pilot allows music until 3 AM with limits of 80 dB at 25 feet from the property line.

Also covered: Construction Equipment Noise (moderate), Airport Engine Run-up (moderate), HVAC & Mechanical Noise (moderate). See the full noise from specific sources guide for Miami for details.

Filming & Production

Location Permits: Miami's Office of Film and Entertainment processes filming permits for shoots on city streets, parks, and public buildings. Miami-Dade County Office of Film and Entertainment handles county-wide locations, with both requiring insurance and 48-hour advance notice..

Special Events & Permits

Parade Permits: Miami Code Chapter 39 requires written application to the Police Department at least 60 days before any parade or demonstration in city streets. Permits cover route, traffic control, insurance, and security staffing..

Also covered: Block Party Permits (moderate), Park Event Permits (moderate), Sidewalk Cafe Rules (moderate). See the full special events & permits guide for Miami for details.

Invasive Plant Rules

Tree-of-Heaven Removal: Florida Department of Agriculture's Noxious Weed list includes Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven), banning sale or transport. Miami homeowners discovering specimens should remove them, though Tree of Heaven is far less common in South Florida than melaleuca, Brazilian pepper, or Australian pine..

Historic Preservation

HPOZ Rules: Miami Code Chapter 23 governs Historic Designation, empowering the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (HEPB) to designate landmarks and districts and require Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior changes..

Also covered: Historic-Cultural Monuments (strict). See the full historic preservation guide for Miami for details.

Rental Inspections

Lead-Hazard Inspections: EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule and HUD lead-disclosure rule apply to Miami pre-1978 rental units. Florida Statute 381.984 layers state lead-poisoning prevention oversight, while the city has no separate municipal lead ordinance..

Also covered: Inspection Programs (moderate), Habitability Standards (moderate), Tenant Complaint Process (moderate). See the full rental inspections guide for Miami for details.

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Miami requires permits for removing trees with a trunk diameter of 3 inches or more at breast height. Specimen trees with 18-inch or greater diameter receive heightened protection.

Also covered: Rainwater Harvesting (permissive), Artificial Turf (permissive), Composting (permissive). See the full landscaping rules guide for Miami for details.

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

LAMC §41.18 Encampment Rule: Miami's camping enforcement was shaped by the Pottinger v. City of Miami consent decree (1998-2018), which limited arrests of unsheltered people for life-sustaining acts.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Safety Rules: FL §515 (Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act) applies in the City of Miami requiring barriers, anti-entrapment drains, and additional safety features. HVHZ hurricane standards apply to all pool structures and enclosures..

Also covered: Above-Ground Pools (moderate), Hot Tub Rules (moderate), Pool Permits (strict). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Miami for details.

Tobacco & Vaping

Tobacco Age Restrictions: Miami enforces the federal Tobacco 21 minimum age and Florida SB 1080 (2021), which raised the state minimum age to 21 for tobacco and vape sales. Florida state law preempts local tobacco regulation, so Miami has no local flavor ban or supplemental license.

Also covered: Flavored Tobacco Bans (permissive), Vape Retail Rules (permissive). See the full tobacco & vaping guide for Miami for details.

Holiday Decorations

Inflatable Display Rules: Miami has no specific City ordinance restricting residential inflatable holiday displays. Practical limits come from HOA and condo covenants, the Miami Code Chapter 36 nighttime noise cutoff (11 PM for blower/music), and the practical requirement to deflate and secure inflatables ahead of any Tropical Storm or Hurricane Watch..

Also covered: Holiday Light Rules (permissive), Lawn Ornament Rules (permissive). See the full holiday decorations guide for Miami for details.

Outdoor Cooking

Outdoor Kitchen Permits: Outdoor kitchens in Miami require building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits from the City of Miami Building Department under the Florida Building Code. Roofed pergolas and freestanding structures must meet HVHZ wind load standards (170+ mph design wind speed) under FBC Chapter 16..

Also covered: Smoker Rules (permissive), BBQ & Propane Rules (moderate). See the full outdoor cooking guide for Miami for details.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Lot Coverage Limits: Miami regulates lot coverage through Miami 21 transect zone standards. Coverage limits range from 40% in suburban zones to 80%+ in urban core zones.

Also covered: Structure Height Limits (moderate), Setback Rules (moderate). See the full building setbacks & zoning guide for Miami for details.

Outdoor Lighting

Dark Sky Rules: Miami has sea turtle lighting ordinances that function as partial dark sky rules for coastal properties. Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 26 requires turtle-friendly lighting during nesting season (March-October) on beachfront properties.

Also covered: Light Trespass (moderate). See the full outdoor lighting guide for Miami for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Miami Code Chapter 39 requires peddlers and solicitors to obtain a city permit after a Miami PD background check. The Finance/NET office issues the permit and photo ID.

Also covered: No-Knock Registry (moderate). See the full soliciting & door-to-door guide for Miami for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Food Truck Permits: Miami food trucks must hold a Florida DBPR Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle (MFDV) license ($347 annually) plus a City of Miami Certificate of Use and Business Tax Receipt. Florida state law (HB 1193, F.S.

Also covered: Vending Zones (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Miami for details.

Garage & Yard Sales

Garage Sale Permits: Miami requires a garage sale permit ($15) from the Code Compliance department before each sale. Properties are limited to two permits per calendar year, each lasting up to two consecutive days.

Also covered: Time Restrictions (moderate), Frequency Limits (moderate). See the full garage & yard sales guide for Miami for details.

Sign Regulations

Political Signs: Miami regulates political signs as temporary signs under Miami 21 Article 10. Residential properties may display non-illuminated temporary signs up to 6 square feet per sign without permits.

Also covered: Garage Sale Signs (moderate), Holiday Displays (permissive). See the full sign regulations guide for Miami for details.

Property Maintenance

Vacant Lot Maintenance: Miami requires vacant lot owners to maintain their properties free of overgrown vegetation, debris, and hazards. The city actively enforces vacant lot maintenance through Code Compliance and may abate violations at the owner's expense..

Also covered: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (permissive), Garage Sale Rules (moderate), Trash Bin Storage (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Miami for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Miami follows the Miami-Dade County juvenile curfew prohibiting minors under 17 from public places between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM Sunday-Thursday and 12:01 AM to 6:00 AM Friday-Saturday. Zone-specific curfews may apply during emergencies or in entertainment districts like Miami Beach.

Also covered: Park Curfew (strict). See the full curfew laws guide for Miami for details.

HOA Rules

Assessment & Dues: Florida law requires condo and HOA boards to prepare annual budgets, fund reserves, and collect assessments. The 2024 condo reforms mandate fully funded structural reserves by 2025.

Also covered: CC&R Enforcement (moderate), Board Procedures (moderate), Architectural Review (moderate). See the full hoa rules guide for Miami for details.

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Shutters: Miami is within the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) under the Florida Building Code. All building envelope openings must meet FBC Section 1626 large missile impact test criteria or be protected by approved shutters.

Also covered: Roof Standards (strict), Flood Elevation (strict), Storm Debris (moderate). See the full hurricane preparedness guide for Miami for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Obstruction Rules: Miami Code Section 54-2 prohibits obstruction of free passage on streets, sidewalks, and public rights-of-way. No person may stand, loiter, sit, lie, or camp in a manner that obstructs pedestrian passage.

Also covered: Sidewalk Repair (strict), Encroachment Permits (strict). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Miami for details.

What to Do With This Information

This overview covers the big picture, but the details matter. Each ordinance page for Miami includes the full text, violation penalties, and frequently asked questions. Use those pages when you need specifics.