Miami, FL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Threshold
- 2+ ft below grade, 10,000+ sq ft
- Permitting agency
- Resilience and Public Works Dept.
- Upland fee
- $180 first 5,000 sq ft
- Submerged land fee
- $425 per acre
- Permit term
- 1 year, renewable for $115
Summary
Miami requires a fill permit from the resilience and public works department before grading land that sits two feet or more below the county design grade over 10,000 square feet or more, and before any building permit issues.
A fill permit issued by the resilience and public works department shall be required when the elevation of the land to be filled is two feet or more below the design grade established by the county and the areas to be filled consist of 10,000 square feet or more. On land requiring a fill permit, the application for a building permit shall not be made before the fill permit is obtained. The fact that a fill permit may not be required does not lessen the responsibility of the owner or developer to comply with the intent of this article. If, in the opinion of the director of resilience and public works, unsuitable materials are being used for fill, the director of resilience and public works may stop the work and require that a fill permit be obtained. (Code 1967, § 27-1; Code 1980, § 29-1; Ord. No. 13792, § 1, 10-11-18)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 | Ordinance 11000 (Previous Zoning Code): Supplement 22 | Miami 21 (Zoning Code): ?).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code Chapter 29, anyone filling submerged or low-lying land in Miami needs a fill permit from the resilience and public works department once the site sits two feet or more below the county's design grade and covers 10,000 square feet or more; a building permit application can't be filed until that fill permit is issued. Applicants submit a plan showing the tract's legal boundaries, the area to be filled, its approximate depth, and existing elevations. Permit fees run $180 for the first 5,000 square feet and $120 per additional 5,000 square feet on upland parcels, or $425 per acre for submerged land, and permits expire after one year unless renewed for $115.
Violations & Fines
Filling or grading a covered lot without a fill permit lets the resilience and public works director stop work on site until a permit is obtained; using unsuitable fill material triggers the same stop-work order.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Miami require a fill permit before grading?
Can I get a building permit before the fill permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle erosion control.