Miami, FL Hurricane Preparedness: Flood Elevation (2026)
Key Facts
- Freeboard required
- 1 foot above base flood elevation
- Applies to
- new construction & substantial improvements
- Coastal high hazard areas
- pile/column elevation, § 20-5
- Datum used
- NAVD 88
- Enforced by
- city building official
Summary
New construction and substantial improvements in Miami's special flood hazard areas must have the lowest floor elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard, enforced by the city building official under Code Chapter 20.
No new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure shall be permitted in special flood hazard areas, and no permit referred to in section 20-3 of this chapter shall be issued therefor, unless said new construction or substantial improvement has the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the level of the base flood elevation (100-year flood) plus one foot of freeboard
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
Miami Code § 20-4(a) bars building permits for new construction or substantial improvement of a residential structure in a special flood hazard area unless the lowest floor, including any basement, sits at or above the 100-year base flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard. Nonresidential structures may instead use engineer-certified dry floodproofing to the same elevation under § 20-4(b). In coastal high hazard (V-zone) areas, § 20-5 additionally requires the structure to be pile- or column-supported with the lowest horizontal member at base flood elevation plus one foot, with the space below left open. All elevations are measured to NAVD 88, and lowest-floor certification by a surveyor or engineer is required before final inspection.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 20 is a code offense under § 1-13, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense; the building official can also seek injunctive relief, revoke the building permit, or suspend or revoke the certificate of occupancy under § 20-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a "substantial improvement" that triggers the elevation rule?
Can a commercial building skip elevating and floodproof instead?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida hurricane preparedness overview
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Flood Elevation in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle flood elevation.