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.
Miami's outdoor kitchen permitting is more stringent than most cities because of HVHZ wind load requirements. The City of Miami Building Department administers the Florida Building Code (FBC), including HVHZ provisions in FBC Chapter 16 that mandate design wind speeds of 170+ mph for any new construction. Built-in outdoor kitchen elements requiring permits: (1) Building permit for any structural slab, counter framing, masonry walls, or roofed pergola/pavilion — and the structure must be engineered for HVHZ wind loads; (2) Mechanical permit for new natural-gas line extensions to built-in grills, with FBC §623 fuel-gas requirements; (3) Plumbing permit for outdoor sinks, ice-maker lines, and hose bibbs; (4) Electrical permit for GFCI-protected outdoor outlets, lighting, and outdoor refrigerator circuits — outdoor outlets must be in 'wet location' rated enclosures. Zoning compliance: outdoor kitchens are accessory structures under Miami 21, subject to setback rules in the relevant transect (typically 5 ft side/rear in T3). Properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A, AE, V, VE) must site outdoor kitchen utilities above the Design Flood Elevation. Roofed outdoor kitchens 200+ sq ft also trigger lot coverage limits under Miami 21.
Unpermitted gas/electrical/plumbing work: Building Department stop-work order, double permit fees on after-the-fact, mandatory exposure of concealed work. Non-HVHZ-engineered roofed structures: removal order. Damage in hurricane: insurance claim denial possible for unpermitted structures.
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See how Miami's outdoor kitchen permits rules stack up against other locations.
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