Miami, FL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Year 1 fee
- $262.50
- Year 3+ fee
- $525.00 annually
- Compliance plan deadline
- 90 days after registration
- Tall-building surcharge
- $0.30 per square foot
- Legal basis
- Declared a public nuisance
Summary
Miami requires owners of blighted, unsecured, vacant, or abandoned structures to register the property, submit a compliance plan within 90 days, and pay escalating annual fees, $262.50, $394.00, then $525.00 a year, under City Code § 10-65.
The owner of a blighted, unsecured, vacant or abandoned structure shall initially register the property with the city and pay an annual registration fee. The schedule is as follows:a.$262.50 for the first year.b.$394.00 for the second year.c.$525.00 for the third and each subsequent consecutive year the building remains a blighted, unsecured, vacant or abandoned structure.
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
City Code Article IV declares any blighted, unsecured, vacant, or abandoned structure a public nuisance under the city's police power (§ 10-61). Owners must secure every opening, remove graffiti, and keep the premises free of rodents and vermin (§ 10-63), then register with the city, supplying owner contact information and a repair plan the enforcement officer must approve within 90 days (§ 10-65). Registration fees escalate: $262.50 the first year, $394.00 the second, $525.00 the third and every year after, plus a $0.30-per-square-foot surcharge for structures three stories or taller. The registration fee must be paid in full before the city issues any repair permit other than a demolition permit.
Violations & Fines
Unpaid registration fees draw statutory interest and code enforcement board prosecution under § 10-66; unresolved work by the city becomes a special assessment lien ranking equal to ad valorem property tax liens against the title.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a blighted structure in Miami?
Does registering excuse an owner from repairs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida property maintenance overview
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Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle property blight.