Historic District Permits in South Florida: Renovating in Coral Gables, Miami Beach, and Beyond
South Florida’s most beautiful neighborhoods — Coral Gables’ Mediterranean revival streets, Miami Beach’s Art Deco district, historic MiMo corridors, older Fort Lauderdale enclaves — come with an extra layer of review that ordinary permits never touch. Owning a historic property is a privilege and a responsibility, and renovating one means understanding a process that surprises […]
Change of Use and Certificate of Occupancy: What Business Owners Need Before Opening the Doors
You signed the lease, planned the build-out, and are counting the days to opening. Then someone mentions the certificate of occupancy — and the phrase “change of use.” These two concepts decide whether your business can legally open, and they surprise more first-time commercial tenants than any other part of the permit process. Here is […]
Standby Generator Permits in South Florida: Gas, Electrical, and Placement Rules Explained
After every major storm, generator installers book out for months — and after every generator boom, building departments see a wave of unpermitted installations. A whole-home standby generator is one of the most permit-intensive residential projects short of an addition: it involves electrical, gas or fuel, placement rules, and noise considerations all at once. Here […]
Why Is My Permit Taking So Long? Diagnosing (and Fixing) a Stalled Application in South Florida
The most common call we get is not “how do I apply” — it is “I applied months ago and nothing is happening.” A stalled permit always has a reason, and finding it is usually a twenty-minute investigation in the jurisdiction’s online portal. Here is the diagnostic checklist we run, in order. 1. Comments Are […]
Solar Panel Permits in South Florida: What Installation Really Requires
Solar is booming across South Florida rooftops, and every one of those systems went through — or should have gone through — a permit process that touches structural, electrical, and utility review. Whether you are a homeowner comparing installer quotes or a contractor entering the market, here is what solar permitting involves in Miami-Dade, Broward, […]
Electrical and Plumbing Permits in South Florida: When Trade Work Needs Its Own Permit
Homeowners understand that an addition needs a permit. What surprises people is that the water heater, the panel upgrade, the new circuit for the EV charger, and the re-pipe each need permits too — trade permits, pulled by licensed electricians and plumbers, with their own inspections. Here is how trade permitting works in Miami-Dade, Broward, […]
Roof Replacement Permits in South Florida: Rules, Inspections, and Insurance Paperwork
A new roof is the most consequential permit most homeowners will ever pull: it protects everything under it, it is heavily regulated in our hurricane region, and the paperwork follows the house for decades, through insurance policies, wind mitigation discounts, and every future sale. Here is how roof replacement permitting works in Miami-Dade, Broward, and […]
Pool, Fence, and Screen Enclosure Permits in South Florida: What Needs Approval
Backyard projects feel informal, it is your yard, after all, but in South Florida the backyard is one of the most permit-intensive zones on the property. Pools, fences, and screen enclosures each carry their own permitting requirements, and each has a code angle that surprises homeowners. Here is what needs approval and why. Swimming Pools: […]
Demolition Permits in South Florida: Interior Demo, Partial Demo, and Full Teardowns
“It’s just demolition” is one of the more expensive sentences in South Florida construction. Whether you are gutting a kitchen, removing a wall, taking down a damaged structure, or clearing a lot for new construction, demolition is permitted work, and the requirements scale with what you are tearing down. Here is how demolition permits work […]
Do You Need a Permit for Impact Windows and Doors in South Florida? (Yes — Here’s How It Works)
Impact windows and doors are among the most popular upgrades in South Florida, for hurricane protection, insurance savings, noise reduction, and energy efficiency. They are also, without exception, permitted work. If a company tells you otherwise, walk away. Here is what the permit process for impact openings involves in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, […]