Common rejection reasons in North Miami
57 documented. Our analysis checks your package against these.
1Online portal ONLY accepts: stand-alone electrical, stand-alone plumbing, windows/doors, commercial roofs, residential roofs, small interior renovations. ALL other scopes require IN-PERSON at 12340 NE 8th Ave
2Additions and new construction are NOT eligible for digital submittal — must apply IN-PERSON
3Owner-builder is NOT eligible for digital submittal — must appear in person
4Upon receipt of online application, a LINK is sent via email to upload documents — city will NOT accept documents from any other links
5All documents must be PDF format and clearly labeled (permit applications, plans, special inspector form, state license, liability insurance, survey, elevation certificate, etc.)
6Building Permit Application must be signed AND NOTARIZED by BOTH property owner AND contractor qualifier — incomplete notarization = rejection
7EACH trade contractor (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) has its own separate notarization section on the application — ALL must be notarized
8Estimated Construction Value must be based on ACTUAL COST including profit and overhead — Building Official may use R.S. Means to verify and will reject low estimates
9All required plans, data, AND fees must be submitted TOGETHER — incomplete applications are NOT processed
10Cannot have ANY outstanding building violations on the property — application will NOT be approved until violations cleared
11Separate permits required for EACH trade: Electrical, Plumbing, Signs, Pools, Boilers, Tanks, A/C, Roofing, Shutters, Windows, Doors — each needs its own application and sign-off
12Work without permit = $110 penalty fee + DOUBLE the base permit fee (100% penalty) — strictly enforced; also triggers Code Enforcement fines on top
13Misrepresentation on application = additional 0.2% of construction cost assessed (min $250) on top of penalty/double fees
14Rework fee of $137 charged every TWO denials per discipline — corrections must be made properly the first time
15Re-inspection fee $89 per trade per occurrence — charged if corrections not made, work not ready, approved docs not on-site, or no access to area
16Payment of re-inspection fee required BEFORE any future inspection can be scheduled
17Expired permit renewal: $89 per trade PLUS 50% of original base permit fee if permit expired >6 months — this can be very expensive
18If payment is returned (bounced check), a HOLD is placed on the permit and finals are re-opened until balance paid in full
19NO REFUND on upfront fees, early start, dry-run review, expedite review, plan review fees, or surcharges — once paid, gone
20Survey must be CURRENT — if survey is older than 1 year, a Survey Affidavit is REQUIRED in addition to the survey
21Most permit types require 2 copies of signed and sealed survey — not 1
22Proof of ownership = RECORDED WARRANTY DEED — not just a title or contract; required for ALL permit types
23Demolition requires disconnect letters from ALL utilities: FPL, NM Water and Sewer, AND gas supplier — even if NOT served by gas, you MUST get a letter from the gas company confirming no service
24Demolition requires SEPARATE temporary construction fence permit (chain link with green screen barrier)
25PARTIAL DEMOLITION will NOT be accepted without simultaneous submittal of COMPLETE plans for rehabilitative work
26COMMERCIAL DEMOLITION: Plans must FIRST go to City for a process number, THEN to MDC DERM for review, THEN back to City — wrong order = rejection
27Pool Safety Act form requires NOTARIZATION for BOTH owner/agent AND prime contractor — two separate notarizations on one form
28Final pool inspection will NOT be approved without pool safety barrier compliance — pool will be deemed 'unsafe' if permit expires without compliance
29Pool permit requires DERM approval — submit to Miami-Dade separately
30Shutters are REQUIRED if more than 25% of openings are being replaced on SFR/duplex — must provide product approval for shutters
31Impact resistance required on ALL commercial window/door retrofits regardless of size or amount replaced
32Wind pressures must be calculated per ASCE-7-22 for buildings 2 stories or more
33Condo Association Board approval must be obtained BEFORE commencing window/door/shutter work — permit holder's responsibility
34Generator permit requires THREE separate permits: Building, Electrical, AND Plumbing/Mechanical — each signed and notarized separately
35Generator/fuel equipment MUST be at Base Flood Elevation or higher — Elevation Certificate REQUIRED attached to plans
36Transfer switch must be SAME SIZE as service capacity — undersized = rejection
37No barbed wire, spikes, spears, broken glass, electrical elements, exposed sharp objects, or other hazardous materials on fences — will be rejected
38If survey shows existing fencing, plans MUST include statement that existing fencing will be removed (or sections removed) before new installation
39CBS walls and masonry walls require plans signed and sealed by architect or engineer
40Commercial fence permits require Miami-Dade Fire approval
41Per City Code Section 17-97, impervious percentage CANNOT exceed 40% in the right-of-way
42Driveway minimum 5' setback from property lines
43If existing sidewalk crossing driveway is NOT 6 inches thick, it must be replaced
44Any sidewalk damaged during construction or not meeting ADA requirements MUST be replaced
45If approaches are not built to minimal city standards, a SEPARATE Engineering Permit for work within Public Right-of-Way is required
46Sign permits require 2 FULL COLOR renderings with ALL dimensions and total square footage
47Wall signs require 2 copies of Addendum #2 (city-specific form)
48Sign plans must show wind load calculations for BOTH positive AND negative wind pressures
49North Miami enforces 30-YEAR recertification (per MDC Code Section 8-11) — $395 per building, PLUS $388 late penalty if submitted late
50This is HVHZ — all products must have Miami-Dade County NOA (Notice of Acceptance) or Florida Product Approval
51Both City of North Miami AND Miami-Dade County contractor registration required — double registration
52DERM approval required before City will review for: additions, pools, boat docks, carport conversions, commercial demolition
53NOC must be POSTED at job site per Florida Statute 713.135 — missing posting = violation
54Private Provider discount is only 10% for plan review OR inspection; 15% for BOTH — NOT the 65% some other cities offer
55Construction hours: No loud noise 8 PM to 7 AM — violations result in code enforcement action
56Construction Hours Waiver available (online form) for work outside standard hours — must be approved BEFORE work begins
57If new permit not obtained within 180 days of expiration, Building Official may require ALL completed work to be removed from the site