Building Permit Search in Miami, Florida
Need to check the permit history for a property in Miami? Whether you're buying a home, planning renovations, or just verifying past work, Miami's building permits are public records. Here's the quickest way to find them.
Who keeps the records
The City of Miami issues and tracks permits for properties inside city limits. If your property is just outside the line in an unincorporated area, your permits are on file with Miami-Dade County instead — a common source of "no results" confusion when searching the wrong system.
Searching the official portal
Miami's permit records are available online here:
Search by address to view permits associated with the property. You'll typically see the permit number, type of work, issue date, inspection history, and current status.
What the statuses mean
"Final" or "Closed" means the work passed its final inspection. "Open," "Issued," or "Expired" can mean the permit was never closed out — something title companies and lenders flag during a sale or refinance. Older permits with no final inspection date deserve a closer look.
Local permit notes
Miami has two overlapping safety programs a buyer should know: Miami-Dade's 40-year recertification (on the books since 1975) and Florida's post-Surfside milestone inspection law for condos three stories or taller - triggered at 30 years, or 25 years within three miles of the coast. Buildings flagged in these programs often generate repair permits, so a permit history here can reveal how an aging building has (or hasn't) kept up. Miami also actively enforces unpermitted work discovered during sales.
The faster option
If you'd rather skip navigating government portals, PermitVista compiles the complete permit history into a single PDF within seconds. You'll see permit statuses explained in plain English, any permits that may need attention, and links back to the official records for verification.
Get an instant permit report for a Miami address →
Frequently asked questions
How do I find permits for a Miami address?
Use the free search box on this page to look up a Miami property address and get an instant summary. You can also search the official permit portal linked above, or run a full PermitVista report from the homepage. Remember that unincorporated addresses may be filed with the county, not the city. See also: how to find permit history.
What does an open permit mean in Miami?
In Miami, as elsewhere in Florida, an open permit is one that was issued but never closed out with a final inspection. It can delay a sale or refinance even years later. The property owner of record is responsible for resolving it through the local building department. More detail: what an open permit means.
Who do I contact about an old permit in Miami?
Contact the Miami building department (or the county office, if the address is unincorporated) that issued the permit — start with the official portal linked on this page. For close-out options such as final inspection, reactivation, or administrative close-out, the local department sets the rules. A PermitVista report can help you identify which permits may still need attention before you call. Guide: how to close out an old permit.