How to get every restaurant permit in Miami
Three governments touch a City of Miami restaurant. The City of Miami runs zoning (Miami 21), building permits, Fire-Rescue, the Certificate of Use and the city Business Tax Receipt. Miami-Dade County adds the county Local Business Tax Receipt, DERM environmental review and the grease (FOG) permit, WASD water/sewer and backflow, sewer capacity letters and the 1% food & beverage tax. The State of Florida licenses the restaurant itself (DBPR Hotels & Restaurants), alcohol and tobacco (DBPR AB&T), corporations (Sunbiz) and taxes (DOR). A 'Miami' mailing address proves nothing: Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Doral, Hialeah and 30 other municipalities, plus unincorporated Miami-Dade (permits from Miami-Dade RER), have their own building, zoning and fire departments and are out of scope here. Type the address into Miami-Dade's Address Search (it returns the municipality) or the City's zoning GIS map (a Miami 21 transect like T5-O appears only inside City limits) before you rely on this guide.
44 permits and licenses across 25 agencies, from business setup to opening day.
Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.
Start these early
- Liquor path: decide 2COP vs 4COP-SFS (120 seats, 2,000 sq ft) vs buying a quota 4COP before design; quota purchases and distance surveys take weeks to months.
- Miami 21 Warrant or Exception, if your use isn't allowed by right: a 30+ day notice period or a PZAB hearing can add months.
- Building permit plan review through iBuild/ePlan (zoning, building, fire, DERM): multiple comment cycles are typical.
- DERM grease interceptor (FOG) plan approval and Sewer Capacity Certification: both must be in place before building plans are approved.
- Zoning Verification Letter: 20 business days, so order it at letter-of-intent stage.
- Historic Special COA (HEPB hearing) for designated buildings or districts.
- The CU inspection clock (90 working days) starts at application, so apply only when fully built and operational.
- Natural gas service from Peoples Gas: the utility's own permitting takes 'a few weeks to a few months', so request the design visit during design.
- Entertainment or bar uses that need a Warrant/Exception, and any HACCP special-process waiver (sushi rice, curing), should be filed before construction so the opening is not held hostage.
Key facts
- The City of Miami requires an Occupant Load Certificate for places of assembly (restaurant, bar, club) that host 50 or more people in one room, and the CU application asks for it when 50+ occupants.
- City of Miami owner-builder permits are limited to owner-occupied one- and two-family residential work, so restaurant build-outs need a licensed contractor.
- City of Miami CU: $50 non-refundable application fee plus an inspection invoice. All CUs require DERM, Fire and Code inspections, completed within 90 working days. CUs renew by September 30, and renewal includes the Fire Safety Permit.
- Every City of Miami business also needs a Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt. The Eating Establishment rate for a business in a city is $45 (1–30 seats), $90 (31–74), $135 (75–149) or $180 (150+).
- DBPR food service plan review costs $0, and online plan reviews are completed within 30 days. The license costs $262–$357/year by seats plus a $50 application fee.
- Florida food managers must pass an approved certification exam within 30 days of employment (s. 509.039), and food employees must be trained within 60 days of hire, valid 3 years (s. 509.049).
- 4COP-SFS special restaurant licenses require at least 2,000 sq ft of service area, the ability to serve 120 people at once, 120+ physical seats, and at least 51% of food-and-beverage revenue from food and non-alcoholic beverages.
- In counties over 100,000 population (Miami-Dade), the annual 2COP fee is $392 and the 4COP fee is $1,820 (AB&T fee chart effective October 1, 2026). New quota licenses carry a one-time $10,750 fee.
- Zoning approval must be executed by the city or county zoning authority on all new and change-of-location alcoholic beverage license applications.
- Miami-Dade's discretionary sales surtax is 1% for 2026, so the combined sales tax on taxable meals is 7%.
- Florida's state sales tax on commercial rent (license fees for use of real property) was repealed effective October 1, 2025.
- Miami-Dade Sewer Capacity Certification is required when wastewater flow increases (for example adding restaurant seating). It costs 3 cents/sq ft (minimum $108, maximum $600, plus a 7.5% surcharge), and the letter is valid 90 days.
All Miami restaurant permits
Questions owners ask
My address says 'Miami' — does this guide apply?
Only if the parcel is inside the City of Miami. Check the City's zoning GIS map. Miami Beach, Coral Gables, other municipalities and unincorporated Miami-Dade have their own building, zoning and fire departments and different processes.
Who inspects restaurants in Miami — the health department or the state?
Restaurants (public food service establishments) are licensed and inspected by Florida DBPR's Division of Hotels & Restaurants. Grocery-style food sales fall under FDACS, and institutional kitchens (schools, hospitals, etc.) fall under the Department of Health.
Do I need both a City BTR and a County business tax receipt?
Yes. Every City of Miami business needs the City Business Tax Receipt (after the Certificate of Use) and the Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt. Both renew by September 30.
What's the cheapest way to serve full liquor?
If your restaurant has at least 2,000 sq ft of service area and 120 seats and earns at least 51% of food-and-beverage revenue from food, you can apply for a non-quota 4COP-SFS license. Otherwise you'll need to buy a scarce quota 4COP. Beer & wine only (2COP, $392/year in Miami-Dade) is the simplest.
Can I pull my own building permit to save money?
No. The City of Miami limits owner-builder permits to owner-occupied one- and two-family homes. A restaurant build-out needs a licensed contractor and sealed plans.
How long does opening take in the City of Miami?
The City itself says the business process can take several months. A light second-generation restaurant may take 3–5 months; a change of use with full build-out, sewer certification, FOG plans and a liquor license often takes 8–12+ months.
Can I open with my sidewalk café?
Usually not. The sidewalk café permit requires your BTR and CU, which come at the very end, so plan to open indoors first.
When do I need an Occupant Load Certificate?
When 50 or more people can occupy one room. The City requires a posted Occupant Load Certificate and panic hardware on exits, and the CU application asks for the certificate.
Can I start selling alcohol before the state finishes reviewing my license?
Often yes. Once AB&T receives a complete application with no apparent disqualification, you can buy a temporary license ($100 or 1/4 of the annual fee, whichever is greater) while the 90-day review runs.
I only serve beer and wine — which license and how much?
A 2COP license from DBPR AB&T: $392 a year in Miami-Dade, no quota, no seat or square-footage minimums. You still need the City's alcohol reservation letter and zoning sign-off, fingerprints 5 days before filing, and you can buy a $100 temporary license to pour while AB&T reviews (up to 90 days).
Is there a late-night permit in the City of Miami?
No. Hours come from City Code Chapter 4: restaurants may serve alcohol 7 a.m.–3 a.m. by right; bars 11 a.m.–3 a.m.; nightclubs 7 p.m.–3 a.m. Closing at 5 a.m. requires an Exception unless you are in a 24-hour district (UCBD, Omni CRA, Central Design District, Overtown/Park West). Your CU and liquor license carry the hours.
Do I need a separate catering license to cater events?
Not for the food: your DBPR restaurant license covers catering. For alcohol at off-site events you need the AB&T 13CT caterer's license ($1,820/year) and must earn at least 51% of each event's food-and-beverage revenue from food.
My bar has no kitchen — do I still need a health license?
Yes, from the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade (not DBPR). Bars and lounges that serve no prepared food are DOH food service establishments with an annual fee capped at $300, and you must designate a certified food protection manager.
Does Miami regulate delivery apps or require a delivery permit?
No permit and no City rule: Florida preempts delivery-platform regulation to the state. Section 509.103 requires platforms to get your written consent before listing you, delist you within 10 days on request and itemize their fees to customers.
Do I need a license to make soft-serve or gelato in-house?
No separate license in Florida. Your DBPR license covers frozen desserts you sell to your own customers; the FDACS frozen dessert plant permit ($200) only applies if you wholesale them.
Can I park my food truck outside my restaurant?
The truck needs only the state DBPR MFDV license ($347 + $50) and a commissary (your kitchen works). Florida bars the City from adding a truck license or fee, but City Sec. 31-51 controls location: not in T3/T4-R zones or District 3, 500 ft from other food service, and limited days per week on a lot with a CU.
Which agency handles my employees — is there Florida withholding?
Florida has no state income tax, so no withholding. You register for reemployment tax with DOR (2.7% on the first $7,000 per employee for new employers), report new hires within 20 days, carry workers' comp at 4+ employees, post the FloridaCommerce and federal notices, and use E-Verify once you reach 25 employees.