City of Miami Building Dept
Miami, FL
Avg Review
35d
Rejection Rate
62%
Skill Files
8
Status
High Risk
Ventilation — Type I Hood (HVHZ Requirements)
FBC-M 507 / NFPA 96 / FBC HVHZ §1626Type I hood per FBC-M §507. High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) requirements apply to all roof penetrations including exhaust ductwork. Exhaust fans and ductwork must have Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) or FL Product Approval. Makeup air system required with conditioning for humidity control. Hurricane-rated roof curbs required.
Examiner Note: Miami Building Dept strictly enforces HVHZ — all rooftop mechanical equipment must have Miami-Dade NOA. Standard non-HVHZ products will be rejected. Verify NOA numbers before design.
Common rejection: Rooftop exhaust fan does not have Miami-Dade NOA; roof penetration detail does not meet HVHZ requirements
Correction: Specify exhaust fans and roof curbs with valid Miami-Dade NOA numbers on M-1. Provide HVHZ-compliant roof penetration details. Include NOA documentation with permit submittal.
Fire — Suppression & Miami Fire-Rescue
NFPA 96 / FBC-Fire §904 / Miami-Dade Fire CodeUL 300 system required. Automatic sprinkler per FBC 903.2.1.3. City of Miami Fire-Rescue conducts separate review. Fire alarm with monitoring service connection. Suppression system interlocked with gas and electrical shutoff. All fire protection equipment must have FL Product Approval.
Examiner Note: Miami Fire-Rescue review can take 3-4 weeks. Submit fire plans as early as possible. All suppression system components must have FL Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA.
Common rejection: Fire suppression system components lack FL Product Approval; fire plans submitted late causing schedule delay
Correction: Submit fire plans to Miami Fire-Rescue immediately with building permit. Specify FL Product Approval or NOA numbers for all fire protection equipment. Include monitoring service connection detail on FP-1.
Plumbing — Grease Interceptor (Miami-Dade WASD)
FBC-P §1003 / Miami-Dade WASD FOG OrdinanceGrease interceptor per FBC Plumbing §1003. Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Dept (WASD) enforces FOG program requiring minimum 1,500 gallon external interceptor for commercial kitchens (stricter than FBC minimum). Quarterly pumping manifests required. 3-compartment sink, handwash stations per Florida Food Code.
Examiner Note: Miami-Dade WASD has a separate FOG review — submit grease interceptor application to WASD before plumbing permit. WASD requires 1,500 gallon minimum (higher than state code).
Common rejection: Grease interceptor sized per FBC minimum instead of Miami-Dade WASD 1,500 gallon requirement; WASD FOG application not submitted
Correction: Size grease interceptor minimum 1,500 gallons per Miami-Dade WASD FOG requirements (not FBC minimum). Submit FOG application to WASD before plumbing permit. Show interceptor on site plan.
Electrical — Kitchen Power (FBC-E/2020 NEC)
FBC-Electrical / 2020 NEC Art 210 / Art 422Minimum 200A service per bay. GFCI within 6 feet of water per NEC 210.8(B). Dedicated circuits per NEC 422. Emergency disconnect per NEC 422.33. Panel schedule required. All electrical equipment in HVHZ must have FL Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA for wind-borne debris region.
Examiner Note: Miami enforces HVHZ on exterior electrical equipment (weatherheads, meters, panels). Verify FL Product Approval for all exterior electrical components.
Common rejection: Exterior electrical equipment lacks Miami-Dade NOA; panel schedule incomplete
Correction: Specify Miami-Dade NOA numbers for all exterior electrical equipment. Provide complete panel schedule on E-1. Mark GFCI on outlets within 6 feet of water. Show emergency disconnect locations.
Health — FL DBPR / Miami-Dade Health
FL DBPR 61C-4 / Miami-Dade Health DeptFL DBPR food facility plan review required. Miami-Dade County Health Dept also reviews for local health requirements. Handwash within 25 feet. 3-compartment sink. FRP/SS behind cooking. Sealed floors, coved base. Pest control critical in South Florida climate: sealed penetrations, air curtains at all entry doors, screened openings. Walk-in cooler/freezer required on plan.
Examiner Note: Both FL DBPR and Miami-Dade Health review — submit to both simultaneously. South Florida pest control requirements are strictly enforced. Air curtains required at every exterior door.
Common rejection: Air curtains not shown at delivery/service doors; DBPR plan review not initiated
Correction: Submit to FL DBPR and Miami-Dade County Health simultaneously. Show air curtains at all exterior doors. Add pest control notes: sealed penetrations, screened openings, self-closing hardware.
Structural — HVHZ Wind Design
FBC HVHZ §1626 / ASCE 7-16 / FBC §1609High Velocity Hurricane Zone: ultimate design wind speed 185+ mph for Miami-Dade. All structural connections designed for HVHZ wind loads. Impact-resistant glazing or approved shutters required. Rooftop equipment designed for wind uplift per HVHZ. Miami-Dade NOA required for all structural components (fasteners, clips, connectors). Flood zone compliance per FBC §1612.
Examiner Note: Miami HVHZ structural review is the most stringent in FL. Use only Miami-Dade NOA products. Threshold building inspection required for structures over 3 stories, >50,000 SF, or >$2M. Verify flood zone before design.
Common rejection: Structural connections not designed for HVHZ; non-NOA products specified; flood zone not addressed
Correction: Design all structural connections for HVHZ wind loads (185+ mph). Specify Miami-Dade NOA products for all structural components. Include flood zone determination and compliance on S-1. Verify threshold building criteria.
ADA — Miami Accessibility (FBC-Accessibility)
FBC-Accessibility Ch 11 / 2010 ADA / FBC §553.504FBC Accessibility Code applies. Accessible route 36-inch minimum. Accessible restroom with 60-inch turning radius. Accessible parking per FBC Table 553.504. Van-accessible space with 96-inch aisle. Signage with raised characters and Braille.
Examiner Note: Miami checks accessible parking and route compliance strictly. Ensure van-accessible space complies.
Common rejection: Insufficient accessible parking; accessible route not dimensioned on plans
Correction: Show accessible parking per FBC Table 553.504 on site plan with van-accessible space. Dimension accessible route on A-1. Show accessible restroom layout with 60-inch turning radius.
Egress — FBC Exit Requirements (HVHZ)
FBC §1006 / §1017 / §1013 / HVHZ amendmentsStandard FBC egress plus HVHZ amendments. Two exits when occupant load exceeds 49. Travel distance per FBC 1017. Exit doors must withstand HVHZ wind pressures — impact-rated exit doors or shutters required. Panic hardware required. Exit signs on emergency power. Occupant load calculation on plans.
Examiner Note: Miami requires impact-rated exit doors or approved shutter system for all exterior exit doors in HVHZ. Verify product NOA.
Common rejection: Exterior exit doors not impact-rated for HVHZ; no NOA for exit door assembly
Correction: Specify impact-rated exit doors with Miami-Dade NOA for all exterior exits. Show exit sign locations on RCP. Add occupant load calculation on A-1.