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Planning

The Planning Department facilitates and regulates land development, preserves natural resources for our distinct neighborhoods, and cultivates an improved quality of life for our city’s diverse communities.

There are several divisions within the department: Administration, Art in Public Places, Community Planning, Environmental Resources, Hearing Boards, Historic Preservation, Land Development, and Urban Design. The Planning Department Customer Services hours are from 8:00am to 5:00pm but may differ for Divisions based on walk-in and appointments. For more information on divisional hours and specific services, please click on cards below. Important: If you'd like to apply for a permit, we recommend viewing our Permits & Construction page or our Guide to Getting a Permit.

Announcements!: The City of Miami is updating the Miami Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan (MCNP). For more information visit our Miami: Envision 2035 page.

Department Director and Assistant Director(s)

Lakisha Hull, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, Director
Sevanne Steiner, CNU-A, Assistant Director
David Snow, Assistant Director

Divisions

Art in Public Places (AIPP)

The Art in Public Places program seeks to create a stimulating and diverse cultural environment that reflects, defines, and enhances the City's heritage, values, and visions for the future through art integrated into the architecture, infrastructure, and landscape.

Comprehensive Planning

Comprehensive Planning Division monitors the changing factors that affect daily living within the City of Miami. We make a plan based on those factors to change the future of Miami. Sustainability in all aspects including financial, social, and environmental is the goal.

Hearing Boards Office

The Hearings Boards office is a division within the Planning department. We organize, disseminate, and preserve, public hearing records for a majority of the city of Miami's quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative boards.

Historic Preservation

The Historic Preservation Division promotes the identification, evaluation, rehabilitation, adaptive use, and restoration of the City's historic, architectural, and archeological heritage.

Land Development

The Land Development Division is responsible for guiding applicants, and the general public through the entitlement (special permit) process.

Urban Design

The Urban Design Division focuses on how the physical elements within the public realm can be built and arranged to enhance walkability and create a positive experience for everyone to live, work and play within a neighborhood.

Staff & Contacts

View Planning Department Contact List

View Notifications: Warrant, Waiver, Planning Determination, Zoning Interpretation and Intended Decision

The below directs you to the current and past issued Warrants, Waivers, Determinations and Interpretations.

Current and Archived Warrant and Waivers

Recent Planning Determination of Use

Archived Planning Determination of Use

Recent Zoning Interpretation

Archived Zoning Interpretation

The below links direct you to the current Intended Decisions Posted for Tree Permitting.

View Intended Decisions Posted for Tree Permitting

Special Permits

Are you trying to open a business (or a residence that functions as a business such as a group home), and the Miami 21 code states that you need a Warrant for your usage and zone? The City of Miami issues Warrant permits for proposed uses in transect zones where the function is not allowed by right.

Apply for a Warrant

Are you trying to build or renovate a business or residence, and your plans are not 'allowed by right' according to Miami 21 code? The City of Miami issues Waivers intended to relieve practical difficulties in complying with the Miami 21 Code, when such Waivers meet a specific list of requirements.

Apply for a Waiver

Are you trying to open a business, and the zoning code states that you need an Exception? The City of Miami issues Exception permits for proposed uses in transect zones where the function is not allowed by right. Exception permits require a hearing with the PZAB (Show info) and may require City Commission approval.

Apply for an Exception

Are you trying to change the zoning designation of your property? The City of Miami offers change of zoning processes that go before hearing boards for approval. NOTE: New rezone applications are heard by PZAB twice a year (March and September). Based on those dates, we encourage that you start this process at least six months before your desired hearing date. You may not request a hearing for a rezone until you have gone through the full rezone request process.

Request a Change of Zoning (Rezone/FLUM/SAP)

Electronic Plan Review (ePlan)

The City of Miami launched Electronic Plan Review on 10/1/2018. Here, users can apply for permits online, upload plans/drawings and documents without visiting the City of Miami, monitor and track applications throughout the plans review process, view corrective comments and markups, and more. View information, directions, and services related to The City of Miami's new "Electronic Plan Review" (ePlan). Important: If you'd like to apply for a permit, we recommend viewing our Permits & Construction page or our Guide to Getting a Permit.

All Things ePlan

City Planning

The diversity and character of Miami is not only reflected in its citizens. Each neighborhood is unique. In order to preserve the character of our neighborhoods, the Planning Department has developed and implemented guidelines for development.

Master Plans

Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs)

Neighborhood Revitalization Districts (NRDs)

Underline

Special Area Plans (SAPs)

Development of Regional Impact (DRI)

Miami Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan (MCNP)

Guidelines & Resources

City Codes

City of Miami Code of Ordinances, including Chapter 23 (Historic Preservation)

Miami 21: You can now view the Miami 21 Code of Ordinances on Codehub, which can be divided by article & appendix, searched, or bookmarked. The Miami 21 Code establishes standards and procedures for new development or redevelopment in the City. It also adopts the Miami 21 Atlas, which acts as the official Zoning Atlas of the City and is filed in the City Clerk’s office. The Miami 21 Atlas designates a Transect Zone for all lands within the City.

Forms & Checklists

Permitting Forms and Documents

Special Permits Checklist

Guidelines

Historic Design Guideline

Non-Historic Guidelines

External Resources

Planning Resource Guide has a list of outside entities and resources that we frequently consult in our day to day work. They may be helpful for you in understanding more about Planning concepts.

Meetings & Events

Meetings and Events Calendar

Instructions and Details for Virtual Board and Committee Meetings

GIS Maps

Zoning Interactive Tool

The Zoning Interactive Tool is a mapping application which provides real estate data on properties within the City. Users can view a variety of visual layers such as Miami 21 zoning designations, Future Land Use designations, Historic Preservation layers, NET Area, and Commission Districts.

MuniMap (Miami Zoning Map)

Munimap provides information on in-depth parcel level zoning, allowed uses, and development capacity through a user-friendly interface. MuniMap is free to use (no registration required) and allows users to quickly identify a parcel's zoning regulations or perform searches for properties that meet a range of criteria. In addition, the map offers a one of a kind 3D zoning capability, showing envelope massing shapes for each parcel according to zoning requirements and building capacity.

eMap

The City's eMAP (Geo spatial permitting Application) allows all users to view entitlements from SPI that are in progress/issued without having log in credentials.

GIS Map Request

The Planning Department offers GIS map creation services for properties within the City of Miami. Maps are provided digitally to be environmentally friendly, cost effective, and efficient.