Resource Page for Digital Signatures

1. Overview

In the electronic plan review process, it is crucial that a design and/or engineer professional, land surveyor and/or mapper be able to prove their identity and the integrity of documentation that they submit. In the City of Miami, this is done by utilizing PKI based digital signatures for signing and sealing electronically produced plan sets and other documents requirement professional signature.

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.  

Click on any number for more information about that topic. 

2. Digital Signatures: Sign and Seal Documents & Drawings

In the electronic plan review process, it is crucial that a design and/or engineer professional, land surveyor and/or mapper be able to prove their identity and the integrity of documentation that they submit. In the City of Miami, this is done by utilizing PKI based digital signatures for signing and sealing electronically produced plan sets and other documents requirement professional signature.

You can view detailed directions for this here

For a listing of which documents are required to be signed, sealed please refer to the Additional Information section of this resource page. Please note that your professional board may have special requirements for using digital signatures. 

For more information, please see our guides in the table of contents above and follow the links to rules and regulations of your board. 

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.

3. General Information

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.

Which Documents Need to be Digitally Signed/Sealed?

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.  

❖ COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION

  • Plans for commercial projects valued at less than $25,000 digitally signed by the preparer.

  • Plans for commercial projects valued at $25,000 and greater must be digitally signed and

    sealed by an architect or engineer.

  • Property survey must be digitally signed and sealed by a land surveyor.

  • Soils report must be digitally signed and sealed by an engineer.

  • Structural calculations must be digitally signed and sealed by an engineer.

  • Energy calculations must be digitally signed by the preparer.

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing plans designed by a contractor as authorized in

    Chapter 471 of the Florida Statutes must be digitally signed.

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing plans designed by a professional engineer or a

    registered architect as authorized in Chapters 471 or 481, respectively, of the Florida Statutes

    must be digitally signed and sealed.

  • Shop drawings prepared by a delegated engineer must be digitally signed and sealed.

  • Shop drawings prepared by anyone other than an engineer or architect must be digitally

    signed.

  • Private Provider documents must be digitally signed and sealed by the private provider, and

    digitally notarized by a notary public.

❖ RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION

  • Plans for one- and two-family residential projects (new, additions or alterations) prepared by

    an architect or engineer must be digitally signed and sealed.

  • Plans for one- and two-family residential projects (new, additions or alterations) prepared by

    anyone other than an architect or engineer must be digitally signed.

  • Property survey must be digitally signed and sealed by a land surveyor.

  • Soils report must be digitally signed and sealed by an engineer.

  • Structural calculations must be digitally signed and sealed by an engineer.

  • Energy calculations must be digitally signed by the preparer.

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing plans designed by a contractor as authorized in

    Chapter 471 of the Florida Statutes must be digitally signed.

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing plans designed by a professional engineer or a

    registered architect as authorized in Chapters 471 or 481, respectively, of the Florida Statutes

    must be digitally signed and sealed.

  • Shop drawings prepared by an engineer or architect must be digitally signed and sealed.

  • Shop drawings prepared by anyone other than an engineer or architect must be digitally

    signed.

  • Private Provider documents must be digitally signed and sealed by the private provider, and

    digitally notarized by a notary public. 

4. References for Engineers

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.  

5. Recognized Certificate Authorities

Digital certificates used to digitally sign, and seal documents submitted must be of a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assurance level of three or higher. Below is the list of certificate authorities that are recognized by the City of Miami. 

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.

Available only on Smartcard Hardware

Available only on Smartcard Hardware

6. References for Surveyors & Mappers

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.  

7. References for Architects

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.  

8. Technical References

NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized in accordance with the guidelines of their respective licensing boards.