Bolthole Index

Miami-Dade County, Florida

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Miami Lakes, Florida

The Town of Miami Lakes, Florida has its own zoning districts under Chapter 13 of its Land Development Code1, and the town's own Building Department takes building permit applications at 6601 Main Street2. Septic permits stay with the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, not the town3. Manufactured homes are not a permitted use inside town limits4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, town zoning districts under Chapter 13 of the Land Development Code1
Building permits
Applications go to the town's Building Department, not Miami-Dade County2
Septic permits
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County; county DERM approves new and replacement systems5
Manufactured homes
Not a permitted use in town4
Camping
No camping or overnight stays in town parks unless the town authorizes it6
Minimum home size (RU-1)
2,000 sq ft7
Minimum lot (RU-1)
7,500 sq ft, 75 ft wide8
Owner-builder
Allowed in town with a notarized affidavit and conditions2

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Miami Lakes Building Department

Building permit intake, plan review and inspections inside Miami Lakes town limits

305-827-4015

6601 Main St, Suite 101, Miami Lakes, FL. 33014

Online permits →

Septic permits

Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (Onsite Sewage Tanks and Disposal Systems)

Septic permits and inspections for Miami-Dade County, including addresses inside Miami Lakes

786-654-6620

[email protected]

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Miami Lakes means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Miami Lakes have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Miami Lakes divides the town into zoning districts shown on its official zoning map, administered through Chapter 13 of the Land Development Code1. Miami-Dade County's own zoning code applies only to unincorporated land, so it does not govern a lot inside Miami Lakes9.

The numbers differ by district. In the RU-1 single-family district, the minimum lot is 7,500 sq ft and 75 ft wide8. Front and rear setbacks in RU-1 are 25 ft, and a street-side setback is 15 ft10. A one-story RU-1 home may cover 40% of the lot and a two-story home 35%11. Height in RU-1 tops out at 35 ft and 2 stories12, and the minimum home is 2,000 sq ft7. Waterfront lots measure the rear setback from the water's edge10. Find your parcel's district on the town's zoning map before relying on any of these figures.

Can you live in an RV, manufactured home or accessory unit in Miami Lakes?

Manufactured homes are the clearest answer: the town's code states that installing a manufactured home is not a permitted use under Article IV of Chapter 134. The town's code also bars camping or overnight stays in town parks unless the town authorizes it6. We could not confirm a Miami Lakes rule for living in an RV on private land, so ask the town's Building Department before parking one on a lot.

Accessory buildings are defined to include a secondary residence or servant's quarters unless deed restrictions prohibit it, and in RU-1 an accessory building is capped at 350 sq ft, one story and 15 ft high13. We did not find a dedicated accessory-dwelling ordinance, so confirm what is allowed on your lot with the town and your HOA.

Do you need a building permit in Miami Lakes, and who issues it?

Inside Miami Lakes, building permits are applied for through the town's own Building Department, at 6601 Main Street, Suite 1012. Miami-Dade County's building permit process covers unincorporated land, and the county notes that each municipality has its own Building Official within city limits14. We could not confirm the town's full list of work that needs a building permit, so ask the Building Department before you start.

New single-family homes and additions also go through Miami-Dade County's electronic submittal for DERM and impact fee review2. The department keeps hours of 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday2.

Can you build your own home in Miami Lakes as an owner-builder?

The town accepts owner-builder applications, but with conditions. The Building Department requires a complete Owner/Builder Affidavit, and the property must be homestead property2. Florida law lets an owner act as their own contractor on a one-family or two-family residence for the owner's own use and occupancy, not offered for sale or lease15. Check the town's current submittal requirements for the exam and any holding-period letter for new homes.

How do septic permits work inside Miami Lakes?

Septic permits for addresses in Miami-Dade County, including those inside Miami Lakes, come from the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, which handles permitting and inspection of septic tanks3. Miami-Dade County DERM reviews and approves new and total replacement systems, and conventional Type 1 septic systems are not allowed for new and total replacement systems serving development in the county16. In soils rated for conventional drain fields, USDA rates 0% of the county's soils as not limited, so expect an advanced system and a site evaluation17. We could not confirm whether the town adds its own septic rules; ask the Building Department. Where public sewer is available, the county's WASD may require connection18.

Building a home in Miami Lakes: the steps, in order

  1. Find your parcel's zoning district on the town's zoning map and check the district's lot, setback and size rules1.
  2. Get HOA approval if one applies, since the Building Department asks for an HOA letter with residential applications2.
  3. Apply for septic or sewer: septic goes to the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County3, and sewer connection is evaluated by the county's WASD18.
  4. Submit your building permit application to the Town Building Department at 6601 Main Street, Suite 1012.
  5. Schedule inspections through the town's eTRAKiT portal2.
  6. Obtain the Certificate of Occupancy from the town once inspections pass.

What stays with Miami-Dade County, and what to check before you buy

Septic permits, DERM review and the county health department stay with Miami-Dade County and the state3. Land outside town limits is a different case; for unincorporated land see the Miami-Dade County page. Miami-Dade County's typical home value is $522,60119, its effective property tax rate is 0.8%20, and a typical home insurance premium is $7,089 a year21. Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, is the statewide base code22.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm the town's own rules for RVs on private land, tiny homes, driveway permits, short-term rentals or permit fees; ask the Town of Miami Lakes Building Department at 305-827-40152.
  • Do not use unincorporated Miami-Dade County rules or the county zoning counter for a lot inside Miami Lakes; the county's zoning code covers unincorporated land only9.
  • The Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, is the statewide code, and Miami-Dade County says the 9th Edition (2026) takes effect December 31, 202623.

Sources

  1. Miami Lakes LDC Sec. 13-1 Definitions and references (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Miami Lakes Building Department (miamilakes-fl.gov)
  3. Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (Onsite Sewage Tanks and Disposal Systems) (miamidade.floridahealth.gov)
  4. Miami Lakes Sec. 4-143 Manufactured homes (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Sewage Tanks and Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  6. Miami Lakes Sec. 18-65 Camping (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  7. Miami Lakes LDC Sec. 13-426 Development regulations for single-family and two-family districts (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  8. Miami Lakes LDC Sec. 13-426 Development regulations for single-family and two-family districts (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  9. Miami Dade Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  10. Miami Lakes LDC Sec. 13-426 Development regulations for single-family and two-family districts (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  11. Miami Lakes LDC Sec. 13-426 Development regulations for single-family and two-family districts (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  12. Miami Lakes LDC Sec. 13-426 Development regulations for single-family and two-family districts (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  13. Miami Lakes LDC Sec. 13-1 Definitions and references (Town of Miami Lakes), quoted and re-checked
  14. How to Apply for Permits, quoted and re-checked
  15. 2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Onsite Sewage Tanks and Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. First Time Sewer Connection, quoted and re-checked
  19. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  22. 61G20-1.001 Florida Building Code Adopted (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Homeowners General Permit Information, quoted and re-checked

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Miami Lakes

Town of Miami Lakes’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Home offices in dwelling units inside Miami Lakes town; general CO rules for new homes not located

    • Only the home-office certificate of use and occupancy is confirmed
    • Home office limited to 200 sq ft, no separate entrance, no employees outside household
    “an annually renewable certificate of use and occupancy shall be obtained for any home office.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Miami Lakes town limits

    • Zoning is administered through Chapter 13 Land Development Code
    “the town is hereby divided into zoning districts, as shown on the official zoning map and described in this code.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    RU-1 single-family district inside Miami Lakes town

    • Other districts differ: RU-1B 1,800 sq ft, RU-1A 1,700 sq ft, RU-1Z 1,500 sq ft, RU-2 900 sq ft per unit
    • No agricultural district identified

    minimum building size RU-1: >= 2000 sq ft

    “ru-1 7,500 sq. ft. 75' 25' 25' 10% of lot width, 5' min., 7.5' max. 15' 40% for 1 story; 35% for 2 story 2,000 sq. ft. min. 35' 2 stories”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    RU-1 single-family district inside Miami Lakes town

    • Other districts: RU-1B 6,000 sq ft, RU-1A 5,000, RU-1Z 4,500, RU-2 7,500; RM districts 10,000 sq ft

    minimum lot size RU-1: >= 7500 sq ft · minimum lot width RU-1: >= 75 ft

    “ru-1 7,500 sq. ft. 75' 25' 25' 10% of lot width, 5' min., 7.5' max. 15' 40% for 1 story; 35% for 2 story 2,000 sq. ft. min. 35' 2 stories”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    RU-1 single-family district inside Miami Lakes town

    • Interior side setback is 10% of lot width, 5' min., 7.5' max.
    • Waterfront lots measure rear setback from water's edge
    • RU-1 accessory buildings: rear 5', side 5'/15' per table

    front setback RU-1: >= 25 ft · rear setback RU-1: >= 25 ft · street side setback RU-1: >= 15 ft

    “for waterfront lots, the rear setback shall be measured from the water's edge.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    RU-1 single-family district inside Miami Lakes town

    • Coverage counts principal residence only; excludes accessory structures in required rear yard, overhangs, pools, etc.
    • RU-1B 40%, RU-1A 40%, RU-1Z 50%, RU-2 40%/35%

    max lot coverage RU-1 one story: <= 40 percent · max lot coverage RU-1 two story: <= 35 percent

    “ru-1 7,500 sq. ft. 75' 25' 25' 10% of lot width, 5' min., 7.5' max. 15' 40% for 1 story; 35% for 2 story 2,000 sq. ft. min. 35' 2 stories”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    RU-1 single-family district inside Miami Lakes town

    • Measured from crown of road to highest ridge of pitched roof or highest point of flat roof
    • Exceptions in Sec. 13-1514
    • RU-1 accessory buildings 15 ft, 1 story

    max height RU-1: <= 35 ft (2 stories)

    “the height of a building shall be measured from the crown of the road in front of the property to the highest ridge of a pitched roof or the highest point of a flat roof, not including the parapet. exceptions to the height regulations are listed in section 13-1514.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Camping or overnight stay in Town parks inside Miami Lakes town; private-land camping not addressed in provided sections

    • Unless authorized by the Town or in areas designated for that purpose
    • Separate Sec. 17-4 bans regular public camping/sleeping on public property
    “there shall be no camping or overnight stay in parks unless authorized by the town.”
  • Manufactured homesProhibited

    Installation of manufactured homes (15C-1.0101, F.A.C.) inside Miami Lakes town, as stated in the flood-hazard article

    • Statement appears in Article VI flood-resistant development; it refers to Article IV of Chapter 13 permitted uses
    “installation of manufactured homes, as defined in 15c-1.0101, f.a.c., is not a permitted use specified in article iv of chapter 13, land development code.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory buildings (secondary residence, servant's quarters) in single-family districts inside Miami Lakes town

    • Subject to deed restrictions
    • RU-1 accessory buildings: 350 sq ft max per structure, 1 story, 15' height, not permitted in front setback
    • A dedicated ADU ordinance was not located
    “accessory building. a secondary residence, garage, tiki hut, storage shed or other building or structure on a lot or parcel subordinate to and not forming an integral part of the main or principal building but pertaining to the use of the main building. an accessory building may include servant's quarters unless prohibited by existing deed restrictions.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Miami Lakes or Miami-Dade County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Miami Lakes town
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Miami Lakes town
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Miami Lakes town
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Miami Lakes town
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Miami Lakes town
12 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Miami Lakes publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Miami-Dade County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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