Bolthole Index

Miami-Dade County, Florida

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in North Miami Beach, Florida

Inside North Miami Beach, Florida, the city's own Building Department takes building permit applications, and the city adopts its own zoning code, so the Miami-Dade County permit counter is not the office to call123. Septic permits come from the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, with county DERM reviewing new systems4. Living in an RV on a lot is prohibited5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the City of North Miami Beach Building Department2
Zoning
The city adopts its own zoning districts and zoning code1
Septic
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County permits; county DERM reviews new systems4
RV living
Prohibited as living or sleeping quarters on a lot5
Mobile homes
Allowed only in the MH-1 district, with a placement permit67
Camping
Prohibited on public or private property unless authorized8
Owner-builder
Florida allows owner-builders for one- and two-family homes they occupy; the city's own procedure is unconfirmed9

Who to call

Building permits

City of North Miami Beach Building Department

Building permit applications, trade permits and inspections inside North Miami Beach city limits

305-948-2965

17050 NE 19th Avenue, 1st Floor, North Miami Beach, FL 33162

Zoning

City of North Miami Beach Community Development Department

Planning and zoning for land inside North Miami Beach, including the official zoning map and pre-application meetings

305-948-2966

[email protected]

17050 NE 19th Avenue, 1st Floor, North Miami Beach, FL 33162

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 North Miami Beach means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in North Miami Beach, FL?

Yes. North Miami Beach says a building permit is required for all new construction and for any repairs or reconstruction that alters a structure2. The city's list also reaches fences, driveways, sheds, swimming pools, re-roofing, tree removal and septic tanks, so small projects are not automatically exempt2. Mobile homes need their own placement permit from the Community Development Department, and the city requires an inspection afterward710.

Miami-Dade County's building permit rules are written for unincorporated land, and the county notes that incorporated municipalities administer permits inside their own limits3. Florida's statewide building code applies in the city without separate local adoption11. We could not confirm the city's own owner-builder procedure, so ask the Building Department before pulling a permit yourself.

Who issues building permits in North Miami Beach, and how do you reach them?

The City of North Miami Beach Building Department, not Miami-Dade County, handles building permit applications for addresses inside the city23. It is at 17050 NE 19th Avenue, 1st Floor, and the phone is 305-948-29652. Ask there whether a specific job needs a permit.

For zoning questions, the Community Development Department at the same address, phone 305-948-2966 or [email protected], publishes the official zoning map and the Zoning and Land Development Code12. The county's Herbert S. Saffir Permitting and Inspection Center in Miami serves unincorporated Miami-Dade County, not addresses inside North Miami Beach13.

Does North Miami Beach have zoning, and what does it mean for mobile homes, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The city adopts its own zoning districts in its Zoning and Land Development Code, separate from the county's zoning code for unincorporated land114. Rules differ by district, and the only district we reviewed is the Mobile Home Subdivision District1. Find your parcel's district on the city's official zoning map before you buy12.

In MH-1, a lot needs at least 1,200 square feet15. Setbacks are 3 feet in front, 3 feet in the rear, 5 feet on an interior side and 7½ feet on a corner side16. A mobile home may not exceed one story or 15 feet17. Only one mobile home, occupied by one family, is allowed per lot6. Rules for the city's other districts, accessory dwellings and tiny homes were not confirmed; ask Community Development.

How do septic permits work in North Miami Beach?

Septic permits for every address in Miami-Dade County, inside a city or not, come through the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, which handles permitting and inspection for septic tanks418. Miami-Dade DERM must also review and approve new and total replacement systems, and conventional Type 1 septic systems are not allowed for them19.

Soils point the same way: USDA rates 0% of Miami-Dade County soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and an engineered system20. The city code allows septic tanks or sanitary sewers on MH-1 sites under the Florida Building Code and requires city water21. The city also lists septic tanks among work that needs a city building permit, so budget for both approvals2. If a public sewer becomes available, Florida law requires a working septic system to connect within 365 days of written notice22.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in North Miami Beach?

No for an RV. Under the city code, a recreational vehicle parked on a lot may not be used for living or sleeping quarters5. RVs may be stored in the open only on single-family or duplex sites, one per site, in a rear or side yard, with a maximum length of 30 feet5. Camping on public or private property in the city is unlawful unless the appropriate authority or property owner specifically authorizes it8.

Florida's rules for licensed RV parks and camps do not make living in an RV on your own lot legal23. Mobile homes are the city's alternative, limited to the MH-1 district6. We could not confirm any city rule for tiny homes; ask Community Development.

Building a home in North Miami Beach: the steps, in order

  1. Look up the parcel's zoning district on the city's official zoning map, then confirm what is allowed with Community Development at 305-948-296612.
  2. Ask Community Development about a pre-application meeting, which the department schedules on request12.
  3. Contact the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County about a septic permit if no sewer connection is available; county DERM reviews new systems418.
  4. Apply for a building permit with the city Building Department at 305-948-29652.
  5. For a mobile home in MH-1, submit a dimensioned plot plan and proof that water and sanitation deposits are paid7.
  6. Schedule the required inspections and close out the permit10.

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

Septic permits and wells are not city decisions. The county health department and DERM handle septic4, and in Miami-Dade County a Florida Department of Health approval is required before drilling a well24. For land outside city limits, use the Miami-Dade County page, because county rules cover only unincorporated land14.

Before buying, confirm the zoning district, whether the lot has sewer service, and the floodplain status with the Building Department, which also serves as the city's floodplain contact2. County context: Miami-Dade County's effective property tax rate is about 0.8%25, and a typical home is worth about $522,60126.

Watch-outs

  • Do not use the county's permit counter or its unincorporated-area rules for a lot inside North Miami Beach; the city's Building Department and Community Development Department handle building permits and zoning there312.
  • Zoning details we found cover only the MH-1 mobile home district, so setbacks, lot sizes and uses in other North Miami Beach districts need a call to Community Development at 305-948-29661612.
  • We could not confirm the city's rules on owner-builders, accessory dwellings, tiny homes, short-term rentals or permit fees, so ask the Building Department at 305-948-2965 before relying on county or state summaries2.

Sources

  1. North Miami Beach Code, Sec. 24-44.2 MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of North Miami Beach Building Department (citynmb.com)
  3. Homeowners General Permit Information, quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Sewage Tanks and Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. North Miami Beach Code, 14-5 House Trailers and Auxiliary Buildings, Houseboats and Tents (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  6. North Miami Beach Code, Sec. 24-44.2 MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  7. North Miami Beach Code, Sec. 24-44.2 MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  8. North Miami Beach Code, 9-35 Camping Prohibited (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  9. 2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. North Miami Beach Code, Sec. 24-44.2 MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  11. Florida Statutes § 553.73 — Florida Building Code (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of North Miami Beach Community Development Department (citynmb.com)
  13. How to Apply for Permits, quoted and re-checked
  14. Miami Dade Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  15. North Miami Beach Code, Sec. 24-44.2 MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  16. North Miami Beach Code, Sec. 24-44.2 MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  17. North Miami Beach Code, Sec. 24-44.2 MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  18. Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (Onsite Sewage Tanks and Disposal Systems) (miamidade.floridahealth.gov)
  19. Onsite Sewage Tanks and Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. 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
  21. North Miami Beach Code, Sec. 24-44.2 MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District (North Miami Beach), quoted and re-checked
  22. flsenate.gov (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Florida Statutes Chapter 513: Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Parks (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Potable Water Supply Permit, quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

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 North Miami Beach

North Miami Beach’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Placement of mobile homes in the MH-1 district inside North Miami Beach city

    • Dimensioned plot plan required
    • Proof water and sanitation deposits paid
    • Permit fee per Land Development Code fee schedule
    “Permit required: All owners/occupants of mobile homes must obtain a permit for placement of same on a form available from the community development department.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Mobile homes placed in the MH-1 district inside North Miami Beach city

    • General inspection rules for other construction not opened
    “An inspection is required to insure compliance with all provisions of the North Miami Beach Code of Ordinances and the Florida Building Code.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside North Miami Beach city; the city adopts zoning use districts in Chapter XXIV, Zoning and Land Development

    “The purpose and intent of this district is to provide suitable sites for mobile homes in areas consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District inside North Miami Beach city

    • Minimum lot width 30 feet
    • Single-family R districts not reviewed

    minimum lot area: >= 1200 square feet

    “Minimum lot area: One thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District inside North Miami Beach city

    • Other districts not reviewed

    front setback: >= 3 feet · rear setback: >= 3 feet · interior side setback: >= 5 feet · corner side setback: >= 7.5 feet

    “Yard Setback (feet) Front 3 Rear 3 Side: (interior) 5 Side: (corner) 7½”
  • Building heightSpecified

    MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District inside North Miami Beach city

    • CBS dwelling on two or more lots may not exceed two stories or 24 feet
    • Other districts not reviewed

    maximum mobile home height: <= 15 feet (one story)

    “No mobile home or travel trailer shall exceed one (1) story or fifteen (15) feet.”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Living or sleeping in a recreational vehicle parked on a single-family or duplex lot inside North Miami Beach city

    • RVs may be parked in the open only on single-family or duplex sites, one per site, in rear or side yard
    • Out-of-county house guest parking limited to 14 days
    • Maximum length 30 feet, height 12 feet
    • No mobile residence may be parked outside officially designated camps or parks except temporarily during daylight hours

    maximum RV length: <= 30 feet

    “When parked on the site, such equipment shall not be used for living or sleeping quarters, or for housekeeping or storage purposes”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Camping on public or private property inside North Miami Beach city

    • Unless specifically authorized by the appropriate governmental authority and/or property owner
    • Evidence of camping defined in subsection (c)
    “It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in camping on public or private property in the City, including rights-of-way, except as may be specifically authorized by the appropriate governmental authority and/or property owner.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile homes in the MH-1 Mobile Home Subdivision District inside North Miami Beach city

    • Only one mobile home, occupied by only one family, per lot
    • Placement permit and inspection required
    • New MH-1 districts east of Biscayne Boulevard and north of Sunny Isle Boulevard prohibited
    • Other districts not reviewed
    “Single-family detached dwellings of CBS construction and mobile homes;”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    MH-1 district sites inside North Miami Beach city

    • Septic tanks allowed as alternative to sanitary sewers per Florida Building Code; septic permit authority not confirmed
    “must be individually connected to electric service and septic tanks or sanitary sewers in conformance with the requirements of the Florida Building Code”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    MH-1 district sites inside North Miami Beach city: city water; septic or sanitary sewer

    • Septic tanks or sanitary sewers per the Florida Building Code
    • Other districts not reviewed
    “Water supply shall be provided by the City of North Miami Beach to each site and the owner/occupant of the property shall pay required water deposits”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder inside North Miami Beach city
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside North Miami Beach city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside North Miami Beach city
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside North Miami Beach city
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside North Miami Beach city
12 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • 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 North Miami Beach 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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