Surfside Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Official Contact

Property documents

• Current survey
• Site plan and lot dimensions
• Existing and proposed structures
• Flood-zone information
• Base-flood elevation
• Condo authorization when applicable

Construction documents

• Floor plans
• Elevations and sections
• Foundation and framing
• Structural calculations
• Electrical and mechanical plans
• Plumbing and gas plans

Coastal product documents

• Miami-Dade NOA
• Florida Product Approval
• Design-pressure schedule
• Opening dimensions
• Anchorage and installation details
• Roof system and uplift calculations

Floodplain questions

• What FEMA flood zone applies?
• What is the base-flood elevation?
• Does the Town require a design-flood elevation above BFE?
• Is the work a substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage?
• Will mechanical or electrical equipment remain below the required elevation?
• Does enclosed lower-level space meet flood-opening and use restrictions?
• Is an elevation certificate required before, during or after construction?

HVHZ product questions

• Is the product approved for the Miami-Dade High-Velocity Hurricane Zone?
• Does the approval cover the exact size and configuration?
• Does the design pressure meet the project-specific pressure?
• Is the substrate listed in the approval?
• Are fastener type, spacing and edge distances shown?
• Is the glass impact-rated or protected by an approved shutter?
• Does the roof assembly match the tested and approved system?

Door and window replacement

Upload the product approval, selected approval pages, opening schedule, design pressures, glass information and anchorage details.

Roof replacement

Provide the HVHZ roofing application, approved assembly, uplift or pressure calculations, mitigation forms and required DERM review for commercial or multifamily work.

Exterior equipment

Show elevation, anchorage, wind resistance, flood protection, service access and screening for condensers, generators and rooftop equipment.

Contractor registration package

• Current Florida state license or Miami-Dade Certificate of Competency.
• State registration when required.
• Liability and workers’ compensation insurance naming the Town of Surfside as certificate holder.
• Qualifier’s driver license.
• Applicable local business-tax receipt or business license.
• All documents in the same company or individual name.
• Annual renewal by September 30.

Owner-builder restrictions

• The owner must personally appear at the Building Department to sign the affidavit.
• The owner becomes the legally and financially responsible contractor of record.
• The property generally must be for the owner’s use or occupancy.
• A one- or two-family residence may qualify under the statutory exemption.
• A qualifying commercial owner-builder project is limited by the current Florida statutory cost threshold.
• The owner may not use the exemption to hire an unlicensed person as the real contractor.
• Sale or lease within one year can create a legal presumption that the work was done for sale or lease.

Charges applied broadly

• Upfront processing: 30% of estimated permit fee or applicable base fee, whichever is greater.
• Town training, safety and technology: 6% of the building permit fee.
• Florida Building Code surcharge: 1% of permit fee, $2 minimum.
• Building administrator and inspector fund: 1.5%, $2 minimum.
• Miami-Dade code-compliance surcharge: $0.60 per $1,000 of work valuation.
• Sanitation: 0.30% of job value, $15 minimum and $1,530 maximum.
• Construction Parking Plan: $144 where required.

Possible department add-ons

• Planning review
• Fire review
• Public Works review
• Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing permits
• Revision and resubmittal fees
• Private-provider administration
• Certificate of Occupancy or Completion
• Records, extension, renewal and reinspection charges

Inspection request form

Select Building, Roofing, Electrical, Plumbing/Gas or Mechanical and enter the exact inspection type.

Permit information

Provide the property address, master permit number, subsidiary permit number, requester name, email and phone.

Scheduling

Submit through the portal or current Town process and confirm the date because inspectors are not always onsite full time.

Keep onsite

• Issued permit card
• Approved physical plans
• Approved revisions
• Product approvals
• Engineer letters or affidavits
• Safe inspector access

Prevent a reinspection fee

• Correct trade selected
• Work complete for the stage
• Prior corrections resolved
• Address and unit visible
• Doors and gates unlocked
• Required contractor available

Roof permit package

• Building permit application.
• High-Velocity Hurricane Zone roofing application.
• Selected roofing system and product approval.
• Roof pressure or uplift calculations where required.
• Hurricane Mitigation Retrofit Form.
• Roof-to-wall connection affidavit based on the applicable single-family valuation category.
• DERM approval for commercial and multifamily roofs.
• Mechanical permit when a gas vent is affected.

Window, door and garage-door package

• Opening schedule with exact dimensions.
• Project-specific design pressures.
• Current Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval.
• Selected glass, frame and installation option.
• Fastener, spacing, edge-distance and substrate details.
• Impact protection information.
• Condominium or owner authorization.
• Electrical permit for powered shutters or doors where applicable.

Pool workflow

1. Show the pool, deck and equipment on the survey.
2. Confirm zoning and flood requirements.
3. Submit Building, Electrical and Plumbing permits.
4. Show the code-compliant pool barrier.
5. Submit sediment-control and dewatering information.
6. Protect the street, drains and neighboring property.
7. Pass bonding, piping, barrier and final inspections.

Driveway workflow

1. Show existing and proposed driveway areas on a survey.
2. Identify impervious and pervious area.
3. Show whether curb and gutter are disturbed.
4. Use the Town’s driveway and curb-transition details.
5. Apply for Building and Public Works review.
6. Maintain drainage and right-of-way access.
7. Obtain final Public Works and Building approval.

Single-family demolition checklist

• Plumbing permit to cap sewer and turn off water.
• Approved cap inspection before demolition-permit issuance.
• Executed demolition application.
• Sealed survey not more than two years old.
• Notarized owner demolition consent.
• Proof of ownership and legal authorization where needed.
• Asbestos report and DERM review, or qualifying architect/engineer certification.
• Utility disconnect letters.
• Vermin-clear letter.
• NPDES sediment-control form.

Commercial and multifamily additions

• Applicable demolition checklist items.
• Underground utility demolition plan by a civil engineer.
• Engineer’s acceptance of the underground demolition work.
• Construction circulation and staging plan.
• Construction trailer permit.
• Construction-fence permit.
• Public Works and Fire coordination.
• Temporary-shoring design where required.

After receiving the notice

1. Hire qualified Florida-licensed design professionals.
2. Use the current Miami-Dade report templates.
3. Complete structural and electrical inspections.
4. Include required photographs and certifications.
5. Submit reports within the stated 90-day notice period.
6. Obtain permits for required repairs.
7. Complete repairs and final recertification review.

Important report components

• Foundation and settlement conditions.
• Structural frame, balconies and railings.
• Façade, cladding and attached elements.
• Roof, parapets and unusual structural features.
• Electrical systems and required infrared thermography.
• Parking-lot illumination certification.
• Waterway guardrail certification where applicable.
• Unpermitted alterations and unsafe-structure records.

Permit inactivity

Issued permits with no qualifying activity for 180 days can enter the Town’s renewal process.

• Schedule inspections as work progresses.
• Do not wait until the permit is expired.
• Check every subsidiary permit separately.

Extension

The current schedule lists a one-time extension request at $124 when the permit is not expired.

• File before expiration.
• Explain the delay.
• Provide professional confirmation where needed.

Expired permit renewal

The fee schedule lists 25% of the original permit fee plus a processing amount equal to the applicable minimum permit fee.

• Outside-agency fees are handled under the current renewal rule.
• Final-only reopenings use a separate minimum-fee provision.

Standard construction hours

• Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM.
• No standard permitted construction on Saturday.
• No standard permitted construction on Sunday.
• No standard permitted construction on legal holidays.
• Special authorization may be required for emergency or exceptional work.

Construction Parking Plan

• Provide onsite parking for workers assisting with the improvement when required.
• Submit the Construction Parking Plan before mobilization.
• Current published fee: $144.
• Do not block sidewalks, drives or emergency access.
• Coordinate trailers, fencing, dumpsters and deliveries.

Florida Building Code

The Eighth Edition (2023) became effective December 31, 2023 and remains the current adopted edition as of this review.

Open Florida Building Code

High-Velocity Hurricane Zone

Miami-Dade HVHZ requirements affect wind design, exterior-envelope products, glazing, roofing and installation details.

Open Product Control

Surfside local code

Town ordinances add zoning, parking, construction-site, planning, recertification and local permit requirements.

Open Town Code