Get a Standalone Fire Alarm or Sprinkler Permit

Determine the Type of Permit You Need

• If you are applying only for a fire permit (new sprinklers, alarms, etc.) to an existing building, and are doing no other work to your property, continue below.
• If you're doing new construction, and fire is one of your sub-permits, you do not need to apply (as below), this will simply be part of your master construction permitting process. 

Collect Your Documents

The below documents are what you'll need for this process.

• Shop drawings of the system being installed (usually drawn up by an engineer).

NOTE: If you are installing 50 or more devices, these drawings must be signed and sealed. 

• All building information (address, folio #, owner, etc.).
• Qualifier information - this is who will be doing the work. Usually, a contractor.
• Specification/cut sheets from the manufacturer for any and all equipment to be installed.

NOTE: The City of Miami's electronic plan review now follows a strict standard naming guideline for all files that will be uploaded (see below). 

Apply for the Permit

Log into iBuild, you will have to create an account or login to an existing account.

• Select "start application--Building application".  
• Search the property address, and "start new application". 
• In job category, select standalone. In sub-category, select fire. Hit next.
• Then, select commercial. Then, select the "trade items" that apply. You will be asked for the amount of devices and the total project cost. 
• You must select if this is a 'legalization' or 'permit by affidavit'. 

• You will see a summary page that can be edited. Click next, and you will be asked if you're planning to upload your drawings (plans)/documents online and indicate your primary point of contact.

**If you select "yes", follow the steps below.
**If you are not able to submit your drawings and documents electronically, you may visit the City of Miami Building Department located at 444 SW 2nd Avenue, 4thFloor, Miami, FL 33130 to submit your drawings and documents for a fire permit. 

• Click "submit". You will receive a summary via email with a process number.

Pay Upfront Fees

You must pay your first round of feed before you can upload plans. 

Click Here to Pay

Properly Name Your Files

Each page of your plans/drawings must be named individually and must follow a naming convention before you can upload to our system (below). Each page must be submitted as a single file. 

Instructions for Naming Files

NOTE: Your application will not be accepted if the naming convention is not followed. 

Submit Drawings & Documents Online

The City of Miami now allows you to submit drawings and documents electronically, using the Electronic Plans Review (ePlan/ProjectDox) portal. You will receive an e-mail from eplans@miamigov.com with the subject “Applicant Upload Task” with instructions. 

NOTE: If you are a first-time user of the City’s Electronic Plans Review Portal (ProjectDox), in addition to the “Applicant Upload Task” you will also receive a Welcome and New Account Request e-mail with instructions on how to activate your account. Once you have activated your account you will be able to use the e-mail and password you used previously every time thereafter. You can find detailed instructions here.

Upload Plans

In Person: If you are not able to submit your drawings and documents electronically, you may visit the City of Miami Building Department located at 444 SW 2^ndAvenue, 4^th Floor, Miami, FL 33130 to submit your drawings and documents for a Building permit request.  

NOTE: Documents that are required to be scanned by the City of Miami may incur a three to five business days delay. Fees to scan drawings and/or documents may be assessed.

Wait for Application Acceptance

Once your drawings and documents have been received by the City of Miami, a Permitting Coordinator will review your submittals for acceptance. You should hear back within 72 hours. 

NOTE: We will notify you via e-mail if there is a problem with your submission. 
TIP: A common mistake is not following the City’s standard file naming conventions or having more than one page per file for drawings.  See above. 

Submit Revised Drawings and Documents

If corrections are required, you will receive an e-mail from eplans@Miamigov.com with the subject “Resubmit Applicant Task,” with instructions regarding corrected sheets for additional reviews and approvals. 

You will need to replace each sheet that the reviewers applied a "Changemark" on, or requested changes to in the comment checklist. Resubmittals may occur multiple times for a single application to ensure that the plans and documents as submitted are compliant with Florida Statute and City Ordinance. 

NOTE: If you are re-submitting corrected pages, please give the corrected page the exact same name as you did previously. We will know it’s a new version, and will review accordingly. 

Revise Drawings/Documents

Await Approval, Finalize

Once your plans have been approved, you will be required to complete several finalization steps, which may include “Adding/Updating Contractor” or paying any outstanding fees that may be applicable. 

Pay Permit Fees

You will be notified of the review and/or permit fees owed via email.

Pay Fees Here

Pull & Print Permit Card

You will be required to pull and print your permit. A building permit can be pulled online.

Pull/Print Permit Directions

You can also do this in-person at the Building Department: 444 SW 2nd Ave, 4th floor. 

Download Approved Plans & Documents

After you have paid your fees, we will e-mail you to let you know your final plans are available for download. You will need to log-in to ProjectDox here and download your plans from the Approved Folder. 

Begin Construction or Permitted Work

Don’t forget to always have your permit card and a job site copy of the approved plans at your project site.