Do you need a building permit?
By Robert C. Solera, Assistant Administrator Building Department and Code Enforcement and Licensing Department Director

If you want to have some work done in your condo, or your house or yard, does the work require a building permit?

The City of Sunny Isles Beach Building Department is a source of protection for our community from unscrupulous or unlicensed contractors, and helps to inform our residents of their rights and responsibilities before undertaking any home repairs, improvements, alterations, or additions. It is the duty of the Building Department to ensure that life safety is top priority.

Permit Required
Any alteration or repair under Section 104.1 of the Florida Building Code requires a permit with limited exceptions. Construction not only affects you the owner, but also your neighbors – especially with regards to repairs or remodeling in condominium units.

Generally, a permit is required for:

• The erection or construction of any structure.
• All additions, reparations, improvements, alterations, and the extension and covering of a structure.
• The installation, alteration, and/or reparation of any electrical wiring and electrical equipment, plumbing fixture or water source line, mechanical equipment and any gas supply system.

Those living in multi-family dwellings must get a permit for laying wood,

If you are not sure if the work to be performed requires a permit, please contact the Building Department.

Permit Not Required
Be aware that very few items are exempt from permit requirements, such as:

• Landscape work.
• Some minor mechanical (air-conditioned repairs).
• Any emergency repairs as determined by the Building Official or his/her designee.

While a permit is open, during each phase of the construction, remodeling or alteration of your project, it is up to the contractor or the home owner to schedule inspections with the Building Department’s inspectors. The inspectors ensure that the work is being done according to the approved plans, which reflect the current building and zoning codes, and that the permit will be issued.

Work performed without a permit when one is required, can result in fines including double permit fees and serious consequences when life safety issues are ignored. A permit normally costing $35.00 if obtained prior to commencing a job, could end up costing the property owner $450.00 with fines and other fees.

Licensed Contractor
A home owner needs to be careful when hiring a contractor. You will want to know if the person licensed or not? The City’s permitting process allows residents to know if the contractor they intend to hire is a certified professional. Be aware that no governmental agency currently issues “handyman” licenses. State and County issued contractor licenses that are very specific as to the type of work that a professional is authorized to perform and each license provides this information. In fact, it is a property owner’s right to request proof of this license.

Unlicensed Contractor
There are warning signs that property owners can identify. An unlicensed person posing as a contractor may be recognized by one or more of the following: requests most of the cost paid upfront or request a large “down payment”; unwilling or unable to give you a written contract; unwilling or unable to show proof of proper licensing or insurance (liability or workmen’s comp.); unwilling or unable to obtain a permit or might be hesitant to apply for a permit; might only work after normal business hours (nights and weekends); requests to be paid in cash or, if by check, made payable to a person instead of a business; and might not display their contractor license number on their vehicles, business cards, contracts or advertisements.

The Building Department and Code Enforcement and Licensing Department are working together with various condominium associations to make sure that unscrupulous “contractors” do not take advantage of you. You may contact the Building Department at (305) 947-2150 and Code Enforcement and Licensing Department at (305) 792.1705

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