LTC 131-2025 Certificate of Use Process - Additional ResourcesMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC#
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of he City Commission
Eric Carpenter, City Manager 6ac.
March 25, 2025
Certificate of Use Process - Additional Resources
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to provide an update of resources available to
the public to obtain a Certificates of Use (CU) to operate a business in the City of Miami Beach.
Over the last three years the Planning Department has processed approximately 4,854 CU
applications, which averages to just over 1,600 applications per year. For the current fiscal year
(FY 2025), the Planning Department is forecasting over 2,100 CU applications, which is a projected
increase of 25% from FY 2024.
To date, a large number of CU applications submitted continue to be either incomplete or do not
include all of the information required to obtain approval of the CU at first review. Although the
requirements for a CU are posted on the Department's web page, applicants have not been
accessing this information or seeking assistance prior to application submittal. Additionally, many
business owners enter leases without understanding the CU process or even if the intended use
is allowed at the leased location, which can often result in a denial of the CU application.
To better assist our residents and business community, the Planning Department, in collaboration
with the Information Technology Department, has created a dedicated webpage for CU
applications, which provides step by step instructions, tips, and links to resources that will assist
applicants with the application process. The site provides direct access to the city's zoning platform
(Gridics) for applicants to review allowable uses at proposed locations, a checklist to assist
applicants in identifying information and documents necessary to submit a complete application,
and links to obtain required documents. The page is arranged with an easy to use, step by step
approach and has tips on how to progress to the next steps.
The direct link to the Gridics platform provides applicable zoning information, including allowable
uses at a property. The Gridics platform also allows an applicant to print or download relevant
zoning information and a QR code should they care to access it via a mobile device.
Below are illustrations of these new resources. The new web page can be accessed directly at the
following link: Get a Certificate of Use -City of Miami Beach
131-2025
, .
Illustration of Certificate of Use Landing Page (City Website/ Planning Department)
GET A CERT IFICATE OF USE (CU}
•CYE>:-'"'..:. .. >•J...•, •-J'>GfT A CfRTifl<.AtEOfUSf
Are y0u ope ng a e·"°' OUs :ness. moving your e ,us tmg business. addl!1g, o r de et1ng services from yo ur
ex1sLng op,,,aoo n. or r...ceved a codec auo,-, o r not hav,ng a proP'-', CU o, BTR >
The C ty of ham Beach requ ,,es a Cert1f1Cate of Use (CU) and Bus111 ess Tax Rece pt (BTR ) to ensJre t a:
businesses are op,,'at,ng leg&l ly. sa e ly. and respect e regula ons tha p rotect our beautiful c ty The
outhne below wut assrst w t t he app-teation p rocess. of e r ps. and provide links to resourc es a v-r ll
he p you alo g e way
~~:
I Q:KK I TIP
Appli cants must have a Civ ic Access {fo rm e rly Citiz e n's
Se lf Serv ice CSS ) account lo apply, receive updates a nd
access to o nlin e payment opti ons .
OJ do not have an active a<coon:. please register befo,e a emp ng to
app y 'Q , the Ce ificate o• Use
Ole to access tnformauon and !mks for the Civic Access Portal ~
~= Steps to Apply for a Certificate of Use
Confirm Eligibility
G..nerol Zon,ng on d
Adnims-trottvt Zoning
ln-erp re lo on
and volop.-.e nt Do,hboard
load Use Boord,
ondscope Requrreme nts
~""'9 Doet,,...ents Chee is'>
An dro,...,
P!onn"'9 Maps And G uidelines
Re.siliency Code /
Compret..n>ive Pion
StudMts ond Designation
Re.pori,
·we have a g rea tool tha can help you confirm ai!owat> e uses at he proposed space 1 1ou .,a-..e a":, q uest ons or wai t to 1e3 rn -rore
aooJt ::on ,9 r eg ... a:10,,s '"o r t"'e s te pi ease C'iC-< ~-e to v Sf our Zon ing? at'.'o rl"'f' ~
Gather Your Information
You vr-'I need seve ral documents and re eva n mformauon o apply for a CU App ,cations w 1 out necessary docur,e ., s 1n"orr at1o n
may be de, ayed or re;ected :! C ck 'le·~ ~o dov, 1fQdd (~nd e .... ew me CU c .eck 1 st "er-~~-red docurie-,,ts
General required informatton includes. but Is no t limited to:
ame of business as ·s re-corde,d w h The Flo n da O 1v1s on of Corpor a ions 'lame of owner .f 'l0t corp<Yated . or na'T'e of persori
author :ed to tie t he appl cation
• £xac address of bus n ess inc lud ng su e nu ~rs I app 1cable and s ze o' e space ne b us ne-ss v II OC<J P/ A numbe .. ed sea no
C"'la w 1 be requ r ed 10' restau 'ants
• "/OJ are add '19 ne w a'ea5 (Square footage) or occupy1n9 a newly cons cted or re no ated space a Bu .ct ,,9 eTporary Cen -,cate
o• Occupancy I CO) or a 8u11d 1 g Cert , 1cate of Occupancy (CO) s requ ired If you ·ntend to occu py space vnh a d,f'e -e~t :>' or use
you ma need to obta n an u pda ed Bu , d ing Ce 1ftca te of Occupancy to "e1tect the new 1nte ded occupanc y r1Pe-. 1 e medical
o'fice to re s.:au ra nt
• ►ir e Occupcnc~ Load Cert.f cate datea no 'e~s han s,x rnont hs fron date o'" aopl ;cat o n s reqJ1red '"o r restau'ants
• A cooy of he orev,o.;s BTR '"o r t he pro;,osed ocat ,on 1s also required A ink to obta n co p1e~ o f o rr o r BTRs ,s p--o 'lded below
=100--o an d"ld ,urrbe red seat ng cha rt fo r restau rants
Illustration of Zoning Platform (Gridics)
Us es -Zone Ch eck
Check zoning details by
address to learn about
permissible uses .
Search By Address
city of
MIAMI
BEACH
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
ZONING PORTAL
Permi t Lookup
Search through permits
for any property in Miami
Beach
Search a property
@P
§!
CodeHUB
Read through the Land
Use Code text for Miami
Beach
Read More
[II]
Mun iMap
Explore zon ing map layers
and rea l estate data for
M iami Beach
View Map
Illustration of a Zoning Inquiry for the Property at 1755 Meridian Avenue
Note: The zoning information for primary and accessory Uses (if applicable) are provided, and the
applicant can print, download, or send the information to a mobile device via a QR Code spec ific
to the search.
1755 MERIDIAN AVE ,
M iami Beach, FL 33 139
Parcel ID
Zone
Allowed Use(s) -Primary
Allowed Use{s) • Accessory
All Applicable Typologies
Informational Overlays
Lot Area -Public Records
Lot Area -GIS
Maximum Lot Coverage
Residential Density
Floor Area Ratio
Existing Building Area
Maximum Building Footprint
Minimum Open Space
Maximum Building Height
0232340070460
CCC
Lodging(1), Offlce(l ), Commercia1(6), Ci vic(2), Agricultura1 (1)
Hotel
Building Setbacks (CCC, SPE), Setbacks may vary
14,625 t t~
14,391 ft2
N /A
N/A
2.7 5
11,619 ft1
0%
100 ft
These new resources are part of the Administration 's continued efforts to provide excellent
customer service to our residents and business community . We anticipate continued refinements
to this process, to identify and expand additional resources for our residents and business
community.
If you have any questions regarding these new resources , please feel free to contact Carmen
Sanchez , Deputy Planning Director, at extension 6167.
EC/~RM/CS
C: Rafael Granado, City Clerk
Ricardo Dopico , City Attorney
Joseph Centorino, Inspector General