Miami-Dade County, Fla. – A new program is helping property owners in Miami-Dade County avoid construction project pitfalls.
The Homeowner and Small Business Permit Assistance Program is completely free to county residents. Miami-Dade officials said the program was launched to help property owners complete their projects in a hassle-free manner.
“I don’t know of any other jurisdiction that really has an independent group that can guide homeowners and small business owners through the permitting process,” said Miami-Dade County Building Official Sergio Ascunce. “How to fill out a permit application – we start by making sure they get the right set of plans from a design professional.”
Ascunce said the program helps homeowners and business owners who hire contractors or manage projects themselves.
“Here’s someone who will take you step by step through the process,” he explained.
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Think of it as the county’s building concierge service.
Since launching in 2019, a small team of half a dozen employees has helped more than 9,600 property owners.
The grant is for anyone starting new construction, renovating and working to clean up violations.
Lori Rodriguez said the program is a godsend. Rodriguez In 2020, she inherited her family farm in Perrin.
Soon, she said, county code officers were citing her for building violations.
Rodriguez, a traveling veterinarian, hired someone to help clean up the violations.
“It didn’t turn out the way I thought it would,” she said. “This guy didn’t do his job.”
Rodriguez was able to clear her violations and pass inspections through the licensing assistance program.
Rodriguez: Every time you talk about government, you talk about how things can’t work. “This is a great program. It’s not broken, don’t try to fix it.”
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County officials say it has helped more than 2,600 homeowners resolve unauthorized work issues and more than 400 small businesses navigate zoning issues.
“It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission,” Askens said. “We want to get away from that. We want to make doing business easier.
Click here for more information about the Miami-Dade Small Business Permit Assistance Program.
While Broward County does not have a designated program, residents in unincorporated Broward, or cities with which the county contracts, can always contact the county with permit and code questions. Click here to view the Broward County Code Enforcement website.
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