Paver permit path in Miami-Dade

Miami Paver Co. is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.

There is no single permit rule for pavers in Miami-Dade. The county reviews drainage for pavers on single-family and duplex lots and sets other rules for unincorporated areas. Each city has its own rules, so find your office and ask about the permit, covenant, zoning and drainage.

As of October 18, 2026

Run the Paver Plan Check Read the guides

Miami Paver Co. is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.

Last reviewed October 18, 2026 against the cited sources. A guide, not legal, tax or engineering advice.

Updated October 18, 2026. Sources

Illustration

Start with your address

The county pages we cite cover unincorporated Miami-Dade. A city such as Miami or Doral runs its own building department. Its rules can differ. If you live in a city, call that city first.

Do this before you collect quotes. A quote that ignores the permit path can change once the right office speaks up.

County review of pavers on your lot

Miami-Dade's impervious surface rule is the main new step. The Board adopted it as amended on September 4, 2024 (legislative file 241793, reference 24-92) ¹. Since March 31, 2025, new, replaced or expanded pavers on a single-family or duplex lot need county review ¹.

The county counts pavers as impervious unless they pass its tests. Read permeable pavers and Miami-Dade rules for the tests.

The rule lists one way to meet its storm standard on these lots. On a lot of 5,500 sq ft or less, the listed pervious share is 20% ¹. On a larger lot, it is 25% ¹.

The rule applies in cities and in unincorporated areas ¹. A city may run its own review for these lots. It can only do so if the County Director finds its rules at least as strict ¹. Do you live in the City of Miami or another city? Ask both the city and the county which office reviews your lot. Do this before you collect quotes.

We have not confirmed the review fee, the form name or any penalty, so we print none.

Patios, walkways and pavers in unincorporated areas

Miami-Dade's permit exemption page lists open patios, walkways and pavers as not needing a building permit. This holds for single-family, duplex, townhouse and condo work. There is a cap: all exempt work in any 12 months must stay at or under $5,000 ².

That is an exemption from the building permit only. Zoning, public works and drainage approvals can still apply ². So can the county review above. The page does not name driveways.

An older county sheet is dated December 26, 2018 ³. It lists paving and drainage among items the building code does not regulate ³. It says a Zoning Improvement Permit is required ³. The sheet is old, so use it as background and ask the county what applies now.

Paver driveways need a covenant

County Public Works asks for a construction covenant on driveways other than asphalt or plain concrete ⁴. The covenant is recorded with the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller ⁴. Brick pavers, stamped concrete and concrete design are the examples on the page ⁴. You apply for Public Works permits on the county's online permit system ⁴.

We found no fees on that page. Ask Public Works what recording and approach permits cost. The paver driveway page for Miami lists the width and setback limits on the page.

Do not pave the swale

The county's Save Our Swales brochure calls swales public property that owners must maintain ⁵. It shows a fully paved swale with a parked car as a poorly maintained example ⁵. The brochure does not say what a driveway approach needs, so ask Public Works.

Cities add their own steps

Doral requires a building permit to replace or extend a residential driveway ⁶. Its guide asks for drawings, a survey or site plan, and proof of ownership ⁶. It also asks for an HOA or condo approval letter when one applies ⁶.

Doral caps driveway and parking coverage at 70% of the front yard ⁶. An added parking space must be permeable ⁶. Inspections must be scheduled before paving material goes down ⁶. The Doral guide is undated, so confirm with Doral Building.

Florida's HB 803 may let a single-family project valued under $7,500 skip a building permit in the City of Miami ⁷. You must ask in writing, starting July 1, 2026 ⁷. It is not automatic. Flood hazard areas, structural work and other trades are excluded ⁷. Zoning or Public Works may still need to approve the work ⁷. The city's page does not say whether pavers qualify.

Licenses and who pulls the permit

As of October 18, 2026

Under section 489.117 of the Florida Statutes, there is no state license category for driveway or paver installation⁸. The same section limits what a city or county can ask. It may not require a license for work that fits no state contractor category. It may not require a license to pull a permit for that work either. This is research, not legal advice. Retaining walls and other structural work may be treated differently. Ask your building department.

If you act as your own contractor, Florida's owner-builder exemption, 1-year sale presumption⁹ applies. You sign the permit application and a disclosure statement.

Questions to ask your building department

Does my project need a building permit, a zoning permit or a public works permit?
Does my driveway need a recorded covenant, and who records it?
Which office reviews my lot's drainage, the county or my city? What does the review need from me?
How much of my lot must stay pervious?
What does my HOA or condo association need to approve?
Which inspections must happen before the pavers go down?

Facts used in this guide

As of October 18, 2026

Verified facts only. Each one links to its source and shows the source's date.
Fact	Value	Source
Florida s. 489.117(4)(a)1 says local governments may not require a state or local license, or a license to pull a permit, for job scopes that do not match a state contractor category. The named examples include driveway installation and decorative stone, tile, marble, granite or terrazzo installation.	no state license category for driveway or paver installation	[8] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
Under s. 489.103(7) an owner may act as own contractor on a one- or two-family home for the owner's own use. Selling or leasing within one year of completion creates a presumption that the work was done for sale or lease.	owner-builder exemption, 1-year sale presumption	[9] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
Under s. 163.211(2)(a), local occupational licenses that a local government imposed before 1 Jan 2021 expire on 1 July 2025. The latest session law in the history line is ch. 2024-212.	2025-07-01 date	[10] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
A Miami-Dade bid addendum dated 17 Sep 2025 says contractors who need a county (RER) permit must hold a General Contractor, Painting and Waterproofing, or Paving license, because the Painting Specialty license ended on 1 July 2025.	county Paving license still referenced for RER permits, Sep 2025	[11] September 17, 2025
Miami-Dade's permit-exemption page lists open patios, walkways and pavers as not needing a building permit in single-family, duplex, townhouse and condo work, if the total cost of all exempt work in any 12 months stays at or under $5,000.	5,000 USD per 12 months (aggregate cap)	[2] undated (retrieved October 18, 2026)
A Miami-Dade RER exemptions sheet (updated 26 Dec 2018) lists 'paving and drainage' under items not regulated by the Florida Building Code, with a note that a Zoning Improvement Permit is required.	Zoning Improvement Permit permit type	[3] December 26, 2018
Under the impervious surface ordinance Miami-Dade adopted on 4 Sep 2024 (file 241793, ref. 24-92), from 31 Mar 2025, installing, replacing or expanding 'non-structural impervious surface improvements', including pavers, needs County (RER-DERM) review for single-family and duplex lots in the unincorporated area. A municipality may run its own review if the Director finds it at least as stringent.	from 2025-03-31 effective date	[1] September 4, 2024
Under s. 24-42.8 of the adopted ordinance, pavers count as impervious unless all of these hold: low-traffic area with sandy soil; slope under 5 degrees; at least 24 inches between water table and paver base; manufacturer certifies the paver as pervious; soil permeability at least 0.8 in/hr, or an underdrain.	0.8 in/hr and 24 in to water table thresholds	[1] September 4, 2024
For single-family and duplex lots, s. 24-42.8(4)(b) of the adopted ordinance requires retaining the 25-year/10-minute storm with zero off-site discharge. A listed equivalent for lots of 5,500 sq ft or less is a 5-ft pervious setback on 3 sides, a 6-inch swale around the perimeter and 20% pervious lot area. For lots over 5,500 sq ft it is the same with 25% pervious.	20% pervious (lots <=5,500 sq ft); 25% (lots >5,500 sq ft) minimum pervious lot area	[1] September 4, 2024
Miami-Dade's Board of County Commissioners adopted the impervious surface ordinance as amended on 4 September 2024 (legislative file 241793, reference 24-92). It applies in incorporated and unincorporated areas; a city may run its own single-family/duplex review only if the County Director finds its rules at least as strict.	adopted 2024-09-04	[1] September 4, 2024
Miami-Dade Public Works says a construction covenant, recorded with the Clerk of the Court, is required for driveways other than asphalt or plain concrete, with brick pavers given as an example. Public Works permits are applied for on the county's online permit system.	recorded construction covenant for paver driveways document	[4] undated (retrieved October 18, 2026)
The county's 'Save Our Swales' brochure says swales are public property that owners must maintain, and shows a fully paved swale with a parked car as a 'poorly maintained' example.	do not pave the swale guidance	[5] 2017-07 (form 403_01-176 7/17)

Cities we cover in Miami-Dade

Miami

Paver Plan Check

Pick your city and read the rules we found, each with its source and date.

Start the Paver Plan Check

Miami Paver Co. is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.

Questions people ask

Does Miami-Dade review pavers for drainage?

Yes, on single-family and duplex lots. Since March 31, 2025, new, replaced or expanded pavers need county review ¹. The rule covers cities too, unless a city runs an approved review of its own ¹. Ask your city and the county which office reviews your lot.

Do I need a permit for a paver patio in Miami-Dade?

In unincorporated areas, open patios, walkways and pavers are exempt from a building permit. That holds while all exempt work in any 12 months stays at or under $5,000 ². Zoning, public works and drainage approvals can still apply. In a city, ask the city.

Do I need a permit to replace my driveway with pavers?

Often something is needed. The county asks for a recorded covenant on paver driveways ⁴. County review applies to pavers on single-family and duplex lots ¹. Doral asks for a building permit to replace a driveway ⁶. Ask your own building department before you sign a quote.

Can I pull the permit myself?

Florida has an owner-builder path for your own single-family home or duplex. If you sell or lease soon after the work, the law may presume it was done for sale or lease. Read the owner-builder section of the statutes, or ask your building department how it applies. We are a guide, not a legal adviser.

Sources

Miami-Dade legislative file 241793 (final version), Board action 4 Sep 2024, reference 24-92, September 4, 2024
Miami-Dade County Permit: Permit Exemptions (page undated, read 2026-10-18), October 18, 2026
Permit Exemptions (Miami-Dade County Regulatory and Economic Resources, updated 2018-12-26), December 26, 2018
Other Permits (Miami-Dade County Public Works; page undated, read 2026-10-18), October 18, 2026
Save Our Swales (Miami-Dade Public Works brochure, form 403_01-176), 2017-07
A Guide to Driveway Regulations (City of Doral; guide undated, PDF file created 2023-03-22), March 22, 2023
Building Permit Exemption Approval Process for Residential Properties, City of Miami (HB 803), October 18, 2026
Online Sunshine, Florida Statutes: s. 489.117, 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
Online Sunshine, Florida Statutes: s. 489.103, 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
Online Sunshine, Florida Statutes: s. 163.211, 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
Addendum 1, Solicitation 20250093 (Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works), September 17, 2025