Paver patio 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.
Pavers on a single-family or duplex lot in Miami-Dade have needed county drainage review since March 31, 2025 1. A patio is covered, but in the county's own area open patios, walkways and pavers are exempt from a building permit up to $5,000 of work in any 12 months 2. Run the Paver Plan Check for your city, then call the offices it names.
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 . Sources
County review and the building permit exemption
As of October 18, 2026
To the county, a paver patio is hard surface, like a driveway. Pavers installed, replaced or expanded on a single-family or duplex lot have needed drainage review since March 31, 2025 1.
A separate rule covers the building permit. In the county's own area, open patios, walkways and pavers do not need a building permit while all exempt work in any 12 months stays at or under $5,000 2. That is a building permit exemption only. Zoning, public works and drainage approvals can still apply 2.
A city sets its own rules. The exemption page speaks for the county's own area, not for every city.
Florida's HB 803 took effect July 1, 2026 and adds a statewide route 3. Pinecrest says single-family work valued under $7,500 may skip a building permit by request 3. It is not automatic, it leaves out structural work and property in a flood hazard area, and it does not override zoning 3. Pinecrest does not say whether pavers qualify, so ask your own city.
Materials for a patio
Patio guides separate the paver from the finished job. HomeAdvisor lists installed paver patios at 8-25 USD per sq ft installed (national)4, and the paver itself is only part of that.
- Concrete pavers. The lowest material cost on that guide. They come in many colors, patterns and edge styles.
- Travertine. A guide puts it at $15 to $27 per sq ft installed 5. We found no independent source on how it handles heat or wet feet, so ask for the spec sheet.
- Coral stone. A South Florida seller says it is natural limestone and coral, stays cool underfoot and grips because it is porous 6. That is a seller's claim, not a test. Another seller lists its coral pavers as non-porous, so check the exact stone.
- Permeable pavers. They need to pass the county tests to count as pervious. A patio sees people, not cars. That may help with the low-traffic test, but only the county can say. Read permeable pavers and Miami-Dade rules.
Base, slope and what lives under a patio
A patio needs a prepared base like any other paver job. Your written scope should name the base material, its depth, the compaction, the edge restraint and the joint sand. We found no Miami-Dade source that sets a base depth, so we print none.
Ask which way the water runs. It should not pool against your house wall or in the joints. The county rule asks that rain stay on your lot 1, so the slope and the drain points belong in the scope.
Fire ants are a Florida fact of life. UF/IFAS says they can nest under pavement and buildings, and in sandy soil the nests often have no big mound 7. No method gives permanent control, and bait is the advice 7. Ask how an active nest is handled before the base goes in.
HOA and condo rules
If you live in an HOA or condo, ask for its paver color, pattern and approval rules in writing before you order anything. A written yes protects you if a neighbor complains later.
Keep the approval letter with your permit papers.
How a paver patio job goes
We do not lay pavers ourselves. Once an installer signs, this is the order a patio job should follow.
- Layout. Mark the shape, the size and the slope.
- Dig and base. Dig out the grass or old surface, then build and compact the base.
- Bedding and laying. Spread the bedding layer, then lay the pavers in the pattern.
- Cuts and edges. Cut the pavers at the edges and fit the edge restraint.
- Joint sand and sealing. Sweep in joint sand. Seal only if you chose to.
- Photos. You get photos of the base, the laying and the finish.
What a patio costs
National guides price patios by the square foot. One lists installed paver patios at 8-25 USD per sq ft installed (national)4. The same guide says a 280 sq ft patio averages $3,800, with a typical range of $2,400 to $7,000 4.
Our arithmetic: a patio of 250 sq ft times that range, 8-25 USD per sq ft installed (national)4, is $2,000 to $6,250. It is a yardstick, not a Miami quote. We have no Miami quotes yet.
Size and material move the price most. Curves, steps, borders and a thick base add work. Ask for the same size, paver and base in every quote. The cost guide shows the sources and dates.
What is in writing
Until an installer signs, we cannot promise a workmanship term. When one does, we publish it here and it goes into your written scope.
How it works
The Paver Plan Check and the guides are free to use.
- Run the Paver Plan Check. Pick your city and read the rules we found, each with its source and date.
- Call the offices it names. Have your address, photos and what is there now ready. We read the permit path for your city and tell you which offices to call.
- Review your permit path and ask for a written scope. Ask to see the offices, the papers, the base, the paver and the price in writing. Nothing should start until you agree.
- Decide, then follow the work. If you go ahead, ask the installer for photos of the base, the laying and the finish. We are not booking jobs yet. If you tell us about your project, we will let you know when a local installer is available.
What we don't handle
These jobs are outside what Miami Paver Co. can help with. If your project includes one of them, we can't take the job.
- roof
- retaining wall
- slab repair
- structural
- electrical
- drain
- mold
- waterproofing
- elevated deck
- balcony
What this site gives you now
This guide cuts the guesswork and the paperwork. You can learn the permit path and the paver system before you spend anything.
- A way to size up your site
Take photos of your site and note your address and what is there now. They help you see what the project involves and which paver system fits. - A permit path to follow
The Paver Plan Check lists the rules we could confirm for your city and the offices to call. Each rule names the page we read and shows its date. - A written scope and price to ask for
Ask any installer for a scope that lists base depth, compaction, edge restraint, drainage, paver, joint sand and sealing, with the price. Nothing should start until you say yes. - The right paver for the job
Concrete pavers, travertine or a permeable system. The guides help you match the choice to how you use the space and to what your city allows. - A photo habit
Take photos of the base, the laying and the finish, so you can see the work you paid for. - What to ask for in writing
Ask any installer to put the workmanship term in your written scope. We will publish an installer's term on this site if one signs.
This site is free to read. It sells no work and takes no payment. If the rules make pavers not worth the paperwork on your lot, the Plan Check and the guides will show it. Any work is agreed in writing between you and the installer who does it.
Paver Plan Check
Pick your city and read the rules we found, each with its source and date.
Start the Paver Plan CheckMiami Paver Co. is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.
National price ranges for paver patio
| Job | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor: travertine pavers cost about $15 to $27 per sq ft installed (material $4 to $11). A 300 sq ft patio is $4,200 to $8,550 (avg $6,380). A pool deck is roughly $9,000 to $16,200, and the page suggests about 20% extra for custom pool decks. | 15-27 USD per sq ft installed (national) | [5]National price guide range, How Much Does It Cost to Install Travertine Pavers? [2025 Data], June 2026 |
| HomeAdvisor: paver installation costs between $8 and $25 per square foot (flagstone and other high-end stone up to $50); a 280 sq ft patio averages $3,800, most homeowners spending $2,400 to $7,000.National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 8-25 USD per sq ft installed (national) | [4]National price guide range, How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost? (HomeAdvisor), June 2026 |
| Angi: travertine pavers cost $15 to $27 per square foot installed; the average installation is $6,380 and most homeowners pay $4,200 to $8,550National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 15-27 USD per sq ft installed (national) | [15]National price guide range, How Much Do Travertine Pavers Cost? [2026 Data] (Angi), May 2026 |
| Angi: concrete pavers are listed at $8 to $15 per square foot in its paver-patio-by-material table (brick or clay $10 to $20, natural stone $15 to $50), with installer labor priced separately at $4 to $11 per square footNational range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 8-15 USD per sq ft (national; the page does not say whether this is paver cost only or installed) | [16]National price guide range, How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost to Install? [2026 Data] (Angi), August 2026 |
Paver patio in Miami-Dade: cities
Other services
Illustration Paver driveway
Replace or widen a driveway with pavers, with the county review and the covenant mapped out before you pick a pattern.
Illustration Pool deck pavers
Pavers around a pool, with the county review, the permit question and the material choices laid out first.
Paver sealing
Seal pavers on a schedule that works around Miami rain, with the questions to ask before the sealer goes on.
Guides
Evidence: the facts and sources behind this page
Paver patio: facts behind this page
As of October 18, 2026
| 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 | [9] 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 | [8] 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 | [12] 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 | [13] 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 | [14] 2017-07 (form 403_01-176 7/17) |
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
- $7,500 Exemption (Village of Pinecrest; HB 803 takes effect 2026-07-01, page undated), July 1, 2026
- How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost? (HomeAdvisor), June 17, 2026
- How Much Does It Cost to Install Travertine Pavers? (HomeAdvisor), June 19, 2026
- What Are Coral Stone Pavers? A Guide for South Florida Homeowners (StoneHardscapes, LLC; page last modified 2026-10-09), October 9, 2026
- Fire Ants, Gardening Solutions (UF/IFAS), October 18, 2026
- Online Sunshine, Florida Statutes: s. 489.103, 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
- Online Sunshine, Florida Statutes: s. 489.117, 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
- Permit Exemptions (Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources), December 26, 2018
- Other Permits (Miami-Dade County), undated (retrieved October 18, 2026)
- Save Our Swales (Miami-Dade Public Works brochure), 2017-07 (form 403_01-176 7/17)
- How Much Do Travertine Pavers Cost? [2026 Data] (Angi), May 2, 2026
- How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost to Install? [2026 Data] (Angi), August 3, 2026
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for a paver patio in Miami-Dade?
As of October 18, 2026
In the county's own area, open patios, walkways and pavers are exempt from a building permit while all exempt work in any 12 months stays at or under $5,000 2. County drainage review can still apply 1. In a city, ask the city.
How much does a small square patio cost?
Our arithmetic: 20 ft by 20 ft is 400 sq ft, and 400 times the national range 8-25 USD per sq ft installed (national)4 is $3,200 to $10,000. That is a yardstick, not a Miami quote.
Can I build a paver patio myself?
As of October 18, 2026
Florida has an owner-builder path: owner-builder exemption, 1-year sale presumption8. It may apply to your own home. For licensing, Florida has no state license category for driveway or paver installation9. Your city may still ask for a permit and drainage review. This is research, not legal advice.
Should I seal a new paver patio?
It is a choice, and new concrete pavers can show a white haze first. Read paver sealing in Miami-Dade before you set a date.