Home
BlogMiami Permit Expediter Guide
Miami Permit Expediter Guide
Francis Thumpasery
Last updated:
Jun 12, 2025
Pulling permits in Miami isn’t just paperwork — it’s a process. Between zoning overlays, coastal regulations, floodplain reviews, and multiple department approvals, even small Miami construction projects can face delays and red tape. That’s why many developers, contractors, and builders turn to a Miami permit expediter or permit runner to help keep things moving.
But what do these professionals actually do, what do they cost, and are there better alternatives? This guide answers all these questions.
Simplify permitting in Miami with PermitFlow. Learn more here.
What is a permit expediter in Miami?
A Miami permit expediter — sometimes called a permit runner — is someone who helps move your permit application through the City of Miami or Miami-Dade County approval process. Their job is to make sure everything is submitted correctly and efficiently.
Expediters typically handle:
- Researching what permits and approvals your project needs
- Filling out and submitting building permit applications
- Coordinating with plan reviewers across multiple departments (e.g. zoning, floodplain management, environmental)
- Uploading plan revisions and responding to comments
- Tracking your permit status and facilitating faster approvals
In Miami, this can include navigating:
- The iBuild portal (City of Miami)
- ePlan and RER platforms (Miami-Dade County)
- Florida Building Code, FEMA floodplain rules, and historic preservation overlays
Miami permit expediter costs
Like most large cities, Miami permit expediter fees vary depending on your project’s size, complexity, and the services you need. Here's what to expect:
| Fee Model |
Typical Range |
When It's Used |
| Hourly |
$50 – $200 per hour |
Small jobs, document drops, comment responses |
| Flat rate |
$1,500 – $5,000+ |
Full-service expediting (drawings to approval) |
| Per-trip / a la carte |
$150 – $300 per submission |
Plan drops or specific site visits |
These fees are in addition to actual permit fees owed to the City of Miami or Miami-Dade County.
Pro tip: Be cautious of low-cost expediters promising “guaranteed approvals” — no one can guarantee a timeline through all municipal departments.
Miami permit expediter requirements
Permit expediters in Miami must be registered with the City of Miami. This ensures that anyone submitting plans or communicating on behalf of a contractor or property owner is properly authorized.
To register, expediters must:
Unregistered expediters may be unable to submit applications or access permit status updates — which could delay your project. For more details, see the City of Miami’s official permit expediter registration page.
Pros and cons of working with a permit expediter in Miami
Working with a permit expediter in Miami can be helpful — but it’s not always the best solution.
Pros
- They understand Miami’s complex code and coastal constraints
- They manage communication with city reviewers
- They free up your internal team’s time
- They help avoid small mistakes that cause big delays
Cons
- Additional cost on top of permit fees
- Some expediters work multiple projects — yours might not be top priority
- No guarantee of faster approvals
- Quality and responsiveness can vary widely between expediters
- Lack of visibility — you don’t often know where your permit stands until it’s in hand
Alternatives to hiring a permit expediter
Hiring an expediter isn’t your only option. Here are two alternatives:
1. In-house permitting staff
Larger contractors and developers may hire full-time permit coordinators. This ensures deep internal knowledge of your company’s workflows — but also adds headcount, training, and salary costs.
2. Permit management software
Permit management software like PermitFlow offer a modern alternative to permit expediters.
Instead of relying on a third-party runner, you get:
- A centralized dashboard to manage all your permit applications
- Real-time status updates and automated reminders
- Clean, accurate applications submitted right the first time
- Access to local code expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire
Skip the middleman and avoid back-and-forth delays. With PermitFlow, you can streamline permitting across all your Miami construction projects.
Streamline permitting in Miami with PermitFlow
Traditional expediters work job-by-job. PermitFlow works at scale, helping construction businesses manage multiple permits across jurisdictions, all from one platform.
Here’s how we’re different from Miami permit expediters:
- Smarter planning: Upfront guidance on requirements before you submit
- Clean applications: Fewer comments, faster reviews
- Full visibility: See exactly where your permit stands, 24/7
- Collaborative tools: Let your project team work together in one shared workspace
Ready to simplify your next project in Miami? Talk to our permitting experts today.
Pulling permits in Miami isn’t just paperwork — it’s a process. Between zoning overlays, coastal regulations, floodplain reviews, and multiple department approvals, even small Miami construction projects can face delays and red tape. That’s why many developers, contractors, and builders turn to a Miami permit expediter or permit runner to help keep things moving.
But what do these professionals actually do, what do they cost, and are there better alternatives? This guide answers all these questions.
Simplify permitting in Miami with PermitFlow. Learn more here.
What is a permit expediter in Miami?
A Miami permit expediter — sometimes called a permit runner — is someone who helps move your permit application through the City of Miami or Miami-Dade County approval process. Their job is to make sure everything is submitted correctly and efficiently.
Expediters typically handle:
- Researching what permits and approvals your project needs
- Filling out and submitting building permit applications
- Coordinating with plan reviewers across multiple departments (e.g. zoning, floodplain management, environmental)
- Uploading plan revisions and responding to comments
- Tracking your permit status and facilitating faster approvals
In Miami, this can include navigating:
- The iBuild portal (City of Miami)
- ePlan and RER platforms (Miami-Dade County)
- Florida Building Code, FEMA floodplain rules, and historic preservation overlays
Miami permit expediter costs
Like most large cities, Miami permit expediter fees vary depending on your project’s size, complexity, and the services you need. Here's what to expect:
| Fee Model |
Typical Range |
When It's Used |
| Hourly |
$50 – $200 per hour |
Small jobs, document drops, comment responses |
| Flat rate |
$1,500 – $5,000+ |
Full-service expediting (drawings to approval) |
| Per-trip / a la carte |
$150 – $300 per submission |
Plan drops or specific site visits |
These fees are in addition to actual permit fees owed to the City of Miami or Miami-Dade County.
Pro tip: Be cautious of low-cost expediters promising “guaranteed approvals” — no one can guarantee a timeline through all municipal departments.
Miami permit expediter requirements
Permit expediters in Miami must be registered with the City of Miami. This ensures that anyone submitting plans or communicating on behalf of a contractor or property owner is properly authorized.
To register, expediters must:
Unregistered expediters may be unable to submit applications or access permit status updates — which could delay your project. For more details, see the City of Miami’s official permit expediter registration page.
Pros and cons of working with a permit expediter in Miami
Working with a permit expediter in Miami can be helpful — but it’s not always the best solution.
Pros
- They understand Miami’s complex code and coastal constraints
- They manage communication with city reviewers
- They free up your internal team’s time
- They help avoid small mistakes that cause big delays
Cons
- Additional cost on top of permit fees
- Some expediters work multiple projects — yours might not be top priority
- No guarantee of faster approvals
- Quality and responsiveness can vary widely between expediters
- Lack of visibility — you don’t often know where your permit stands until it’s in hand
Alternatives to hiring a permit expediter
Hiring an expediter isn’t your only option. Here are two alternatives:
1. In-house permitting staff
Larger contractors and developers may hire full-time permit coordinators. This ensures deep internal knowledge of your company’s workflows — but also adds headcount, training, and salary costs.
2. Permit management software
Permit management software like PermitFlow offer a modern alternative to permit expediters.
Instead of relying on a third-party runner, you get:
- A centralized dashboard to manage all your permit applications
- Real-time status updates and automated reminders
- Clean, accurate applications submitted right the first time
- Access to local code expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire
Skip the middleman and avoid back-and-forth delays. With PermitFlow, you can streamline permitting across all your Miami construction projects.
Streamline permitting in Miami with PermitFlow
Traditional expediters work job-by-job. PermitFlow works at scale, helping construction businesses manage multiple permits across jurisdictions, all from one platform.
Here’s how we’re different from Miami permit expediters:
- Smarter planning: Upfront guidance on requirements before you submit
- Clean applications: Fewer comments, faster reviews
- Full visibility: See exactly where your permit stands, 24/7
- Collaborative tools: Let your project team work together in one shared workspace
Ready to simplify your next project in Miami? Talk to our permitting experts today.
