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Zoning Violations

The Zoning Inspections Section will investigate complaints from the public regarding zoning violations relating to commercial business locations that exceed the conditions under which a Certificate of Use is granted or fail to have a valid Certificate of Use.

All complaints involving alleged violations of the Miami-Dade Zoning Code are the responsibility of the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources with the exception of Miami-Dade County Ordinance 33-8. This is the requirement that a Certificate of Use be obtained.

Commercial Property Compliance

These regulations apply to business, commercial and industrial properties. Enforcement is done on a complaint basis.

Merchants and business property owners will receive a courtesy warning to correct violations. Civil citations will be issued after non-compliance or in cases where it’s a repeat offense.

Notice Regarding Anonymous Complaints

Florida Statute 125.69 requires that a code inspector only proceed to investigate an anonymous complaint if the code inspector determines, based only on the information from the complaint, that the violation reported presents an imminent threat to the public health, safety, or welfare or imminent destruction of habitat or sensitive resources. If a code inspector does not have enough information or determines that the information provided does not indicate an imminent threat, then the anonymous complaint will not be investigated.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you understand that your complaint will not be investigated if the code inspector determines they do not have enough information or that the information provided does not indicate an imminent threat.

If you do not want to remain anonymous, an investigation can proceed regardless of whether there is an imminent threat, but you must provide both your name and address.