Life Safety Operating Permit

To ensure and maintain compliance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code for the safety and welfare of all employees, residents, visitors and emergency responders in Miami-Dade County, all businesses are required to have an annual inspection and receive a Life Safety Operating Permit.

Businesses or multi-unit residential buildings needing inspection may request an inspection online or by contacting the Fire Prevention Division. Please note that inspections are conducted in order of priority based on the type of occupancy.

The codes and standards are applied equally and with consistency to all applicable occupancies.

The assigned Fire Safety Specialist I (FSSI) visits existing business facilities and conducts a thorough inspection. Any violations found are recorded on a Fire Inspection Report along with the applicable codes and the required corrective action needed to come into compliance. The FSSI will discuss the report in detail with the occupant to assure that the information is clearly understood.

The FSSI will then return in thirty days for a re-inspection of the noted violations. If the violations have been corrected, the FSSI will note compliance and the occupant will be mailed the annual operating permit. However, failure to correct the violations will result in the issuance of a Final Notice of Violation, and the case will be forwarded to a Code Compliance Officer to manage until the facility becomes compliant.
Inspectors are responsible for inspecting all existing commercial and multi-family occupancies within the jurisdiction of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue on an annual basis. Only single and double family residences are exempt. Occupancies include, but are not limited to:
- Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other medical centers
- Schools, daycare facilities and other recreational or educational centers
- Apartment and condominium buildings
- Industrial and manufacturing facilities
- Retail stores, business offices, dining and entertainment establishments