Bolthole Index

Broward County, Florida

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Miramar, Florida

The City of Miramar, Florida, in Broward County, sets its own zoning through its Land Development Code1, and its Building Division reviews building permit applications2. Living in an RV on a residential lot is prohibited3. Septic permits for Broward County addresses come from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County4.

At a glance

Zoning
City of Miramar zoning, set by its Land Development Code1
Building permit
Issued by the City of Miramar Building Division2
Septic permit
Florida Department of Health in Broward County5
RV living
Prohibited on residentially zoned property3
Manufactured homes
By right only in the Trailer/Mobile Home Park District (T)6
Minimum home size
Set by district, from 500 to 2,500 square feet7
Floodplain
City floodplain rules apply to development in flood hazard areas8
Wells
Wells 12 inches or smaller need a Broward County health department permit9

Who to call

Building permits

City of Miramar Building Division (Building, Planning & Zoning Department)

Building permit review, building inspections, and contractor registration inside the City of Miramar

954-602-3200

buildingpermitclerks@miramarfl.gov

2200 Civic Center Place, Miramar, FL 33025

Online permits →

Zoning

City of Miramar Land Planning Services (Building, Planning & Zoning Department)

Zoning permits, zoning verification, the zoning map, the Land Development Code and the city floodplain management program

954-602-3264

pandz@miramarfl.gov

2200 Civic Center Place, Miramar FL 33025

Septic permits

Florida Department of Health in Broward County, Environmental Public Health Program

Septic (OSTDS) permits and inspections and water-well permits for Broward County

954-467-4700

2421A SW 6th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Miramar means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Miramar, FL have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. The City of Miramar zones the land inside its limits through its Land Development Code, and residential zoning must match the parcel's land use plan designation1. The Land Planning Services division issues zoning permits and answers zoning verification requests10.

The code's residential districts run from rural lots to small-lot single-family neighborhoods. Minimum lot size is 2.5 acres in the Rural (RL) district, 2 acres in Estate (E) and 1 acre in RS1, then 7,500 square feet in RS2 down to 4,000 square feet in RS7 and RS811. Maximum building lot coverage is 40% in RL, E and RS112. Maximum height is 40 feet in those three districts, 35 feet in RS2 through RS8 and 25 feet in the Trailer/Mobile Home Park District13.

Living in an RV on residentially zoned property inside Miramar is prohibited. An RV may be parked, one per property, if it is registered with the City with an affidavit that it will not be occupied, and the RV may not be connected to water or sewer except for a flush out of no more than 30 minutes3.

Manufactured homes are permitted by right only in the Trailer/Mobile Home Park District (T)6. We could not confirm a Miramar rule for tiny homes; ask Land Planning Services at pandz@miramarfl.gov10.

Do you need a building permit in Miramar, and who issues it?

Inside Miramar, the City's own Building Division handles building permits; the Broward County Building Code Division serves unincorporated Broward County and the cities that contract with it14. The Miramar Building Division reviews all building permit applications for compliance with national, state, county and municipal codes2. The Florida Building Code is the statewide base code, and Florida's owner-builder exemption does not remove the permit requirement for covered construction15.

The Building Division says residential permits usually take approximately 15 business days and commercial permits 30 business days2. Applications and inspections run through the City's online self-service portal2. Florida law sets its own review deadlines for building permit applications, so ask the Building Division which timeframe applies to your project16.

We could not confirm Miramar's permit fee schedule from the sources we reviewed, so call the Building Division at 954-602-3200 before you budget2.

How do septic permits work inside Miramar?

Septic permits for Broward County addresses, including addresses inside city limits, come from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, not from the city building department. Florida law requires a permit before anyone constructs, repairs, modifies, abandons or operates an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system4. The county health department continues to permit and inspect septic tanks5, and applicants submit an application, site plan, building floor plan and fee17.

Expect a site evaluation. Broward County's soils rate poorly for conventional drain fields, since 0% of soils are rated not limited18. We could not confirm whether Miramar requires a given address to connect to city sewer; ask the City Building Division and the health department which applies to your lot19. If sewer becomes available, Florida law generally requires a properly functioning septic system to connect within 365 days of written notice20.

Wells that are 12 inches in diameter or smaller need a permit from the Florida Department of Health in Broward County9.

How big does a house have to be in Miramar?

Minimum floor area depends on the district. Miramar's single-family districts require 2,500 square feet in RL and E, 2,000 in RS1, 1,500 in RS2, 1,800 in RS3, 1,500 in RS4 and RS5, 1,400 in RS6 and RS7, 1,300 in RS8 and 500 in the Trailer/Mobile Home Park District7. Confirm the district and the table's footnotes with Land Planning Services before you design a small home10.

For a guest house or accessory dwelling, Florida law lets a local government allow accessory dwelling units in single-family areas, and a building permit application must include an affordable-rent affidavit21. We could not confirm Miramar's accessory dwelling standards, so ask Land Planning Services10.

Building a home in Miramar: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and land use designation with Land Planning Services, and request a zoning verification if needed10.
  2. Check whether the lot is in a flood hazard area. The City applies its floodplain rules to all development wholly or partly inside one8.
  3. Apply for zoning approval, then for building permits, through the City's online portal or the Building Division at 954-602-32002.
  4. If the lot is not on city sewer, apply to the Florida Department of Health in Broward County for a septic permit and a site evaluation17.
  5. Schedule inspections through the City portal, and request a certificate of occupancy at the end. Florida requires enforcing agencies to follow mandatory certificate of occupancy and inspection standards22.

What stays with Broward County, and what to check before you buy in Miramar

Septic and well permits stay with the county health department5, and the Broward County Land Use Plan sets general rules for when platting is required, though municipalities can set stricter standards23. For land outside city limits, see the Broward County page.

Costs add up in Broward County: the typical home insurance premium is about $6,148 a year24, and the effective property tax rate is 0.9%25. Those figures are countywide, not Miramar-only. Check flood zone, sewer availability, the zoning district's minimum floor area, and any homeowners association rules before you close.

Watch-outs

  • Searching "Broward County permits" can send you to the county office, which serves unincorporated Broward County and contract cities; inside Miramar, apply to the City of Miramar Building Division instead14.
  • Parking an RV on a residential lot in Miramar requires registering it with the City with an affidavit that it will not be occupied3.
  • Manufactured homes are not permitted by right outside the Trailer/Mobile Home Park District6.
  • We could not confirm Miramar's permit fees, setbacks, tiny-home rules or sewer connection requirements; call the Building Division at 954-602-3200 or Land Planning Services at 954-602-3264210.

Sources

  1. Miramar LDC Sec. 402 Residential Zoning Districts (Miramar), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Miramar Building Division (Building, Planning & Zoning Department) (miramarfl.gov)
  3. Miramar Code Sec. 20-49 Parking restrictions, residential zoned properties (Miramar), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Sewage Disposal - Florida Department of Health in Broward County, quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Sewage FAQ - Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  6. Miramar LDC Sec. 402 Residential Zoning Districts (Miramar), quoted and re-checked
  7. Miramar LDC Sec. 402 Residential Zoning Districts (Miramar), quoted and re-checked
  8. Miramar LDC Sec. 816 Floodplain Management (Miramar), quoted and re-checked
  9. Water Well Construction, quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Miramar Land Planning Services (Building, Planning & Zoning Department) (miramarfl.gov)
  11. Miramar LDC Sec. 402 Residential Zoning Districts (Miramar), quoted and re-checked
  12. Miramar LDC Sec. 402 Residential Zoning Districts (Miramar), quoted and re-checked
  13. Miramar LDC Sec. 402 Residential Zoning Districts (Miramar), quoted and re-checked
  14. Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  15. 2026 Florida Statutes § 489.103, Exemptions (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. F.S. 553.792 — Building permit application to local government (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Onsite Sewage FAQ - Permitting, quoted and re-checked
  18. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Florida Department of Health in Broward County, Environmental Public Health Program (broward.floridahealth.gov)
  20. flsenate.gov (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Florida Statutes § 163.31771: Accessory dwelling units (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Florida Statutes § 553.73, Florida Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  23. Urban Planning Services, quoted and re-checked
  24. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Miramar

Miramar’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Miramar city limits

    • Residential zoning must match the parcel's land use plan (LUP) designation.
    “These residential districts are intended to provide for residential development in conformance with the parcel's LUP designation.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Residential zoning districts inside Miramar city (RL, E, RS1-RS8, RM1-RM4, PUD, T)

    • Non-residential districts not reviewed
    “The RS2, RS3, RS4, RS5, RS6, RS7, and RS8 zoning districts are established for one-family”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family districts RL, E, RS1-RS8, T inside Miramar city

    • Table footnote 1 on minimum floor area not seen in fetched text

    RL min floor area: >= 2500 sq ft · E min floor area: >= 2500 sq ft · RS1 min floor area: >= 2000 sq ft · RS2 min floor area: >= 1500 sq ft · RS3 min floor area: >= 1800 sq ft · RS4 min floor area: >= 1500 sq ft · RS5 min floor area: >= 1500 sq ft · RS6 min floor area: >= 1400 sq ft · RS7 min floor area: >= 1400 sq ft · RS8 min floor area: >= 1300 sq ft · T min floor area: >= 500 sq ft

    “Minimum Floor Area 1 (s.f.) 2,500 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,800 1,500 1,500 1,400 1,400 1,300 500”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Rural (RL 2.5 ac), Estate (E 2 ac, RS1 1 ac) and single-family districts RS2-RS8 inside Miramar city

    • Table columns RL, E, RS1, RS2 through RS8 and T; T column and RS8 share 4,000 s.f. as shown

    RL: >= 2.5 acres · E: >= 2 acres · RS1: >= 1 acre · RS2: >= 7500 sq ft · RS3: >= 7000 sq ft · RS4: >= 6500 sq ft · RS5: >= 6000 sq ft · RS6: >= 5000 sq ft · RS7: >= 4000 sq ft · RS8: >= 4000 sq ft

    “Minimum Lot Size 2.5 acres 2 acres 1 acre 7,500 s.f. 7,000 s.f. 6,500 s.f. 6,000 s.f. 5,000 s.f. 4,000 s.f. 4,000 s.f. 4,000 s.f.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    RL, E, RS1 districts 40%; RS2-RS8 and T show N/A, inside Miramar city

    • Table footnote 2 not seen

    RL/E/RS1 max building lot coverage: <= 40 percent (RS2-RS8 and T show N/A)

    “Maximum Building Lot Coverage 2 40% 40% 40% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    RL, E, RS1: 40 ft; RS2-RS8: 35 ft; T: 25 ft, inside Miramar city

    RL/E/RS1 max height: <= 40 ft · RS2-RS8 max height: <= 35 ft · T max height: <= 25 ft

    “Maximum Height (ft.) 40 40 40 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 25”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Living in a recreational vehicle on residentially zoned property inside Miramar city

    • RVs may be parked (one per property) on residential property if registered with the City with an affidavit that it will not be offered for occupancy
    • RV up to 33 ft in side yard on improved driveway; up to 24 ft in front yard
    • RVs may not be connected to water/sewer except a flush out not exceeding 30 minutes
    “A recreational vehicle, while parked on property zoned residential shall not be offered for occupancy or use by any third parties or occupied or used for living, sleeping, cooking or any other life sustaining activities”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes inside Miramar city

    • Subject to specific use standards in LDC Sec. 405.1
    • Not permitted in other residential districts
    “2. Permitted by-right only if the property for such use is located within Trailer/Mobile Home Park District (T)”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in flood hazard areas inside Miramar city

    • Administered in conjunction with the Florida Building Code
    • Flood hazard areas based on the Broward County Flood Insurance Study and FIRM maps; areas below base flood elevation are treated as flood hazard areas
    “The provisions of this section shall apply to all development that is wholly within or partially within any flood hazard area”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Vacation homes and short-term rentals in residential districts inside Miramar city

    • Subject to specific use standards in LDC Sec. 405.11 (not seen)
    “Vacation Homes & Short-Term Rentals P* P* P*”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Miramar or Broward County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Miramar city
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder inside Miramar city
  • Building code adopted — Building code inside Miramar city
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Miramar city
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Miramar city
15 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Miramar publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Broward County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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