Demolition permit in Hialeah, FL
Yes — you need a permit for demolition work in Hialeah.
You need a permit to demolish a structure or part of one. Hialeah adopts the Florida Building Code through Sec. 14-2, which covers the demolition and removal of buildings, and nothing in the city code exempts demolition. Two extras can apply. If the building is in a historic district, Sec. 46-67 requires a certificate of appropriateness before you demolish. If the lot sits in a mapped archaeological or paleontological zone, Sec. 46-68 requires a certificate to dig before new construction, filling, digging, or tree removal. The Chapter 98 demolition section (Sec. 98-1452) is about recycling and debris-processing facilities, not tearing down a home.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | You need a permit to demolish a structure or part of one.… |
| Fee | The code names no demolition amount. Sec. 14-3 says permit fees follow a separate fee schedule kept on file with the city clerk. Current amounts are on the city site at hialeahfl.gov. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | FBC 105.2 |
| Based on | Florida Building Code 2023 |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Hialeah building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
If you skip it
Hialeah's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hialeah | — | Yes | You need a permit to demolish a structure or part of one.… |
| Doral | 5 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Miami Gardens | 7 mi | Yes | You need a demolition permit to tear down a structure or … |
| Miramar | 7 mi | Yes | Demolishing a building or part of one needs a permit. Bef… |
| Miami | 9 mi | Yes | You need a permit to demolish a building or any part of o… |
| Miami Beach | 10 mi | Yes | You need a demolition permit, and you must give notice to… |
Other work in Hialeah
Questions people ask
How much does a demolition permit cost in Hialeah?
The code names no demolition amount. Sec. 14-3 says permit fees follow a separate fee schedule kept on file with the city clerk. Current amounts are on the city site at hialeahfl.gov.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Hialeah can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.