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Planning board approves updated fee schedule, public‑benefit administration charge and certificate‑of‑appropriateness fees
Summary
The board approved a set of fee updates to planning and zoning services, historic preservation certificates, temporary certificate‑of‑use fees and a new public‑benefits administration allocation (board set 10% as the cap). Board members emphasized tracking performance and using revenue to support targeted administration.
MIAMI — The Miami Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board on Oct. 8 approved a package of fee changes for planning and zoning services, including new and increased fees for temporary certificates of use, expedited reviews, special‑area plans, development agreement reviews and historic preservation certificates of appropriateness. The board also approved a measure allowing the public‑benefits trust fund to be used for administration, with the board setting a 10 percent cap on administrative draws.
Planning staff said fees had not been adjusted in several years and that application complexity and staff workloads had increased. The revisions are intended to better align fees with staff time and overhead, cover the cost of more complex entitlements (such as SAPs and development‑agreement reviews), and create modest new revenue to support faster turnaround and improved program administration.
Key approvals and changes included:
• Public‑benefits administration: the board approved allowing up to 10 percent of public‑benefits trust fund receipts to be used for administration of the fund (staff had proposed up to 15 percent; the board capped the allocation at 10 percent). Staff said dedicated administration funds will pay for invoicing, grant management and a public‑benefits database.
• Historic preservation: the board approved new fees for standard certificates of appropriateness (formerly no fee) and related preservation reviews; staff said the new revenue will support additional preservation planning work, updated district surveys and a preservation planner position.
• Temporary Certificate of Use (TCU): staff sought a new $250 TCU application fee (with nominal renewal fees) and a $1,000 TCU fee for temporary uses on vacant land; the board approved the changes to keep the city from subsidizing extended temporary uses.
• Development and SAP reviews: staff proposed increases to reflect actual staff time; for example, a large SAP review fee was adjusted upward to better match staff costs for multi‑acre projects.
Board members asked staff to report back with performance metrics showing whether increased revenue led to reduced review times and better service. Several board members urged transparency on how fee revenue is allocated; staff said most fees flow to the general fund but that dedicated trust‑fund revenues will be used directly for administration tied to those funds.
The board approved the fee updates and directed staff to return with implementation details and KPI reporting.
