Citizen Portal
Sign In

Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows

City planning staff outline entitlement reform and a pilot to test AI for permitting

City of Miami Commission · January 22, 2026

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Planning staff presented an entitlement-reform program to simplify Miami '21 code, expand by-right options and test AI tools with Miami Dade College to speed permitting reviews. Staff said several Miami '21 amendments are already in motion and more workshops are planned.

City planning staff provided commissioners with an update on entitlement reform and permitting improvements on Jan. 22, outlining recent Miami '21 zoning amendments, process reforms and a proposed pilot to test AI-assisted permitting in partnership with Miami Dade College.

Grama Jones, assistant director of planning, said the program aims to reduce redundant reviews, clarify use tables, and create by-right pathways where appropriate so routine approvals do not require lengthy entitlement processes. "We're bringing forward amendments to modernize and clarify Miami '21 and create more by-right options when specified design criteria are met," Jones said.

Staff reported progress on prior task force recommendations, implementation of by-right micro-dwelling allowances, and work to streamline reviews for educational and other uses. Commissioners suggested additional items (for example, permeable pavement in the sustainable improvement pilot) and asked for continued stakeholder outreach.

Jones also said Miami Dade College offered to include the city in a no-cost pilot testing AI tools to streamline permit review; staff said they would evaluate how enterprise systems and other technology could reduce cycle times.

Commissioners accepted the update and asked staff to continue workshops and return with follow-up proposals that reflect community input and process metrics.