Miami-Dade County ePlan Portal — Digital Permit Submission Guide 2026

Miami-Dade County's ePlan system — also known as iBuildMiami for city of Miami projects and ProjectDox for county projects — is the digital plan review and permitting portal used by Miami-Dade County Building and Neighborhood Services. Digital permit submission has transformed the permit process in Miami-Dade County by eliminating the need to physically bring large paper plan sets to the building department and by allowing concurrent review by multiple disciplines simultaneously. However, navigating the ePlan system correctly is essential — incorrectly formatted submissions are rejected immediately, causing costly delays. This guide provides a detailed overview of the Miami-Dade County ePlan digital submission process.

What Is ePlan and Why It Matters

ePlan is the name for Miami-Dade County's electronic plan review system, which uses ProjectDox software. The system allows architects, engineers, and contractors to submit construction drawings in PDF format, pay permit fees online, receive review comments electronically, respond to comments with revised drawings, and track the status of a permit application through the review process — all without visiting the building department in person for most project types.

The City of Miami uses a related system called iBuildMiami (also powered by ProjectDox) for projects within the City of Miami limits. The City of Miami Beach uses its own digital permitting portal. Each municipality in Miami-Dade County may use a different portal or system — always confirm the required submission method with the specific building department before beginning an application.

ePlan PDF Requirements

Miami-Dade County's ePlan system has strict PDF formatting requirements that must be met before a submission is accepted. Non-compliant files are rejected by the system automatically, and the applicant must reformat and resubmit — losing the time spent during the failed submission. Key PDF requirements include: all files must be in PDF format (not DWG, Revit, or other formats — the PDF must be the submission format), PDFs must be plotted to the correct sheet size (typically 24" x 36" for full plan sets), PDFs must be searchable text (not scanned images of paper drawings — this is required for the reviewer's ability to search the document), each discipline's drawings must be submitted as separate PDF files (architectural drawings separate from structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing), each PDF file must be properly named per the county's naming convention, file sizes must not exceed the maximum upload limit per file, all sheets must be correctly oriented (not upside down or sideways), electronic signatures and seals must meet Florida DBPR requirements for digitally signed documents from licensed professionals.

The engineer or architect of record must use a Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE) or Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design (FBAID) compliant digital seal and digital signature. The digital seal must show the licensee's name, license number, and license type. A simple scanned physical seal is not acceptable for digital submissions — the digital seal must be a proper electronic seal generated by compliant software.

Setting Up an ePlan Account

To submit through Miami-Dade County's ProjectDox portal, the applicant — whether a property owner, licensed contractor, or design professional — must create an account in the system. Account creation requires a valid email address and basic business or personal information. Contractor accounts must be linked to the contractor's Miami-Dade County Contractor's License or Florida state contractor license number. Design professionals (architects, engineers) must link their FBPE or FBAID license number to their account for submissions requiring a professional seal.

The contractor or applicant who creates the initial permit application becomes the applicant of record. Inviting additional users — the architect, structural engineer, MEP engineers, and specialty consultants — to upload their respective discipline drawings requires knowing their ePlan user accounts and sending them invitations within the project. Managing user roles and permissions within a complex ePlan project is a common source of confusion for applicants unfamiliar with the system.

Permit Application Submission Through ePlan

The ePlan permit application process begins with selecting the project type and permit type from the online menu. Common project types in Miami-Dade County's ePlan include: new construction (residential and commercial), additions (residential and commercial), alterations (residential and commercial), demolition, roofing, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, pool, and specialty permits. Each permit type triggers a specific submittal checklist — a list of required documents that must be included in the submission.

The submittal checklist for a new single-family home in unincorporated Miami-Dade County typically includes: completed permit application form, owner's authorization (if the applicant is not the owner), signed and sealed architectural drawings, signed and sealed structural drawings, signed and sealed electrical drawings, signed and sealed plumbing drawings, signed and sealed mechanical drawings, energy compliance documentation (Manual S equipment report, Manual J load calculations, duct leakage calculation, EnergyGauge or equivalent software report), geotechnical report, boundary survey, FEMA flood zone determination, Notice of Commencement (recorded copy), DERM clearance (for applicable projects near wetlands, coastal areas, or in wellfield protection zones), Public Works approval (for projects affecting right-of-way or drainage), and fire marshal clearance (for projects above certain occupancy thresholds).

Submitting all required documents in the correct format at the time of initial submission is the single most important factor in minimizing permit review time. Incomplete submissions are placed in an "incomplete" status and are not reviewed until all missing documents are provided. The review clock does not start until the submission is complete and accepted.

The Plan Review Process in ePlan

After a complete submission is accepted, Miami-Dade County automatically routes the digital drawings to the appropriate review disciplines simultaneously. Building review, structural review, mechanical review, electrical review, plumbing review, DERM review, zoning review, and other applicable reviews begin concurrently. Each reviewer has a target review turnaround time measured in business days, and the overall permit review time is determined by the discipline with the most comments or the slowest turnaround.

When a reviewer issues comments — corrections or clarifications required before the review can be approved — the comments appear in the ePlan system and an email notification is sent to the applicant. The applicant (and the design professional responsible for the commented discipline) must log into the system, read the comments carefully, prepare written responses and revised drawings that address each comment, and resubmit through the system. The reviewer then reviews the responses and either approves the discipline or issues additional comments in a second round of review.

Miami-Dade County building reviewers, DERM reviewers, and other plan review staff are licensed professionals who are generally well-versed in the applicable codes. However, errors in review comments do occur — misapplication of a code section, a code reference that has been amended or superseded, or a comment that is based on an incorrect reading of the submitted drawings. When an error is identified, the design professional should prepare a formal written response citing the specific code language and the specific detail in the drawing, and upload it through the ePlan system. If the reviewer does not accept the response, the applicant may request a meeting with the building official through the ePlan administrative process.

ePlan USD Fees and Payment

USD permit fees for Miami-Dade County projects submitted through ePlan are calculated by the system based on the project type, construction valuation, and square footage. The fee calculation is presented to the applicant before payment is required. Permit fees must be paid online through the ePlan portal using a credit card, bank account ACH transfer, or check. Some fee categories — plan review fees, technology fees, and other administrative fees — are charged at the time of application. Permit issuance fees are charged when the permit is approved and ready for issuance.

USD reinspection fees are charged when an inspection fails and must be rescheduled. Reinspection fees in Miami-Dade County are assessed per failed inspection and must be paid before the inspector's next visit is scheduled through the portal.

Inspection Scheduling Through ePlan

After a permit is issued through ePlan, inspections are scheduled through the Miami-Dade County online inspection scheduling system (linked from the ePlan permit). Inspections must be requested at least one business day in advance (some inspection types require more advance notice). The system assigns an inspector and provides a scheduling window (typically a half-day AM or PM window). Inspector assignment may vary — the same inspector does not necessarily perform all inspections on a single project.

The inspection result — pass, fail, or partial pass — is recorded in the ePlan system and visible to the applicant and all permit parties. Failed inspections show the reason for failure, which the contractor must correct before scheduling a reinspection. Payment of the USD reinspection fee is required before the reinspection can be scheduled.

ePlan for Commercial Projects

Commercial projects submitted through Miami-Dade County's ePlan require the same types of documents as residential projects, with additional requirements based on occupancy and complexity. Commercial plan sets are typically much larger than residential plan sets — a new office building or retail center may have hundreds of plan sheets across multiple discipline drawing packages. Managing large commercial ePlan submissions requires careful organization of the PDF files, the naming convention, and the discipline packages.

Pre-application meetings are strongly recommended for large commercial projects before initial ePlan submission. Pre-application meetings with the building department give the applicant an opportunity to confirm submittal requirements, identify potential zoning or code issues before the drawings are finalized, and establish a communication line with the building department staff who will be reviewing the project.

Municipal ePlan Systems in Miami-Dade County Municipalities

While Miami-Dade County uses ProjectDox for unincorporated county projects, the City of Miami uses iBuildMiami, and other municipalities use different systems. The City of Miami Beach uses its own permitting portal. Coral Gables, Hialeah, North Miami, South Miami, and other cities each have their own systems or processes. Always confirm with the specific municipal building department which system is used for digital submissions before beginning an application. Submitting to the wrong portal or in the wrong format causes immediate rejection and delays.

Government System Errors and Accountability

ePlan system technical glitches — failed uploads, incorrect fee calculations, documents misrouted to wrong reviewers, or system outages during critical submission deadlines — are documented events in Miami-Dade County. When a system error causes a delay or a fee error, the applicant should document the error (screenshots, error messages, timestamps) and submit a formal complaint through the building department's administrative process. Technology-caused delays can sometimes be resolved with fee adjustments or expedited review scheduling.

Working with Endless Life Design on ePlan Submissions

Endless Life Design manages digital permit submissions through Miami-Dade County's ePlan system, iBuildMiami, and the permitting portals of all Miami-Dade municipalities for residential and commercial construction clients. From preparing correctly formatted PDF packages to managing multi-round plan review cycles and coordinating DERM, Public Works, and zoning clearances, Endless Life Design navigates the full ePlan process. Contact Endless Life Design before beginning any permit submission in Miami-Dade County.