Port, Airport and Transportation Infrastructure Construction Permits in South Florida 2026

South Florida's three major international airports — Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) — and its two major seaports — PortMiami and Port Everglades — generate billions of dollars in construction activity annually, ranging from terminal expansions and runway rehabilitation projects to cargo facility construction and ship berth improvements. Infrastructure construction of this scale involves not only local building permits but also federal aviation and port regulatory oversight, environmental review, and in many cases Presidential permits or FAA design approvals that make airport and port construction among the most complex permit environments in the United States.

Miami International Airport Construction Permits

Miami International Airport (MIA) is owned and operated by Miami-Dade County's Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW). Construction on airport property is permitted through the Miami-Dade County Building Department rather than through independent municipal building departments, because the airport is unincorporated county property. Large capital improvement projects at MIA — terminal renovations, concourse expansions, airfield pavement rehabilitation, and cargo building construction — require Miami-Dade County building permits for all structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work on landside (non-airfield) facilities.

Airfield construction at MIA — including runway resurfacing, taxiway construction, apron paving, airfield lighting systems, and navigational aid installations — is governed by FAA Advisory Circulars (ACs) and is funded in part through FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants. AIP-funded projects must comply with FAA design standards, DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) subcontracting requirements, Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements, and FAA construction inspection and acceptance procedures. USD AIP grant funding for MIA construction projects has historically reached $50 million USD to $200 million USD per year for major capital programs.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is owned and operated by Broward County and is one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States. FLL construction projects are permitted through the Broward County Building Division. Like MIA, airfield construction at FLL follows FAA standards and AIP funding requirements. Terminal and landside facility construction requires standard commercial building permits from Broward County.

FLL has undertaken multiple multi-hundred-million-dollar terminal expansion projects in recent years, generating extensive commercial construction permit activity. The proximity of FLL to residential neighborhoods in Dania Beach and Hollywood creates FAA airspace protection requirements for nearby construction and noise mitigation requirements for airport ground operations.

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)

Palm Beach International Airport is owned and operated by Palm Beach County. PBI construction is permitted through the Palm Beach County Building Division for landside facilities. PBI has undergone multiple concourse renovation and expansion projects in recent years to accommodate growth in the Palm Beach County air travel market.

FAA Obstruction Evaluation Requirements for Nearby Construction

All construction in the vicinity of South Florida's airports — not just construction on airport property — must comply with FAA obstruction evaluation requirements. FAA Form 7460-1 (Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration) must be filed with the FAA for any new structure that might affect navigable airspace within the airport's approach, departure, or transition zones, or within the FAA's notification radius for the specific airport. The FAA reviews the proposal and issues a Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation (if the structure does not present a hazard) or requires specific lighting, marking, or height modifications.

Structures near South Florida airports that trigger FAA Form 7460-1 filing include: construction cranes used during building construction; new communication towers; tall structures along approach corridors; and any structure penetrating the airport's defined airspace protection surfaces. Contractors using tower cranes near South Florida airports must file 7460-1 forms for the crane operating radius and height. USD consultant fees for FAA airspace analysis and 7460-1 filing range from $2,500 USD to $10,000 USD per project.

PortMiami Construction and Permits

PortMiami is owned and operated by Miami-Dade County and is the largest passenger cruise port in the world and one of the leading cargo ports in the United States. Construction at PortMiami — including berth construction, crane installation, terminal building construction, and container yard paving — requires permits from Miami-Dade County Building Department and coordination with the Miami-Dade Seaport Department (the port's operating agency).

Large marine structures at PortMiami — including new cruise ship berths, cargo quay walls, and marine fender systems — require USACE Section 10/404 permits, FDEP Environmental Resource Permits, and Miami-Dade DERM Class I Water Resource Permits in addition to building permits for landside structures. Construction of new berth structures that extend into Biscayne Bay requires extensive environmental review to assess impacts to seagrass beds, marine habitats, and water quality.

Port Everglades Construction and Permits

Port Everglades is owned and operated by Broward County and is one of the busiest container ports and petroleum product import facilities in the United States. Construction at Port Everglades — berth expansions, container yard improvements, petroleum tank farms, and terminal building construction — requires Broward County Building Division permits for landside construction and all applicable federal and state environmental permits for waterside construction.

Port Everglades has undertaken a major deepening project in partnership with the USACE to accommodate the largest neo-Panamax container vessels. This dredging project required one of the most comprehensive USACE environmental review processes in the history of Port Everglades, involving multi-year environmental studies, mitigation planning, and stakeholder engagement.

Construction Equipment Near Airports — Special Safety Requirements

Construction on or near airport property requires compliance with FAA safety requirements for airfield construction. The FAA Advisory Circular 150/5370-2 (Operational Safety on Airports During Construction) establishes requirements for: contractor safety plans for airport construction; airfield access control and security; foreign object debris (FOD) control; equipment operating restrictions near active runways and taxiways; and special temporary construction lighting requirements to avoid confusion with airfield lighting.

Contractors working on airport construction projects must obtain airport identification badges, complete airport security awareness training, and comply with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. Vehicles operating on the airfield must display flashing yellow beacons and be escorted by airport operations personnel. These security and safety requirements add complexity and USD cost to airport construction compared to non-airport commercial construction.