Utility Connection Permits – Water, Sewer, FPL and Telecom in South Florida 2026

Every construction project in South Florida — from a simple shed addition to a 50-story high-rise tower — requires connection to or interface with utility systems: water, sewer, stormwater, electric, gas, telecommunications, and in some areas, cable television and fiber optic. Utility connection permits are separate from building permits and are issued by the utility providers or the government agencies that regulate utility infrastructure. Failing to coordinate utility connections properly delays Certificates of Occupancy, results in stop-work orders, and can add months and tens of thousands of USD to construction project costs. Endless Life Design coordinates utility connection processes on behalf of clients throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County.

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) Connection Permits

Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department (WASD) is one of the largest water and wastewater utilities in the United States, serving approximately 2.4 million residents and businesses in Miami-Dade County. New construction projects that connect to the WASD system — or modify existing water or sewer service connections — require WASD permits in addition to building permits.

WASD connection permits are required for: new water service main connections and water meter installations; fire line (fire sprinkler system water supply) connections; sewer lateral connections to the public sewer system; grease trap and grease interceptor connections to the sewer system; sewer main extensions in new developments; and any modifications to existing service connections. WASD also issues permits for the installation of irrigation meters, fire hydrant taps, and water main extensions.

USD fees for WASD connection permits are based on meter size for water connections and connection size for sewer connections. A standard residential 3/4-inch water meter connection fee is several hundred USD. A 2-inch commercial water meter connection can cost several thousand USD. Sewer connection fees vary based on connection size and location relative to existing mains. WASD capacity fees — also called connection charges or system development charges — are separate from permit fees and can reach $5,000 USD to $50,000 USD or more per connection for large commercial projects.

WASD Plan Review for New Development

For new development projects — including residential subdivisions, apartment complexes, commercial developments, and industrial facilities — the developer must submit utility plans to WASD for review and approval before building permits are issued. WASD reviews the water distribution system design, the sanitary sewer collection system design, and the project's water demand and sewer flow calculations to confirm that the existing WASD infrastructure has sufficient capacity to serve the new development.

If WASD infrastructure capacity is insufficient — a situation that occurs in rapidly growing areas — the developer may be required to fund utility system upgrades, including extending water mains, upsizing sewer mains, or constructing lift stations. USD costs for utility infrastructure upgrades required as a condition of WASD approval can add millions of dollars to development project costs. These costs must be evaluated during the due diligence phase of any large development project.

Broward County Water and Wastewater Services

Broward County does not have a single county-wide water and wastewater utility comparable to Miami-Dade WASD. Instead, water and sewer service in Broward County is provided by a combination of municipal utilities, special districts, and Broward County Water and Wastewater Services (which serves the unincorporated areas). The applicable utility for any Broward County construction project depends on the property's location.

Common Broward County water utilities include: Broward County Water and Wastewater Services (unincorporated areas); Fort Lauderdale Utilities; Hollywood Utilities; Pompano Beach Utilities; Deerfield Beach Utilities; Coral Springs Utilities; Sunrise Utilities; and others. Each utility has its own permit requirements, connection fees, and plan review process. Before beginning any construction project in Broward County that involves utility connections, confirm which water and sewer utility serves the property and obtain that utility's specific connection permit requirements.

Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department

Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department serves water and sewer customers in unincorporated Palm Beach County. Municipalities in Palm Beach County — including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and others — operate their own utility systems. The applicable utility for Palm Beach County construction projects depends on the property's location relative to municipal utility service areas.

Palm Beach County Water Utilities connection permits require plan review for new development, connection fee payment, and inspection of installed utilities before service is activated. Palm Beach County's western service area is growing rapidly with new residential development, and utility connection capacity in some western areas may be limited by the availability of transmission infrastructure.

Florida Power & Light (FPL) Service Connection Requirements

FPL is the primary electric utility serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County. All new construction requiring electric service must coordinate with FPL for service entrance design, meter installation, transformer placement, and underground conduit requirements. New single-family residential service connections require a load calculation submitted to FPL, a service entrance installed per FPL's service standards, a meter base that meets FPL's specifications, and a passing electrical inspection from the building department before FPL will energize the service.

For commercial developments, FPL performs a separate application and engineering process that includes a load study, a service agreement, and in many cases a USD contribution-in-aid-of-construction (CIAC) payment from the developer to fund the cost of extending FPL's distribution infrastructure to serve the development. CIAC payments for large commercial developments can range from $10,000 USD to $500,000 USD or more depending on the distance from existing FPL infrastructure and the size of the electrical load.

Underground electric service — which is required in many planned communities and commercial developments in South Florida — requires the developer to install FPL-specified conduit and pull boxes per FPL's underground service requirements. USD costs for underground electric conduit and pull box installation in new developments are typically $5 to $20 per linear foot plus the cost of excavation, backfill, and pavement restoration.

Gas Utility Connection Permits — Florida City Gas and TECO Peoples Gas

Natural gas service in South Florida is provided by Florida City Gas (a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources) in Miami-Dade County and TECO Peoples Gas in Broward and Palm Beach County. Gas utility connection permits are required for new service connections, service extensions, meter relocations, and pressure upgrades. Gas meter installation and service line connections must be performed by the gas utility or a contractor approved by the utility.

Before any construction work that could affect gas lines, a 811 Sunshine State One-Call must be placed to have gas line locations marked. Striking a natural gas line during excavation creates an immediate life-threatening explosion and fire hazard. USD liability for damages caused by striking an unmarked gas line is the responsibility of the excavating party if proper 811 markings were not obtained.

Temporary Electric Service for Construction

All construction projects requiring more than incidental power during construction — including residential projects using power tools, job site lighting, and temporary offices — require a temporary electric service permit. The temporary service permit is issued by the building department and requires the installation of a temporary meter base and distribution panel per FPL's temporary service requirements. FPL installs the meter upon permit inspection approval. USD fees for temporary service permits are modest but the permit is required.

Some large construction projects maintain temporary service throughout the multi-year construction period — for high-rise tower construction, temporary electric service serves cranes, hoists, lighting, concrete pumps, and construction trailers for years before permanent service is commissioned. Coordination with FPL on temporary service capacity for large projects must begin early in the construction planning process.

Telecommunications Infrastructure Permits

Telecommunication infrastructure — fiber optic conduit, communication equipment vaults, cell towers, antenna installations, and distributed antenna systems (DAS) — requires separate permits from the applicable building and public works authorities. Cell tower construction in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County requires zoning approval, FAA airspace evaluation, FCC environmental review, and local building permits. Small cell installations on existing utility poles require right-of-way permits from the applicable county or municipal right-of-way authority.

The wireless telecommunications industry's build-out of 5G small cell infrastructure across South Florida has generated a significant volume of right-of-way permits in all three counties. Municipalities are required by Florida law to process small cell permit applications within specific timeframes and cannot impose unreasonable fees or conditions. USD small cell permit fees are regulated under the Florida Competitive Broadband Investment Act.