The City of Miami Building Department handles building recertification through its Unsafe Structures Section, Recertification Division. The owner hires an architect or engineer to inspect the building and the city reviews the report. Single-family homes, duplexes and small structures of 2,000 square feet or less with an occupant load of ten or less are exempt, and an owner can ask the city to confirm an exemption by email.
If the report calls for repairs, an owner who files it before starting work gets 60 days to obtain a permit without a violation. If recertification is tied to a violation notice, the city requires the violation fees to be paid before it issues the recertification. For an owner of a small apartment building or a condo, that is a lot to manage before a sale; we buy buildings mid-recertification and take on the engineer, permits and repairs.