City business license guide
Last updated: April 27, 2026
If you start or run a business inside the City of Miami, do not start with an LLC form and call the job done. Miami has local steps, Miami-Dade County has its own steps, and Florida may require tax or industry registration. The exact list depends on your address, business type, space, signs, employees, and whether you sell goods, food, lodging, or regulated services.
Bottom line
Most businesses operating in the City of Miami should expect to check zoning, apply for a City of Miami Certificate of Use or the correct home-office Accessory Use path, then get a City of Miami Business Tax Receipt. Miami says its Business Tax Receipt is also known as an Occupational License, but it is not the same as a state professional license. Miami-Dade County also requires a separate Local Business Tax Receipt for businesses in the county.
This guide is current as of May 1, 2026. Rules, fees, forms, links, and agency routing can change. Before you sign a lease, buy equipment, or open to the public, confirm the current answer with the official city, county, state, or federal agency.
Quick start: what to check first
- Confirm that your address is inside the City of Miami, not Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, or another local city.
- Use Miami’s eStart tools to check zoning by business type and address before signing a lease.
- Read Miami’s opening guide so you know the normal order: zoning, Certificate of Use, inspections, then Business Tax Receipt.
- If your business is home-based, use MiamiBiz and choose the home-office Accessory Use route when that is the correct path.
- After the city step, check the county Local Business Tax Receipt, state tax registration, fictitious name, and any professional or industry license.
The City of Miami warns people to check zoning before moving forward because a space owner may not verify whether your planned business use is allowed. That mistake can be expensive.
Miami business license facts box
| City | Miami, Florida |
|---|---|
| Main city requirement name | City of Miami Business Tax Receipt, often after a Certificate of Use or Accessory Use step |
| Main city portal | MiamiBiz |
| Main city issue to check first | Zoning and whether the business use is allowed at the address |
| County layer | Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt and, for many locations, county review of the Municipal Certificate of Use |
| State layer | Florida Department of Revenue tax registration, Sunbiz entity or fictitious name filings, and state-regulated business or professional licenses when they apply |
| Best first move | Check the address and use before signing a lease, buying signs, or scheduling inspections |
What does this mean for me?
For a normal small business in Miami, the local question is not just “Do I need a business license?” The better question is: “What approvals do I need for this business activity at this exact location?” A small office, restaurant, salon, food truck, online seller, short-term rental, contractor, and home-based bookkeeper can all have different steps.
The city layer focuses on whether you can use the place for that business and whether you have the city tax receipt. The county layer focuses on the county Local Business Tax Receipt and some environmental or zoning reviews. The state layer can cover sales tax, fictitious names, corporations, LLCs, restaurants, lodging, contractors, salons, alcohol, food, health, and other regulated work. The federal layer is usually tax ID and special federal permits for regulated activities.
If you are still comparing terms, read BusinessLicenseGuide.com’s business license, LLC, DBA, and seller’s permit guide. An LLC, a DBA, a sales tax account, a county receipt, and a city BTR are different things.
City, county, state, and federal requirements
City of Miami requirements
The City of Miami’s business licensing pages say the city issues Business Tax Receipts so a business may legally do business in the city. For most businesses, Miami says you need to finish the Certificate of Use step first, or confirm that you do not need one. The city also states that its Certificate of Use application includes the Fire Safety Permit.
The Certificate of Use page is the key city source for new businesses, businesses that move, and businesses that were cited for not having a proper CU. Miami says the CU helps confirm that the business is operating legally and safely and fits the city’s vision for the area. Miami’s zoning FAQ also cites Miami 21 and says a structure or premises cannot be used or changed in use until a Certificate of Use has been issued.
MiamiBiz is the city intake site for Certificate of Use, Accessory Use, Business Tax Receipt, and related documents. If you use a home office, Miami says you will apply for an “accessory of use” rather than a standard Certificate of Use at the end of the application. For more, see BLG’s home occupation permit guide.
Miami’s BTR page says most businesses need a CU before they can get a BTR. It lists exceptions for peddlers, food trucks, and businesses with no physical location in the City of Miami but doing business there. If that describes you, do not guess. Start in the city BTR application and ask the city what applies to your exact business.
Miami-Dade County requirements
Miami-Dade County is a separate layer. The county Tax Collector says Local Business Tax Receipts are required for businesses in Miami-Dade County, and businesses inside a municipality must obtain both a city receipt and a county receipt. The county also says it requires a receipt for each place of business and each separate local business tax classification at the same location.
Do not treat the county receipt as proof that zoning, state licensing, or professional qualifications are approved. Miami-Dade explains that a Certificate of Use allows occupancy and confirms that the use is permitted, while a Local Business Tax is a tax on business activity. The county’s Certificate of Use page says a Municipal Certificate of Use applies when the address is inside a Miami-Dade municipality, such as the City of Miami.
County review can matter before a municipal business license or Certificate of Use is issued. Miami-Dade lists review for new businesses, relocations, changes in use, expansions, longer temporary or pop-up uses, and owner or name changes. DERM review can also matter if your business handles hazardous materials, liquid waste, or other environmental issues.
Florida state requirements
Florida does not give one single state license that covers every Miami business. Instead, Florida requirements depend on what you do. You may need a Florida entity filing, a fictitious name filing, a state tax account, or an industry license.
If you form an LLC, corporation, or other state-filed entity, use the Florida Division of Corporations through Sunbiz records and the correct Sunbiz filing path. If you use a name that is different from your personal legal name or your entity’s legal name, check Florida’s fictitious name registration rules. Florida says a fictitious name registration is not the same as forming an LLC or corporation, does not create name ownership, and does not replace other licenses.
If you sell taxable goods or taxable services, the Florida Department of Revenue says you must register as a sales and use tax dealer before conducting business in Florida. Its Account Registration page points businesses to the Florida Business Tax Application. Online sellers should also separate marketplace rules from city licensing rules; BLG’s online business license guide can help.
Some Miami businesses also need state industry approval. DBPR handles many professional and business licenses, including hotels, restaurants, cosmetology, contractors, and real estate. Restaurants, mobile food units, and lodging businesses should check DBPR Hotels and Restaurants. Retail food sellers may need FDACS, and some food settings are handled by Florida Health.
Federal requirements
Many Miami small businesses need an EIN from the IRS, especially if they hire employees, operate as a partnership or corporation, or need it for banking, payroll, or tax accounts. The IRS says you can get an EIN directly from the IRS EIN tool for free. Avoid sites that charge for an EIN unless you knowingly choose a third-party service.
Federal licenses are activity-based. The SBA says activities regulated by a federal agency may need a federal license or permit. Use the SBA’s federal license overview as a routing page, then verify with the correct agency.
For Beneficial Ownership Information, FinCEN states that, under its March 2025 interim final rule, entities created in the United States and their beneficial owners are exempt from BOI reporting. Foreign entities registered to do business in a U.S. state may still have duties. Check the current FinCEN BOI page if ownership reporting could affect you.
Costs you can plan for
Do not budget from guesses. Miami and Miami-Dade fees can depend on your use, square footage, seats, units, rooms, employees, business classification, inspections, and outside agency reviews. Still, there are a few official amounts and fee types you can plan around.
| Cost item | What the official source says | Where to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| City CU application fee | Miami lists a $50 Certificate of Use application fee credited toward final fees. | Miami CU fees |
| City CU inspection and service fees | Miami lists fees by use type and size, such as office, commercial, industrial, lodging, civic, and other categories. | City fee page and your city invoice |
| Home office Accessory Use | Miami lists a Home Office Accessory Use Certificate fee of $94, with no fee for seniors 65+. | City fee page and MiamiBiz |
| City BTR | The BTR amount can vary by business activity and classification. Do not assume a flat fee unless your city invoice confirms it. | MiamiBiz and the city BTR office |
| County Local Business Tax Receipt | The county says tax categories depend on business type, city or unincorporated location, and factors such as employees, seats, units, or square footage. | County tax categories |
| IRS EIN | The IRS says the EIN tool is free when used directly through the IRS. | IRS EIN page |
If a fee is not shown on an official page or invoice, this guide does not invent it. Ask the agency for the current fee before you pay or file.
Permits that may matter by business type
| Business type | Extra checks | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant, bar, cafe, or caterer | City CU, Fire, Code, DERM, DBPR food service license, possible occupant load certificate, grease or waste review | A finished kitchen can still fail if zoning, fire, waste, state food license, or occupant load is not handled. |
| Retail store | City CU and BTR, county Local Business Tax Receipt, Florida sales tax registration, signs, tenant build-out permits | Retail sales often trigger state sales tax registration and local sign or construction rules. |
| Home-based service business | MiamiBiz Accessory Use path, city BTR, county receipt, state license if regulated | Home-based does not always mean license-free. It may mean a different city path. |
| Food truck or peddler | City BTR route, food truck or peddler rules, DBPR or other food license, county tax receipt | Miami lists food trucks and peddlers as exceptions to the normal CU-first path, not as exceptions from all rules. See BLG’s food truck license guide for the wider permit stack. |
| Short-term rental or lodging | Zoning, Certificate of Use, BTR, DBPR lodging license, county and tourist tax checks | Miami treats short-term rental as a lodging use in zoning guidance, and special rules can apply. |
| Salon, barber, contractor, real estate, or other regulated profession | DBPR license, individual professional license, city BTR, county receipt | State professional approval is separate from the city and county tax receipts. |
Real-world examples
A home-based bookkeeper in Miami
A home-based bookkeeper should not assume “no storefront” means no local step. They should check the City of Miami home-office route in MiamiBiz, ask whether an Accessory Use certificate applies, get the city BTR if required, and then check the county Local Business Tax Receipt. If the business uses the owner’s legal name only, a Florida fictitious name may not be needed. If it uses a brand name, the owner should check Sunbiz fictitious name rules.
A small retail shop in Wynwood
A shop should check zoning before signing the lease. Then it may need build-out permits, a Certificate of Use, Fire and Code inspections, a City BTR, a county Local Business Tax Receipt, and Florida sales tax registration. Signs and exterior changes may need separate approval.
A food truck serving in Miami
A food truck should not follow the same path as a fixed restaurant without asking the city. Miami’s BTR page lists food trucks as an exception to the normal CU-first step. That does not remove state food licensing, city vending rules, county tax receipt checks, or location limits.
A short-term rental unit
A short-term rental can touch zoning, building, DBPR lodging, county tourist tax, city CU, city BTR, and renewal rules. The owner should verify that the exact unit and building are allowed for the use before listing on a platform.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing a lease before checking zoning and allowed use at the exact Miami address.
- Thinking an LLC, corporation, or fictitious name filing is the same as a city Business Tax Receipt.
- Getting a county receipt but skipping the City of Miami BTR, or the other way around.
- Scheduling inspections before the space is ready to operate.
- Forgetting that DERM is a county agency, not a City of Miami department.
- Using a marketplace or social platform and assuming private platform rules replace city, county, or state rules.
- Using an old fee list or a copied checklist from another city in Miami-Dade County.
What to do if this doesn’t work
If MiamiBiz rejects your application, your inspection fails, or one office sends you elsewhere, do not keep refiling the same thing. Save the rejection email, invoice, process number, address, suite number, and business description. Then ask what is blocking the next step.
If zoning is the problem, go back to the use and address. If DERM is the problem, ask what environmental information is missing. If the BTR is the problem, ask whether the city is waiting on a CU, state license, professional license, EIN, fictitious name proof, or invoice payment. If the county receipt is the problem, ask the Tax Collector which business tax category or document is missing.
Do not rely on a landlord, broker, contractor, accountant, filing company, or online seller platform as the final source for Miami licensing. They may be helpful, but the official agency should control.
A compact compliance checklist
- Confirm the business address is inside the City of Miami.
- Write down the exact business activity, not just a broad label.
- Check zoning and allowed use before signing a lease.
- Confirm whether construction, tenant build-out, signs, or a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion are needed.
- Apply through MiamiBiz for the correct CU, Accessory Use, or BTR path.
- Pay official invoices only through official city or county payment routes.
- Complete Fire, Code, DERM, or other required inspections.
- Get the City of Miami BTR when the city says you are ready.
- Get the Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt.
- Register with the Florida Department of Revenue if taxable sales, rentals, employment, or other covered taxes apply.
- Check Sunbiz for entity and fictitious name issues.
- Check state or federal licenses for regulated work.
- Keep copies of receipts, certificates, state licenses, invoices, and renewal notices.
Phone and email scripts
Use these short scripts when you contact an agency. Replace the bracketed parts with your real details.
City zoning or Certificate of Use script
Hello, I am planning to operate a [business type] at [address and suite] in the City of Miami. Before I sign a lease or apply in MiamiBiz, can you confirm whether this use is allowed at this address and whether I should apply for a Certificate of Use or an Accessory Use?
City BTR script
Hello, I have a [Certificate of Use / Accessory Use / no physical location] for [business name]. Can you confirm what is still needed for the City of Miami Business Tax Receipt, including any state license, professional license, EIN, fictitious name proof, or invoice payment?
County Local Business Tax Receipt script
Hello, my business is located in the City of Miami at [address]. I am applying for the Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt. Which tax category should I use, and do you need proof of my city BTR, state license, fictitious name, or other document?
DERM or environmental review script
Hello, I am applying for a City of Miami Certificate of Use for [business type] at [address]. My business will [store chemicals / create grease waste / handle food / not use hazardous materials]. Can you tell me whether DERM review or an operating permit is required before my municipal approval can move forward?
Miami lists 311 for CU inspection requests, FirePrevention@miamigov.com for fire inspection escalation, and dermplanreview@miamidade.gov for DERM municipal review questions. The City BTR page lists (305) 416-2087 and nchavez@miamigov.com for BTR contact. The Miami-Dade Tax Collector site lists its main phone as (305) 375-5448. Confirm current contact details on the official pages before sending private information.
Official resources
About BusinessLicenseGuide.com
BusinessLicenseGuide.com is a plain-English licensing guide for ordinary U.S. small-business owners. We are not a government agency, law firm, CPA firm, filing company, or paid compliance service. Our goal is to help you understand which offices to check, which terms matter, and what to ask before you spend money.
For a wider state view, see our Florida business license guide.
FAQ
Does Miami, FL require a business license?
Miami requires most businesses operating in the city to get a City of Miami Business Tax Receipt. Many businesses must first get a Certificate of Use or use the home-office Accessory Use path.
Is a Miami Business Tax Receipt the same as an LLC?
No. An LLC is a state business entity filing. A Miami Business Tax Receipt is a local city tax receipt for doing business in the city. You may need both, but they do different jobs.
Do I also need a Miami-Dade County receipt?
Yes, Miami-Dade County says businesses inside a municipality must obtain both a city receipt and a county Local Business Tax Receipt. Confirm your category with the county Tax Collector.
Do home businesses in Miami need a local approval?
Many home-based businesses still need a city path. Miami says home office users apply for an Accessory Use rather than a standard Certificate of Use when that option applies.
Should I check zoning before signing a lease in Miami?
Yes. Miami tells business owners to check zoning before moving forward because a property owner may not confirm that your business type is allowed at the location.
Does a Florida fictitious name protect my business name?
No. Florida says fictitious name registration lets the public see who is operating under a name, but it does not grant ownership rights or stop someone else from using the name.
Disclaimer
This article is informational only. It is not legal, tax, financial, insurance, employment, safety, zoning, licensing, or professional advice. Rules, fees, forms, links, office routing, and policies can change. Confirm important details with the official agency or a qualified professional. BusinessLicenseGuide.com does not guarantee approval, eligibility, compliance, savings, income, speed, or results.
Update notes
Last updated: April 27, 2026
Next review: August 27, 2026
This update checked the City of Miami Certificate of Use, Accessory Use, Business Tax Receipt, MiamiBiz, inspection, zoning, Miami-Dade Local Business Tax Receipt, Florida Department of Revenue, Sunbiz, DBPR, FDACS, Florida Health, IRS, SBA, and FinCEN source layers available on May 1, 2026.