Doral Building Department: 305-593-6700, 8401 NW 53rd Terrace; permit counter 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Portal, inspections and Dec. 31 code change.
Last checked Nov. 2, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Doral’s Building Department and Planning and Zoning Department pages.
The Doral Building Department issues building permits and runs inspections for the city. It and the Planning and Zoning Department are both in the Government Center at 8401 NW 53rd Terrace. Permits are applied for and paid online. Some projects also need sign-off from Miami-Dade County agencies such as Fire Rescue and the environmental resources department, and the applicant files those directly with the county.
Who to call
- Building permits and inspections: Building Department, 305-593-6700, building@cityofdoral.com
- Zoning, land use, setbacks, rezonings: Planning and Zoning, 305-593-6630, PlanningandZoning@cityofdoral.com
- Trees in the swale or right-of-way: Public Works, 305-593-6740
- Before you dig: Sunshine 811, call 811 or 1-800-432-4770
- Apply online: Doral self-service permit portal
What is changing now
From the Building Department’s home page:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Oct. 1, 2026 | New building permit and technology fee schedules took effect, for permits in process and new applications |
| Dec. 12, 2026 | A permitting system upgrade may interrupt online services |
| Dec. 14-15, 2026 | No building, code, public works or zoning inspections, because of citywide road closures and events |
| Dec. 31, 2026 | The Florida Building Code, ninth (2026) edition, takes effect |
The city says any application submitted through the portal after 4 p.m. on Dec. 30 must comply with the 2026 code. The current fees are in the fee schedule effective Oct. 1, 2026.
How to get a building permit
- Check whether you need one. The Building Department’s New Homeowner Information page has a package listing which upgrades need a permit and a list of permit exemptions.
- Ask first if you are unsure. Book a free meeting with staff through Doral311 by choosing “Building Department Meeting.” The city says a coordinator calls back within 24 hours.
- Apply and pay online through the self-service portal. The permit application form in use since Jan. 1, 2025, is posted with the department’s forms.
- County approvals. If the work needs Miami-Dade County review (fire, environmental, water), the city no longer submits it for you. Create a county GoldKey account and upload through the county’s electronic permit system.
- Schedule inspections online by 3 p.m. for the next business day. The city’s inspector route tool shows where your inspector is in the day’s route.
Doral Building Department: address, hours and contacts
- Address: Doral Government Center, 8401 NW 53rd Terrace, Doral, FL 33166
- Phone: 305-593-6700; email: building@cityofdoral.com
- Building official: Linda S. Blanco, building director and floodplain administrator; meetings by appointment, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
- Development services administrator: Jane Decker, by appointment, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
- After-hours and callback inspections: OvertimeInspection@cityofdoral.com, with the after-hours request form from the department’s page
- Department pages: inspections and route info, records requests, contractor registration, forms and documents and the department FAQ
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Permit clerks at the counter | 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday; Friday by appointment through Doral311 |
| Inspectors at the counter | 7 to 8 a.m. weekdays |
| Plans examiners at the counter | 7 to 9 a.m. weekdays, or by appointment |
| Online inspection requests | Until 3 p.m. for the next business day |
| After-hours inspection requests | By email, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Design professional meetings | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday, requested through the permit portal; Friday by appointment |
Zoning and land use
The Planning and Zoning Department handles zoning questions, land use, site plans, variances, rezonings and special event permits. Walk-in zoning questions are taken from 8 a.m. to noon on weekdays, and zoning inspections run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The rules are in the city’s Land Development Code, and the city’s GIS portal maps parcels and zoning.
For a rezoning, site plan, plat, land use amendment, special exception, variance or conditional use, the development review process starts with a pre-application meeting with the planning director. New developments need a traffic study or trip generation report. The city says an administrative site plan review takes about 15 business days. Residential projects must also clear Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ concurrency review.
Public hearings
The Doral City Council decides rezonings and site plans that need a hearing, and it also sits as the Local Planning Agency. In 2026 the agency has met at 5:30 p.m. on council meeting days, according to the city’s Legistar meeting calendar, most recently on Sept. 9. The next regular council meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Government Center. Agendas are posted on Legistar before each meeting.
Trees
Tree removal is regulated by Miami-Dade County’s Regulatory and Economic Resources Department, according to the city’s tree permits page. A tree on private property may need a county permit depending on the species. A tree in the city’s right-of-way, such as the swale in front of a house, needs both a county permit and a City of Doral Public Works permit ($10 a tree). Call Public Works at 305-593-6740 before you cut.
What this means for you
- Planning a remodel? Check the exemptions list, then book a free Doral311 meeting.
- Get anything you can submitted before Dec. 30 if you want it reviewed under the current code.
- Inspections stop Dec. 14-15; plan around those days.
- Zoning change? Start with a pre-application meeting at 305-593-6630.
Related: who to call at City Hall, property taxes and moving to Doral.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Doral Building Department?
In the Doral Government Center, 8401 NW 53rd Terrace, Doral, FL 33166. The main number is 305-593-6700 and the email is building@cityofdoral.com.
What are the Doral Building Department’s hours?
Permit clerks are at the counter from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday, with Fridays by appointment through Doral311. Inspectors meet the public from 7 to 8 a.m. and plans examiners from 7 to 9 a.m. on weekdays.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Doral?
Request it in the city’s self-service permit portal by 3 p.m. for the next business day. After-hours and callback inspections are requested by email to OvertimeInspection@cityofdoral.com with the city’s after-hours form.
How do I get a building permit in Doral?
Apply through the City of Doral’s online self-service permit portal. Permit clerks are at the counter Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Building Department’s number is 305-593-6700.
Do I need a permit to remodel my house in Doral?
Many upgrades do. The Building Department’s New Homeowner Package lists which improvements need a permit, and a separate list covers work that is exempt. You can book a free meeting with staff through Doral311.
Who handles zoning in Doral?
The City of Doral Planning and Zoning Department, 305-593-6630, PlanningandZoning@cityofdoral.com. Rezonings, variances and site plans start with a pre-application meeting with the department.
When does the new Florida Building Code take effect in Doral?
The Florida Building Code, ninth (2026) edition, takes effect on Dec. 31, 2026. The city says applications submitted online after 4 p.m. on Dec. 30 must follow the new code.
Have your say