The Private Property Adaptation (PPA) Program provides recipients with the opportunity to pursue their approved project and work with a certified contractor of their choice. Undertaking any kind of work on your property will take research and time to navigate permitting, find a contractor, and determine the best project for your home. To help you get started, this page provides resources and information from state, county, city, and other local partners and organizations. Please take a look at the tabs below to explore the sections below to find resources, links, and helpful information as you pursue your project.
For more information on flood awareness, please visit our dedicated resource page.
Additional Programs
First Time Homebuyer Program
What is it?
- Provides very-low, low-, and moderate-income Miami Beach residents with down-payment and property rehabilitation assistance to purchase their first home
- Funded via a deferred forgivable loan that is secured by a lien and restrictive covenant on the property
- Must reside in the home for 15 years
Who is this for?
- Income-eligible Miami Beach residents who haven’t owned their home in the previous three (3) years
Where can I find out more?
- Read more and/or apply here
- Email alicewaters@miamibeachfl.gov
Sandbag Distribution
What is it?
- Sandbag distribution will occur annually prior to hurricane season. Only dry sandbags can be stored for reuse.
- Sandbags exposed to floodwaters may have come into contact with contaminants or pollutants and should be disposed of with care.
- After a flooding event, please place used sandbags curbside during the city-announced pickup period. Do not empty sandbags onto beaches or into drains.
Who is this for?
- All Miami Beach residents and businesses
Where can I find out more?
- Text MBAlert to 888777 to receive emergency and traffic notifications via text.
Parking Flood Relief Program
What is it?
- The City of Miami Beach will open public parking garages to residents and employees of Miami Beach businesses when a Flood Watch is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS).
- Residents and employees may park vehicles at no cost with proof of residency or employment when exiting the parking facility.
- In the event the NWS issues a Flash Flood Warning for Miami Beach, the city’s two approved towing companies — Beach Towing and Tremont Towing — will offer a $50 towing service for any Miami Beach resident to any location within city limits.
Who is this for?
- All Miami Beach residents and employees
Where can I find out more?
- Visit our Parking Flood Relief Program webpage to learn more!
Keep Safe Miami
What is it?
- Equips homeowners to be able to self-assess their property’s resilience to climate change and natural disasters
- Involves a free-of-charge training session to educate homeowners on how to evaluate their properties, plan, and enact changes in response to current or future climate-related damages
Who is this for?
- Multi-family property owners in Miami (condos, townhomes, apartments, etc.) at 80% Area Median Income (AMI) or below
Where can I find out more?
- Read more and/or apply here
- Dial 311 or 305.468.5900 for more questions and further information
Building Efficiency 305 (BE305)
What is it?
- Promotes improvements in building performance through a variety of policies and programs that increase energy and water efficiency in large, existing private and public buildings
Who is this for?
- Building owners and managers in Miami-Dade County
Where can I find out more?
Water Conservation Rebates
What is it?
- Provides rebates for the purchase and installation of high-efficiency toilets, faucets, and showerheads, which can reduce water bills and conserve water
Who is this for?
- Residents of Miami-Dade County
Where can I find out more?
- Visit Rebates for Residents (miamidade.gov)
- Contact the Resilience Program at 786.552.8974 or email waterconservation@miamidade.gov
SELF (Solar and Energy Loan Fund)
What is it?
- Provides low-interest rate home improvement loans for storm protection, home improvements, solar PV, ADA access, and more
Who’s it for?
- Homeowners in the states of Florida, Georgia, or Alabama that can provide proof of income and ability to repay a loan
Where can I find out more ?
- Visit the SELF website here
- See if you pre-qualify here
The PPA program provides funding for projects that reduce flood risk, from rain gardens to seawalls. For additional funding opportunities, which may cover other types of property improvements, please see the resources below.
- Florida PACE is a public entity that provides homeowners with financing options for energy-efficient and hurricane-resistant home improvements. As an interlocal agreement established under Florida law, Florida PACE oversees program administrators who work with homeowners like you to finance their projects through long-term, fixed-rate assessments added to their property tax bills.
- The Solar Energy Loan Fund provides low interest, unsecured loans for projects that improve the sustainability, resilience, and health conditions of your home. Projects may include solar installation, energy efficiency, storm/wind resilience, and flood and stormwater mitigation improvements.
- The My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program provides hurricane inspections and grant funding to conduct home storm resilience improvements for roofing, exterior doors, garage doors, and windows. This program provides $2 for every $1 the homeowner invests, up to $10,000.
- The Miami-Dade County Rain Barrel Rebate Program provides workshops on rain barrel uses, installation, and maintenance. After completion of a rain barrel installation, the program provides rebates for up to $50 per rain barrel installed on a property. A maximum of two rain barrels per property may receive rebates and the barrels must have a minimum of 50 gallons in water storage capacity. Water Conservation | Miami Beach - Rising Above (mbrisingabove.com)
Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
- If you make qualified energy-efficient improvements to your home after Jan. 1, 2023, you may qualify for a tax credit up to $3,200. You can claim the credit for improvements made through 2032. This can be applied to building envelope components, home energy audits, heat pumps, air conditioning, and other energy efficiency improvements.
Residential Clean Energy Credit
- The Residential Clean Energy Credit provides tax credits up to 30% of the value of new, qualified clean energy improvements to your home. This can be used on solar electric panels, solar water heaters, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, and battery storage technology.
PPA Phase II Resources
Flood risk mitigation and nature-based designs are ever-evolving fields in South Florida. To assist with drafting and selecting designs, this section provides standard documents and guides from both the PPA team and other local and state organizations.
Standard Details Document
- Standard details will be provided by the City's PPA consultants, Brizaga. These standard details are specific to flood risk mitigation projects and provide minimum specifications and guidance to complete construction that complies with City codes and properly addresses flooding.
- The Miami Beach Public Works Manual provides guidance and standard details on City requirements for various types of construction and controls around construction sites.
- Florida Friendly Landscaping (FFL) is a program that guides property owners on low impact, environmentally friendly, science-based landscape practices which use less water and reduce pollutants running off into surface waters. This is a great program to reference and contact if you are pursuing a green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, for your flood risk mitigation project.
Contractors can provide a range of services and expertise to help you conduct your flood risk mitigation project. Ensure that your selected contractor has the necessary knowledge, experience, or requisite certifications to complete your project effectively and in compliance with city, county, and state code regulations. Select a contractor that has the necessary insurance and certifications to move forward with your project.
Before beginning a project or permit, ensure your contractor is registered to conduct work in the City of Miami Beach, and that they are licensed and certified by the State and County: Contractor License & Insurance - City of Miami Beach (miamibeachfl.gov)
Contractor Searches and Complaint Verification – There are state-wide and local level websites that allow anyone to search for and verify contractor licenses and complaints. These are excellent resources for validating the integrity of potential contractors you would like to work with. The search sites can be found below:
- Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- Miami-Dade County BCCO Contractor Inquiry
- City of Miami Beach Citizen Self Service
- Please refer to the Seawalls webpage for a list of contractors that the City has worked with for public seawall projects.
After securing a contractor to complete your project, you will need to work with them to submit all the necessary permit applications to the City of Miami Beach and, if applicable, other regulatory bodies such as Miami-Dade County, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The City of Miami Beach and other regulatory bodies provide resources to assist you in navigating the permitting process. Please explore these resources through the links below:
- Permits - City of Miami Beach (miamibeachfl.gov)
- This site provides an overview of the permitting process as well as requirements for insurance and contractors for projects you may pursue.
- *Interactive Permit Guide* - City of Miami Beach (miamibeachfl.gov)
- The Interactive Permit Guide provides visual guidance for types of permits required based upon the project(s) you are pursuing. This is a great place to start if you are unfamiliar with the permitting process and the different permits required depending on where you are working on your property.
- Building Department Appointment booking (qmatic.cloud)
- If you have any questions regarding permitting and building requirements, you may schedule an appointment with a Building Department lead to discuss.
For seawall projects, you will need to work with Miami-Dade's Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) to attain a Class I marine permit. Please review the process for Class I permits on the DERM website.
Other Resilience Resources
Miami Beach has a holistic resilience program to reduce flood risk today and in the future from climate change and sea-level rise projections.
97% of Miami Beach falls within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Protecting your property is important. We want you to be aware of flood risk, how to reduce your risk, and carry flood insurance.
Seawalls are built to protect areas of human habitation along the coast against tides, waves, and sea-level rise. Learn more about how your property may benefit from a resilient seawall to protect your property from storm surges and tidal flooding.
https://www.mbrisingabove.com/climate-adaptation/public-infrastructure/seawalls/
A “Living Shoreline” is a green infrastructure technique that reinforces and protects the shoreline while protecting, restoring, enhancing, and creating a natural habitat for aquatic plants and wildlife. Find out more about the benefits of a living shoreline and how they’re created.
https://www.mbrisingabove.com/climate-adaptation/green-infrastructure/living-shorelines/
Miami Beach is home to 90,000 residents and welcomes over 6 million overnight tourists annually. Maintaining the health of local, natural bodies of water is essential to the resilience of our community. Find out about current water quality advisories, and how water quality is sampled.
https://www.mbrisingabove.com/climate-adaptation/biscayne-bay/water-quality/
Fertilizers are added to soil in order to promote plant growth. Fertilizers provide plants, in varying proportions, three major plant nutrients: phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium. However, excessive or incorrect fertilizer use can have devastating effects on the local environment. Familiarize yourself with proper fertilizer use.
https://www.mbrisingabove.com/climate-adaptation/biscayne-bay/fertilizers/
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