Presentation to City of Miami’s

Planning and Zoning Department

November 28, 2017
 MDC Code Chapter 33, MIA Zoning
• Miami International Airport height zoning was created in1969. Recent amendments
include incorporating “land use” restrictions (2004) as mandated by Florida Statute (FS)
Chapter 333 and addressing height zoning revisions in 2007. MDAD’s airport system
zoning is in the process of being further amended to comply with the 2016 revisions to
FS Chapter 333.
• It is comprehensive - consists of height and land use zoning.
• Promotes compatible land use and protects airspace.
• Protects economic benefits and the capacity of aviation facilities.
• Protects the public health, safety and welfare by limiting the type and densities of land
use activities in high risk safety areas near runway ends.
• Aviation Planning Staff reviews proposed permanent and temporary structures (such as
development proposals and cranes) to ensure compatibility with MIA Zoning, certain
FAA criteria and airport operations.
• Airport Zoning resources (County Code and Airport Zoning Maps) may be accessed by
using the following link:
http://www.miami-airport.com/planning_forms_maps.asp
 Current MIA Instrument Approach Districts
Runway 8L/26R
Non-precision Approach
HZ - Horizontal District 34:1
160’ AMSL

Runways 8R/26L & 12/30

Initial 10,000’ of
Instrument Approach
65:1 Additional
40,000’ at 40:1

Runway 9/27
Initial 10,000’ of
TI –Transitional Instrument Approach
160’ to 360’ AMSL 50:1 Additional 40,000’
at 40:1
High Structure Set Aside District

Source: Miami-Dade County Zoning Ordinance

 Miami High Structure Set Aside Area (HSA)

• The City of Miami approached the Miami-Dade Aviation

Department seeking and amendment to the MIA Airport Height
Zoning Ordinance to allow for a relaxation of the then current
existing height restrictions.
• In 2007 Miami-Dade County amended the Height Zoning
Ordinance as an expanded (in area and height) High Structure
Set Aside Area.
• MDAD is in the process of amending its airport zoning to:
• Comply with FS Chapter 333
• Increase the existing 1010’ AMSL HSA Boundary to 1049’
AMSL
 Miami High Structure Set Aside Area

2003 Map 949’ AMSL Area 2007 Map – 1,010’ AMSL Area
High Set Aside (HSA) Area of Concern
 1,010 feet AMSL (Future 1,049 feet AMSL)

Approximate Boundaries:
West - Miami Avenue
North - NE 6th Street
South - SW 15th Road
 549 to 1,010 feet AMSL

Approximate Boundaries:
West - I-95
East - Miami Avenue
North - NW 6th Street
South - SW 15th Road
 709 feet AMSL

Approximate Boundaries:
West - Miami Avenue
North - SR 836
South - NE 6th Street
 549 to 709 feet AMSL

Approximate Boundaries:
West - I-95
East - N. Miami Avenue
North - NW 9th Street
South - NW 12th Street
 649 feet AMSL

Approximate Boundaries:
West - N Miami Avenue
North - SR 112
South - NE 12th Street
 549 to 649 feet AMSL

Approximate Boundaries:
West - I-95
East - N. Miami Avenue
North - NW 19th Street
South - NW 12th Street
 310 feet AMSL

Approximate Boundaries:
West - NW 22nd Avenue
East - I-95
North - NW 19th Street
South - Varies
Overall HSA Areas
 Understanding the 2008 Interlocal Agreement between the
County and the City Pertaining to MIA Height Zoning

• The City is required to obtain a letter of determination from the MDAD

establishing the maximum allowable height for structure proposals prior to
issuing permit or approval.
• The City recognizes that a developer may be required to file with the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) for a separate determination, this too must be
done before issuing permits.
• The most restrictive criteria applies.
• The City agrees to abide by established height restrictions.
Coordinating Development Review with
MDAD & the FAA is Crucial
Coordinating CRC Structure Reviews with MDAD’s Planning
Division
• The point of contact at MDAD for all temporary or permanent structure review
requests and zoning inquiries is Mr. Ammad Riaz, P.E., Chief of Aviation
Planning, 305-876-7036 or at ariaz@miami-airport.com. All development
proposals for MDAD’s review should be directed to his attention so they may
be assigned to an aviation planner.
• The City is required to receive copies of written determinations from MDAD
and FAA written determinations for the development proposals or construction
cranes meeting review criteria prior to issuing CU/CO permits.
• Construction cranes must be filed separately as noted on FAA’s
Determination.
• The City should ascertain that determinations have been issued by the FAA
for temporary and permanent structures that are impacted by airport zoning.
• It is recommended that the City develop a process for review and approval of
temporary and permanent structures that are impacted by airport zoning.
• Keep in mind that cranes heights usually exceed the approved height of the
structure.
 MDAD’s Webpage

• Please direct developers to our webpage which contains our airport zoning
resources, including a data submittal checklist and instructions on how to file
projects for an airspace review.
 Aviation Planning, Land-Use and Grants Division
Contact Information
Mailing Address: Website: http://www.miami-airport.com/planning_forms_maps.asp
Miami-Dade Aviation Department Please direct all requests and inquiries to Mr. Ammad Riaz, P.E., Chief of Aviation Planning
Aviation Planning, Land Use and Grants Division Mr. Riaz will assign requests to an airport planner.
PO Box 025504
Miami, FL 33122

Physical Address:
Miami-Dade Aviation Department
Aviation Planning, Land Use and Grants Division José Ramos, R.A.
Division Director Elizabeth Ramos
4331 NW 22 Street Aviation Planning, Land-Use & Administrative Secretary
Building 3030, 2nd Fl. - Wing C Grants
305-876-7091
305-876-8080
Miami, FL 33122 eramos@miami-airport.com
jramos@miami-airport.com

Ammad Riaz, P.E. Norma Mata

Chief of Planning Chief of Grants
305-876-7036 305-876-0387
ariaz@miami-airport.com nmata@miami-airport.com

Antoaneta Apostolakos
Winfred So Kierre Hodges Renée Bergeron Anely Herrera Andrea Katz
Grants Specialist
Airport Engineer Architect 2 Aviation Planner Aviation Planner Administrative Officer
305-876-7020
305-876-7128 305-876-7098 305-869-4849 305-876-0479 305-876-7321
aapostolakos@miami-
wso@miami-airport.com khodges@miami-airport.com rbergeron@miami-airport.com aherrera@miami-airport.com akatz@miami-airport.com
airport.com
 Federal vs. Local Aviation Requirements
FAA MDAD

90 day review 10 day review

No fees Fees

FAA Study MDAD Issued Letter of  MDAD Issued Permissible Crane 

Determination Height Determination

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA – Federal agency) and the Miami-Dade
Aviation (MDAD – local agency) are two separate aviation agencies with their
own review criteria and different restrictions for proposed temporary and
permanent structures. Each issues its own determination and the most restrictive
applies. In order to comply with federal aviation regulations, MDAD’s Director
reserves the right to order structure or tree heights to be lower than the height
limitations established in the Code of Miami-Dade County, Chapter 33, MIA
Zoning.
 FAA’s Obstruction Evaluation

FAA Part 77 Notice Criteria

• Any proposed construction or alteration more than 200 ft.

above ground level (AGL) at its site
• Within 20,000 ft. of a public-use or military airport having at
least one runway more than 3200 ft. in length and exceeding a
100:1 slope
• Within 10,000 ft. of a public-use or military airport having no
runway more than 3200 ft. in length and exceeding a 50:1 slope
• Within 5,000 ft. of any public-use heliport and exceeding a 25:1
slope
 Filing with the FAA

• For proposed permanent and temporary structures, the

following link may be used to determine if it is necessary
to file with the FAA:
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/portal.jsp
• Use FAA form 7460-1 “Notice of Proposed Construction
Alteration for Determination of Known Hazards.”
• It takes approximately 90 days for the FAA to issue a
determination. There is no fee for an FAA determination.
• FAA does not “regulate” height of obstructions and cannot
prohibit construction. The FAA does not control real property.
• Requestors should obtain a FAA determination prior to
with local coordination (MDAD).
 Amendments to MIA Zoning
• The 2016 revisions to FS Chapter 333 provided MDAD with an opportunity to amend its airport  
system zoning so that it could be unified, simplified and streamlined.  Each airport will have its 
own section within a single article to identify attributes that are unique to that airport, but 
there will be common definitions and text that is shared for its System of Airports. 

• Amending the High Structure Set Aside (HSA) text and map to reflect an increase in the 
maximum allowable elevation within the HSA 1010’ AMSL Boundary from 1010’ AMSL  to 1049’ 
AMSL.
 Revising  the airport zoning maps to depict the runway protection zones.  The FAA has issued 
interim directives that require airports to restrict development within the runway protection 
zones.  
 Eliminating  MIA’s  “Airspace Review Criteria” and opting to use the FAA’s 100:1 notice criteria.  
 Creating an opportunity for increased  structure heights within MIA’s horizontal/conical 
surfaces. Proposed development within these two surfaces may be further evaluated to allow 
for a variance, provided there are no impacts to airport operations. 
 Deleting overly technical aeronautical definitions, lengthy legal descriptions, and the GPS 
coordinates which define the HSA boundaries and other superfluous data to ensure a 
simplified, user‐friendly airport zoning ordinance.
 Key Points
• Any structure over 200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) automatically needs to be studied
by the Aviation Department as well as the Federal Aviation Administration.
• Certain property may be required to disclose its proximity to Miami International Airport as
well as the associated impacts such as increased noise and frequent aircraft operations.
• Certificates of Use and Occupancy may be withheld until the County or municipality
determines that a structure was built no higher than the approved height.
• Airport Zoning is an “overlay zoning” meaning it may be more restrictive than what is
allowed either by underlying zoning, municipal zoning or even the Federal Aviation
Administration’s airspace criteria. Remember, the most restrictive applies.
• Identical data (GPS coordinates and elevations) must be used for both FAA and MDAD
submittals. Omitted, erroneous and different data submittals to both the FAA and MDAD
will delay project reviews and determinations.
• The Aviation Director reserves the right to order structure or tree heights to be lower than
the height limitations established in the Code of Miami-Dade County, Chapter 33, MIA
Zoning.
• A building (permanent structure) may need to be studied by the FAA and MDAD. Once
approved, the the associated construction crane(s) may also need to be studied by the
FAA and MDAD. These are separate filings.
 Comments?

Thank you