FR.1 - Allow Event Venues Historic Structures
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AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 23/ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED “HISTORIC PRESERVATION/HISTORIC PRESERVATION,” BY AMENDING SECTION 23-6.1, TITLED "WAIVERS, EXCEPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS FOR LOCALLY DESIGNATED HISTORIC RESOURCES," TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXCEPTION TO PERMIT EVENT VENUES IN HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED STRUCTURES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
July 23, 2026
Sponsors
Miguel Angel Gabela
Vote Details
WITHDRAWN
Motion to: Withdraw
Mover: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
Seconder: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner
Ayes (5):
Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado, King
Department: City Manager’s Office
Category: Other
WHEREAS, the preservation of the City of Miami’s (“City”) historic resources is a significant goal in the City’s overall vision for its future; and
WHEREAS, the adaptive reuse of historic buildings into event venues is a generally accepted preservation tool that allows for the preservation of the architectural integrity of the historic building, while creating unique, desirable, and sustainable venues; and
WHEREAS, the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (“HEPB”), following an advertised public hearing on December 2, 2025, adopted Resolution No. HEPB-R-25-041 by a vote of seven to zero (7 - 0), Item No. HEP. 6, recommending approval of the proposed amendment to Chapter 23 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended (“City Code”)with the modifications that applicants seeking approval of an Event Venue exception shall submit an operational and parking plan as part of its application; that all Event Venue Exception requests that are located within a 500-foot radius of T3 and T4 Transect Zones shall include noise and lighting plans inclusive of mitigation plans; and that all Event Venue Exception requests shall be subject to Design Review Criteria set forth in Article 4, Table 12, of the Miami 21 Code; and; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board (“PZAB”), following an advertised public hearing on December 17, 2025, adopted Resolution No. PZAB-R-25-084 by a vote of eight to zero (8-0), Item No. PZAB. 18, recommending approval of the proposed amendment to Chapter 23 of the City Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission, after careful consideration of this matter, deems it advisable and in the best interests of the general welfare of the City and its citizens to amend the City Code as hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are adopted and incorporated as if fully set forth in this section.
Section 2. Chapter 23 of the City Codeis hereby amended in the following particulars:
“CHAPTER 23
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
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ARTICLE I. HISTORIC PRESERVATION
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Sec. 23-6.1. Waivers, exceptions and exclusions for locally designated historic resources.
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(3)Historic preservation exceptions. Unless otherwise authorized by Article 4, Table 3, of the Miami 21 Code, the board may authorize certain exceptions to the requirements of the underlying zoning to the extent indicated herein. Bed and breakfast uses complying with applicable codes may be permissible as an exception in low, medium and high density multifamily residential (general urban, urban center and urban core) zones. Additional allowable uses which include professional offices, and museums will be classified as exceptions and may be allowed except in T3 transect zones. Additional allowable uses which include restaurants and private clubs, as they are respectively defined in section 4-2 of the City Code, and event venues, each will also be classified as exceptions and may be allowed except in T3 and T4 transect zones. The term “event venue(s)” shall mean a building or space, including adjacent outdoor space, designed or used for hosting events, including, but not limited to, weddings, conferences, galas and other similar functions or gatherings. Such uses shall be permissible only within existing structures that are individually designated or contributing resources within a designated historic district or thematically-related historic resources within a multiple property designation as identified in the designation report prepared pursuant to chapter 23; and shall not be permissible in any case where the structure(s) of principal historic significance has (have) been destroyed or damaged beyond repair, unless such structure(s) is (are) reconstructed in accordance with a certificate of appropriateness approved by the board pursuant to the provisions of chapter 23. Any use authorized pursuant to this section shall comply with all regulations applicable to the same or similar use in the most restrictive zoning designation permitting such use; to the extent such regulations have not been modified pursuant to this section.
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Section 3. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phase, or word of this Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.
WHEREAS, the adaptive reuse of historic buildings into event venues is a generally accepted preservation tool that allows for the preservation of the architectural integrity of the historic building, while creating unique, desirable, and sustainable venues; and
WHEREAS, the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (“HEPB”), following an advertised public hearing on December 2, 2025, adopted Resolution No. HEPB-R-25-041 by a vote of seven to zero (7 - 0), Item No. HEP. 6, recommending approval of the proposed amendment to Chapter 23 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended (“City Code”)with the modifications that applicants seeking approval of an Event Venue exception shall submit an operational and parking plan as part of its application; that all Event Venue Exception requests that are located within a 500-foot radius of T3 and T4 Transect Zones shall include noise and lighting plans inclusive of mitigation plans; and that all Event Venue Exception requests shall be subject to Design Review Criteria set forth in Article 4, Table 12, of the Miami 21 Code; and; and
WHEREAS, the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board (“PZAB”), following an advertised public hearing on December 17, 2025, adopted Resolution No. PZAB-R-25-084 by a vote of eight to zero (8-0), Item No. PZAB. 18, recommending approval of the proposed amendment to Chapter 23 of the City Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission, after careful consideration of this matter, deems it advisable and in the best interests of the general welfare of the City and its citizens to amend the City Code as hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are adopted and incorporated as if fully set forth in this section.
Section 2. Chapter 23 of the City Codeis hereby amended in the following particulars:
“CHAPTER 23
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
\*\*\*
ARTICLE I. HISTORIC PRESERVATION
\*\*\*
Sec. 23-6.1. Waivers, exceptions and exclusions for locally designated historic resources.
\*\*\*
(3)Historic preservation exceptions. Unless otherwise authorized by Article 4, Table 3, of the Miami 21 Code, the board may authorize certain exceptions to the requirements of the underlying zoning to the extent indicated herein. Bed and breakfast uses complying with applicable codes may be permissible as an exception in low, medium and high density multifamily residential (general urban, urban center and urban core) zones. Additional allowable uses which include professional offices, and museums will be classified as exceptions and may be allowed except in T3 transect zones. Additional allowable uses which include restaurants and private clubs, as they are respectively defined in section 4-2 of the City Code, and event venues, each will also be classified as exceptions and may be allowed except in T3 and T4 transect zones. The term “event venue(s)” shall mean a building or space, including adjacent outdoor space, designed or used for hosting events, including, but not limited to, weddings, conferences, galas and other similar functions or gatherings. Such uses shall be permissible only within existing structures that are individually designated or contributing resources within a designated historic district or thematically-related historic resources within a multiple property designation as identified in the designation report prepared pursuant to chapter 23; and shall not be permissible in any case where the structure(s) of principal historic significance has (have) been destroyed or damaged beyond repair, unless such structure(s) is (are) reconstructed in accordance with a certificate of appropriateness approved by the board pursuant to the provisions of chapter 23. Any use authorized pursuant to this section shall comply with all regulations applicable to the same or similar use in the most restrictive zoning designation permitting such use; to the extent such regulations have not been modified pursuant to this section.
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Section 3. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phase, or word of this Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.
Fiscal Impact
N/A