Restaurant Permits in Fort Lauderdale & Broward County: MEP Requirements

Fort Lauderdale and Broward County are among South Florida's most active restaurant markets. Opening a restaurant in the City of Fort Lauderdale or unincorporated Broward County requires MEP engineering drawings signed and sealed by a licensed Florida PE. The Fort Lauderdale Building Services Division and the Broward County Building Code Services Division both process commercial permits electronically.

Fort Lauderdale and Broward Plan Review

Fort Lauderdale Building Services uses an online permitting portal for commercial projects. Restaurant MEP drawings are reviewed concurrently with architectural plans. Fort Lauderdale's commercial plan review typically takes 4–6 weeks for a complete submittal. Broward County Building Code Services handles permits for unincorporated areas and municipalities that use county building services.

Broward County is in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), which means MEP equipment installations must comply with HVHZ requirements — including Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or Florida Product Approval for equipment exposed to wind. This is a frequently missed requirement in restaurant projects that causes correction comments and delays.

NFPA 96 and Hood Design in Broward County

Broward County enforces NFPA 96 for all commercial cooking operations. The mechanical engineer designs the Type I hood system, calculates exhaust and makeup air quantities, and coordinates with the fire suppression contractor. Broward County Fire Prevention reviews fire suppression designs as part of the building permit process. Fort Lauderdale Fire Prevention handles reviews for projects within city limits.

Grease Interceptors: Broward County Environmental Requirements

Broward County has specific environmental regulations governing grease interceptor installations, reflecting the county's sensitivity to groundwater and waterway contamination. The grease interceptor must be sized to Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department requirements, which may be more stringent than the PDI G-101 standard. The plumbing engineer coordinates with the local utility and the county environmental department to ensure the interceptor design meets all requirements.

DBPR Review for Broward Restaurants

All Florida restaurants must obtain DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants approval before opening. Pineland Engineering produces Broward restaurant MEP drawings that address both the building department's technical requirements and the DBPR's food safety requirements in a single coordinated package.