MIAMI-DADE COUNTY EMERGENCY ORDER 14-20

WHEREAS, section 252.38(3)(a), Florida Statutes, gives political subdivisions the authority to declare and enact a State of Local Emergency for a period of up to seven days, thereby waiving the procedures and formalities otherwise required of the political subdivision by law; and

WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the Governor of Florida issued Executive Order Number 20-51, directing the State Health Officer and Surgeon General to declare a Public Health Emergency due to the discovery of COVID-19/novel Coronavirus in Florida; and

WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, the Governor of Florida issued Executive Order Number 20-52, declaring a State of Emergency for the state of Florida related to COVID-19/novel Coronavirus; and

WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, the County Mayor declared a State of Emergency for all of Miami-Dade County (the “County”); and

WHEREAS, COVID-19/novel Coronavirus poses a health risk to County residents, particularly elderly residents and those who are immunosuppressed or otherwise have high-risk medical conditions; and

WHEREAS, minimization of contact is necessary to avoid risk of COVID-19 infection for the residents of the County; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued guidance entitled “15 Days to Slow the Spread,” encouraging social distancing and maintaining a six foot separation between persons to slow the spread of infection; and

WHEREAS, Emergency Order 07-20, as amended, allows for contractors to provide repair and services to homes and other structures, and allows work to continue on open construction sites; and

WHEREAS, during the past two weeks a number of County employees of the Regulatory and Economic Resources Department who report to or work from the Permitting and Inspection Center located at 11805 SW 26th Street Miami, Florida tested positive for the COVID-19/novel Coronavirus; and

WHEREAS, approximately 400 County employees report to or work from the Permitting and Inspection Center; and

WHEREAS, County building code inspectors almost exclusively report to or work from the Permitting and Inspection Center; and

WHEREAS, the job duties and responsibilities of County building code inspectors is to work out in the public and inspect residential and commercial construction projects to ensure such projects are in compliance with the Florida Building Code; and

WHEREAS, after becoming aware that a number of employees reporting to or working from the Permitting and Inspection Center tested positive for the COVID-19/novel Coronavirus, the Florida Department of Health recommended that the County close the Permitting and Inspection Center and that employees reporting to or working from the Permitting and Inspection Center self-isolate for two weeks; and

WHEREAS, following the recommendations of public health officials, as County Mayor, I closed the Permitting and Inspection Center on March 25, 2020 for a two-week period ending April 7, 2020 and instructed all employees that are based out of the Permitting and Inspection Center to self-isolate for two weeks,

THEREFORE, as County Mayor of Miami-Dade County, I hereby order as follows:

1. All laws, statutes, codes and regulations relating to County employees performing building code functions are suspended, including, but not limited to, the review of plans, issuance of permits, performance of inspections and issuance of certificates of occupancy and completion and temporary certificates of occupancy, and all activities related thereto.  I further suspend all laws applicable to the County which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order, including, but not limited to, the requirements to receive and process manually executed plans and the qualifications of personnel to perform building code related services.  
2. County employees shall not provide building code inspection services to the public except in accordance with the provisions of this order.  To allow for the continuation of construction consistent with the public health, safety and welfare, and in consultation with the Miami-Dade County Building Official, the County hereby adopts the emergency procedures which are attached to this order as Exhibit 1.
3. This order applies to the Unincorporated Municipal Services Area (UMSA) of Miami-Dade County and all other areas within municipalities under the jurisdiction of the Miami-Dade County Building Official.  This order does not and is not intended to bind municipal Building Officials’ performance of building code related services within the areas of their jurisdiction.  
4. This order shall expire upon the expiration of the existing Miami-Dade County State of Local Emergency, except that if such State of Local Emergency is extended, this order shall also be deemed to extend for the duration of such extension. This order may be cancelled earlier by action of the County Mayor.
5. I intend to extend this order, by one or more subsequent orders, through a date not earlier than April 7, 2020.
6. This order shall be effective immediately.
7. This order shall be provided to all appropriate media consistent with the requirements of section 8B-7(2)(n) of the Code of Miami-Dade County.