In Miami, the caterer you hire must hold the Florida food service license from DBPR, and must also hold an alcohol license if it sells drinks. Event and tent permits depend on the city or village where the event takes place, and many venues add vendor rules. Of the offices we read, special event application fees run from $75 in the Village of Palmetto Bay to $500 for a large City of Miami event, due four weeks to 45 days ahead.
Catering Permits and Rules in Miami
Miami Catering Pros · Event catering, personal chef and BBQ catering for homes and businesses in Miami, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay and nearby towns.
Updated November 3, 2026 · 37 sources cited
Photo by PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay (Pixabay Content License)
Local rules
Who handles which permit
- The caterer: Florida requires every public food service establishment to hold a DBPR license, and Rule 61C-1.002 counts caterers and their catering kitchens as these establishments.
- The event permit: city special event permits ask for the guest count, the property and a site plan. Ask the venue and your caterer who will apply. At a public food event, the sponsor also notifies DBPR.
- The venue: Vizcaya, Fairchild, Venetian Pool, county parks and Palmetto Bay facilities set their own vendor or insurance rules.
Local rules
The caterer's Florida food service license
Florida law covers any place that prepares food before it is delivered somewhere else (s. 509.013). A new license is issued only after an opening inspection, and a caterer using another licensed kitchen counts as an operator of that business (Rule 61C-1.002). UF/IFAS Extension notes that licenses are renewed every year. Running without one is a second-degree misdemeanor, and the division can fine up to $1,000 per offense (s. 509.241, s. 509.261).
Cost
Fees and lead times at a glance
| Item | Fee | Lead time | Source (retrieved) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DBPR temporary food event license | $91 (1–3 days), $105 (4–30 days), $456 (annual), as published in 2020; confirm with DBPR | Licensed on site after inspection | DBPR guide HR 5030-034, 2020 edition (2026-10-18) |
| City of Miami special event application | $250 up to 1,000 people; $500 above | 30 days (small, medium); 45 days (large) | City of Miami (2026-10-18) |
| Coral Gables refundable performance deposit | $1,000 to $25,000 or more | Apply 4 weeks ahead; fee paid 14 days ahead | City of Coral Gables (2026-10-18) |
| Palmetto Bay special event processing fee | $75, non-refundable | Due 30 days before | Village of Palmetto Bay (2026-11-01) |
| 13CT caterer alcohol license, state tax | $1,820 a year | Held by the caterer | Florida Statutes 565.02 (2026-11-03) |
What moves the fee: guest count (City of Miami), event size and alcohol sales (Coral Gables), and the number of days the event runs (DBPR). Late City of Miami applications pay double.
Public events and festivals
For a food event the sponsor sends DBPR each vendor's license number at least three business days before, and DBPR inspects vendors on site. A licensed caterer may run one unit under its license, and each extra unit needs its own temporary event license (Rule 61C-1.002).
Alcohol at a catered event
Florida's caterer alcohol license, called 13CT, lets a DBPR-licensed caterer serve drinks only at a catered event where it also serves prepared food (s. 561.20). At least 51 percent of its food and beverage revenue at each event must come from food and non-alcoholic drinks. It must buy from a licensed vendor and may not store alcohol for events. For each event it keeps DBPR form BLE-202 and the contract ready for inspection (Rule 61A-3.057). Serving anyone under 21 is a second-degree misdemeanor on a first offense (s. 562.11).
Local rules
Event permits by city
Miami-Dade County has 34 municipalities, so the city or village where the venue sits sets the permit rules.
City of Miami
Special events are small (up to 250 people), medium (251 to 1,000) or large (over 1,000). One property may host four permitted special events a year, each up to seven days. A for-profit event selling food or drink needs a Business Tax Receipt. Cooking means the kitchen goes on the site plan, and alcohol service needs a copy of an active liquor license. Events on City-owned property run 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Coral Gables
The Special Events Division wants a certificate of insurance that meets city rules, a notarized signature page, a site plan and ID. The refundable deposit rises with event size, (see the table).
Palmetto Bay
An event at a private home with more than 45 guests expected needs a Special Event Permit. Food preparation and alcohol need extra papers.
Miami-Dade County short-term events
The county's Short-Term Events permit covers events of 45 days or less with temporary structures such as tents and enclosed cooking. Events with ticket, food or drink revenue need a Certificate of Use.
For Pinecrest, South Miami, Key Biscayne and the other cities and villages, ask that town's special events or permit office before you book.
Tents, cooking and fire
Three tent thresholds apply in different places:
- City of Miami, fire safety permit: needed for any tent larger than 10 by 10 feet. A pilot affidavit route covers tents up to 40 x 40 without a separate building permit, as the City describes it.
- Miami-Dade County, building permit (Short-Term Events): not needed for a tent of 10 by 12 feet or smaller.
- Miami-Dade County parks, Short-Term Event permit: needed once a tent is 10 by 12 feet or larger.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's tent plan list asks for:
- A Certificate of Fire Resistance for the tent, drapes and decorations.
- Extinguishers: 1 per 400 square feet up to 1,200, then 1 per 1,000 square feet.
- At least 20 feet between the tent and buildings, roads or parking, and any generator at least 20 feet away.
All cooking under a tent must meet NFPA 1, chapter 50. Assembly tents with an occupant load greater than 300 need a fire watch for the whole event.
County parks allow fires and cooking only in an approved grill. Palmetto Bay park rentals ban bringing charcoal or gas grills and list alcohol as prohibited. Check these rules before you book BBQ catering in Miami for a park.
Local rules
Venue rules for outside caterers
- Vizcaya: only caterers on its Approved Vendor List.
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (weddings): you choose the caterer, but the garden must approve it; Glasshouse Cafe weddings use the in-house caterer. A new vendor makes a site visit 30 days before and sends an insurance certificate within two weeks of the event, with host liquor liability where it applies.
- Deering Estate (weddings): bring your own caterer. Music stops by 11:00 p.m., and a tent needs three days' notice.
- Venetian Pool (Coral Gables): the $2,400 rental includes a warming kitchen. The renter pays for two off-duty police officers, and alcohol needs prior approval.
- Miami-Dade park shelters: registered party vendors only.
- Palmetto Bay facilities: each vendor sends a $1 million liability certificate naming the Village as additional insured, plus its Business Tax Receipt, two weeks before.
Our event catering guide for Miami covers service styles and how to compare quotes.
Checklist
What to ask your caterer before you sign
- Its DBPR license number, which catering ads must show (s. 509.241(3)).
- Whether a manager holds the food manager certificate: 30 days from hire to pass, valid five years (s. 509.039, Rule 61C-4.023). Other staff need training within 60 days, valid three years (s. 509.049).
- For a bar: its 13CT license, or who holds the liquor license.
- An insurance certificate that names your venue as additional insured. Venetian Pool asks for $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
- Whether it is on the venue's approved or registered vendor list (Vizcaya, Fairchild, Miami-Dade park shelters).
- Who will apply for any city event or tent permit, and who pays the fee. Ask the venue and your caterer, and get it in the contract.
Taxes on your catering bill
Florida sales tax covers service, corkage and setup charges that are part of serving or preparing food, and the rule names caterers (Rule 12A-1.0115). Miami-Dade adds 2% on food and drink sold at hotel and motel facilities. It adds 1% at other businesses that sell alcohol for drinking on site, collected only by those with yearly receipts over $400,000. Catering is not exempt unless it goes to a group with a Florida Consumer Certificate of Exemption.
Local conditions
Weather and outdoor events
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with a peak on September 10 (NOAA). Put a weather and rebooking plan in the contract for an outdoor event in that window. NWS Miami says summer showers and thunderstorms are almost a daily occurrence.
Local rules
Catering permit questions
Does a restaurant need a separate catering license?
No. Rule 61C-1.002 says a licensed food service business that also caters needs no separate catering license, but it must meet the same standards.
Can a caterer cook in its home kitchen?
The Florida Department of Health says no food operation may run from a private residence. DBPR's guide also bars home-made and Cottage Food Law food at temporary events.
Can a food truck serve at my party?
The state controls food truck licensing. Local governments may not ask for a separate license beyond the state one, but they can still regulate how trucks operate (s. 509.102).
Can I buy the alcohol myself?
Brewers Law, a Florida beverage-law firm, says a store can sell alcohol to a private host for an open bar but cannot tend bar, and the host cannot resell it at the event. That is the firm's view, not state guidance.
Can the bar stay open after midnight?
Florida bans selling or serving alcohol on a licensed place from midnight to 7 a.m., unless a local ordinance allows it (s. 562.14).
Can our nonprofit serve alcohol at a fundraiser?
The state can give a nonprofit civic or charitable group a permit for up to 3 days, at $25 each, with no more than 12 a year. The group shows a local building and zoning permit (s. 561.422).
Is the gratuity on my catering bill taxed?
Yes, unless it is listed on its own line and the seller keeps none of it (Rule 12A-1.0115).
Where do I complain about a caterer in Florida?
DBPR has an online complaint form for hotels and restaurants. Its "Public Food Service Establishments" category covers restaurants, mobile units and temporary events.
Get a local catering quote
Phone us or send the form. Expect a call back from Miami Catering Pros within one business day. Our contact page explains what happens next.
Sources
Sources
- F.S. 509.013 Definitions, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Rule 61C-1.002 Licensing and inspection requirements, Cornell LII (retrieved 2026-11-03)
- F.S. 509.241 Licenses required, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- F.S. 509.261 Revocation or suspension; fines, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- FS435, UF/IFAS Extension (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- F.S. 509.039 Food service manager certification, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Rule 61C-4.023 Food manager certification, Cornell LII (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- F.S. 509.049 Food service employee training, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- F.S. 509.102 Mobile food dispensing vehicles, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Guide to Temporary Food Service Events (HR 5030-034, 2020), Florida DBPR form, copy hosted on a city website (Sopchoppy.org) (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Food safety and sanitation FAQ, Florida Department of Health (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- F.S. 561.20 Caterer license, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- F.S. 565.02 License fees; vendors, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-11-03)
- Rule 61A-3.057 Caterer's license, Cornell LII (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- F.S. 562.11 Selling to persons under 21, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- F.S. 562.14 Hours of sale, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- F.S. 561.422 Nonprofit temporary permits, Florida Senate (retrieved 2026-11-03)
- Off-site alcohol service by Florida retailers, Brewers Law (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- Municipalities, Miami-Dade County (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Get a Special Events Permit, City of Miami (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Special Events and Film Permits, City of Coral Gables (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Special Events / Banner Permit Application, Village of Palmetto Bay (retrieved 2026-11-01)
- Short-Term Events permit, Miami-Dade County (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Plan Submittal Requirements for Temporary Tents and Membrane Structures, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (retrieved 2026-11-03)
- Event planning venues, Miami-Dade Parks (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- Parks rules and regulations, Miami-Dade Parks (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- Rental Rules and Regulations, Village of Palmetto Bay (retrieved 2026-11-01)
- Vendor Registration Requirements, Village of Palmetto Bay (retrieved 2026-11-01)
- Corporate and executive events, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- Garden weddings, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- Weddings, Deering Estate (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- Venetian Pool rental guidelines, City of Coral Gables (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- Rule 12A-1.0115 Sales by restaurants and caterers, Cornell LII (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Convention and Tourist Taxes, Miami-Dade County (retrieved 2026-11-03)
- Tropical cyclone climatology, NOAA National Hurricane Center (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- South Florida summer season, NWS Miami (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Complaint filing (Hotels and Restaurants), Florida DBPR (retrieved 2026-11-02)
Reach Miami Catering Pros
Call Miami Catering Pros or send the form. Within one business day we call you back to talk about your catering job.