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File ID: #18876
Resolution
Sponsored by: Mayor Eileen Higgins, Commissioner Rolando Escalona
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO INITIATE THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING AND
IMPLEMENTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE —ASSISTED TOOLS FOR ZONING
VERIFICATION LETTERS AND THE PRESCREENING OF ZONING APPLICATIONS
IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE REVIEW TIMES AND ADDRESS THE CITY'S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS; FURTHER
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO PROVIDE THE CITY
COMMISSION WITH A REPORT ON HIS EVALUATION AND FINDINGS WITHIN ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS OF ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION.
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-26-0072
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 18876 Final Action Date:2/12/2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO INITIATE THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING AND
IMPLEMENTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE —ASSISTED TOOLS FOR ZONING
VERIFICATION LETTERS AND THE PRESCREENING OF ZONING APPLICATIONS
IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE REVIEW TIMES AND ADDRESS THE CITY'S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS; FURTHER
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO PROVIDE THE CITY
COMMISSION WITH A REPORT ON HIS EVALUATION AND FINDINGS WITHIN ONE
HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS OF ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is experiencing a severe housing affordability and
affordable housing crisis, requiring the accelerated delivery of housing units, including
affordable and workforce housing; and
WHEREAS, processing times for zoning verification letters and zoning application
reviews, in some instances, may contribute to project delays, increased development costs, and
uncertainty for residents, non-profit housing providers, and small businesses; and
WHEREAS, advances in artificial intelligence ("Al") and automated decision -support
tools can assist local governments in conducting preliminary zoning analysis, application
completeness checks, and rule -based screening while maintaining appropriate human
oversight; and
WHEREAS, the responsible and transparent use of AI -assisted tools can improve
efficiency, consistency, and customer service without supplanting or eliminating professional
planning judgment, legal review, or due process; and
WHEREAS, other local governments are exploring AI -assisted zoning and permitting
tools as part of broader government modernization efforts; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to evaluate the use of AI -assisted tools to
modernize and increase efficiencies in the processing of zoning verification letters and zoning
application reviews;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Manager, or designee, is directed to initiate a review and feasibility
assessment for the use of AI -assisted tools to support:
a) The preparation of zoning verification letters; and
b) The prescreening of zoning applications to identify completeness issues, basic
zoning compliance, and potential conflicts prior to formal submission..
Section 3. Any AI -assisted tools evaluated or implemented pursuant to this Resolution
shall function solely as decision -support and prescreening tools and shall not replace:
a) Required staff review;
b) Professional staff judgment;
c) Legal determinations and interpretations by the City Attorney's Office; or
d) Final decision -making authority of the City or its boards.
Section 4. The City Manager, or designee, shall prioritize Al use cases that support
public benefit outcomes, including but not limited to:
a) Affordable and workforce housing projects;
b) Small-scale residential developments; and
c) Applicant groups for simple or small-scale projects who are disproportionately
impacted by prolonged review timelines.
Section 5. The City Manager, or designee, shall coordinate the evaluation of any
proposed implementation with the City's Planning Department, Building Department, Innovation
and Technology Department, the City Attorney's Office, and all other departments or individuals
the City Manager deems necessary to ensure legal compliance, data integrity, and operational
readiness.
Section 6. Any proposed AI -assisted tools or systems shall include safeguards
addressing:
a) Transparency in zoning code interpretations;
b) Data accuracy and bias mitigation;
c) Clear public -facing disclosures identifying AI -assisted outputs; and
d) Compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and
regulations.
Section 7. The City Manager, or designee, is directed to explore the development of a
limited pilot program and to report back to the City Commission within one hundred twenty (120)
days of adoption of this Resolution his:
a) Findings from the feasibility assessment;
b) Potential third -party solutions or in-house options;
c) Estimated costs for implementation and potential funding sources;
d) Legal, policy, technical, and operational considerations; and
e) A recommended pilot implementation plan, if deemed appropriate.
Section 8. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: