Miami Beach Reimagines Pop-Up Business Opportunities

Miami Beach, FL – Aiming to attract new business and encourage entrepreneurship in Miami Beach, the city has extended the maximum duration that retail, food, beverage, clothing and other types of pop-up businesses can operate — from three months up to a year in some instances.

The Miami Beach City Commission has revised business permit rules to allow pop-up businesses that are actively pursuing a Certificate of Use and Business Tax Receipt within the initial nine months of occupancy to secure the longer 12-month lease while undergoing the conversion to a traditional business.

“Extending Miami Beach pop-up business permits up to a full year benefits both businesses and the city by cutting red tape and allowing greater flexibility, experimentation and economic activity, while also potentially boosting tourism and attracting more businesses,” said Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez, who sponsored the permit change.

Extending the duration of pop-up business permits creates greater opportunities for businesses to build brand awareness and engage with customers. In Miami Beach, this extension could help revitalize underutilized spaces, offer a low-risk entry point for entrepreneurs and give property owners a chance to explore new uses for their spaces — potentially attracting long-term tenants.

For the first time, pop-up restaurants and bars will be permitted to occupy vacant spaces that had been used by similar businesses along iconic Lincoln Road. Pop-up permits require approval by the property owner or landlord in addition to the tenant. Pop-ups that occupy more than 40,000-square-feet of public space will be asked for a minimum donation of $5,000 as a public benefit.

“The advantage of having more time on the pop-up permit is that we can open, attract new customers, and boost our visibility, while we negotiate a longer-term lease,” said Filip Perkon, co-founder, product designer and “chief drake” of the London-based Duck World retail chain that recently opened its first U.S.-based location at 1622 Washington Ave. with a pop-up permit.

“The pop-up permit took about three weeks,” said Perkon, whose store specializes in a line of themed rubber ducks, including Abraham Lincoln Duck, Albert Quackstein – Einstein, Backpacker Duck and Big Ben Rubber Duck. Duck World recently erected a temporary 400-pound rubber duck sculpture on Lincoln Road to attract customers.

“People love our products and we look forward to being a long-term member of the Miami Beach business community,” Perkon added.

To apply for a Miami Beach pop-up permit or learn more, click here.

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