Ambulance Service License

Ambulance service by private companies is not an open category. All current private ambulance certificates were approved by the Board of County Commissioners in 2001. No additional private certificates for new ambulance service may be authorized unless the Commission, by a two-thirds vote of the entire membership, finds that the public convenience and necessity require the issuance of additional certificates.

• Before providing service, ambulance companies must also have a license from the State of Florida (Florida Statutes, Chapter 401).
• In addition you will need a Local Business Tax issued by Miami-Dade County.
• Depending on where the company is located, you may also need a municipal license and Local Business Tax from each municipality you would be working in.
• Furthermore the ambulance units must obtain valid inspection and operating permit decals issued by the Vehicle Inspection Station prior to starting operations.

Processing new applications

If the Board of County Commissioners approves the issuance of new certificates, it will take between three and six months from the time you apply to the time your application is considered for approval by the Board.

Please be aware that there is a schedule of available meetings, that there is a required 10-day notice for the public hearing and that the application will also be reviewed by a sub-committee of the Board prior to being placed before the full Board of County Commissioners. This will be a public hearing at which the public can comment.  At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board will vote on whether to approve or deny the application. You will be notified of the date and time of this meeting.

The For-Hire Transportation regulatory and application fees are non-refundable, unless otherwise stated, and are separate from any occupational license fee that may be applicable.

Cash payment is not accepted. Fees can be paid by check, money order or cashier’s check made payable to the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works.

If renewing in person, the fee can be paid with a credit card (Mastercard, Visa or American Express).

• For-Hire Fee Schedule

The following providers are exempt from Article I:

• Air ambulance providing only inter-county or inter-state transfers.
• Any ambulance owned and operated by the Federal Government.
• A vehicle operated under the direct supervision of a licensed physician and used to transport patients entirely within the privately owned and controlled area of Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant pursuant to an emergency management plan approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
• Any hospital or other type of medical facility utilizing its own ground vehicles at no fee for service under the direct supervision of a licensed physician in transporting persons to or from the hospital-operated helipad, or in transporting patients between buildings within its own medical campus. At no time shall such a one-way transport exceed one mile in distance.

While only governmental fire rescue departments are generally authorized to operate as the first responders (when a 911 call is made) within the territorial limits or airspace of Miami-Dade County, the Code provides for exceptions. Miami-Dade County or individual municipal governments can establish contracts with private ambulance companies, which allow the private providers to transport injured people if fire-rescue personnel assess that the injuries are not life threatening.

The law also prohibits the transportation of more than one patient in one ambulance vehicle, but again provides for exceptions. That section does not apply where a contract between the ambulance company and the County specifically provides otherwise or where a Fire Chief with territorial jurisdiction instructs otherwise. One example is where ambulances, in an emergency situation, are being used to evacuate stretcher-bound patients or those using wheelchairs.

Private ground ambulances are inspected annually by the County for compliance with safety and sanitation requirements of Florida Statutes.

All ambulance units must comply with the inspection requirements of the State of Florida (EMS).

The Board of County Commissioners sets uniform rates for private ambulance companies licensed to operate in the County and approves rates set by public agency providers. It is unlawful for any ambulance certificate holder to charge, demand, request, or accept any fare other than the rates established by the Board of County Commissioners except as may be provided by Federal law.