How Miami Building Scores Work
Our sophisticated scoring system analyzes 20+ weighted categories to create natural score differentiation. Buildings rarely have the same score.
Scoring Overview
- 1Calculate weighted average of 20+ categories (total weight ~30)
- 2Apply catastrophic caps (severe violations → max 25 points)
- 3Apply differentiation adjustments (prevent score clustering at 100)
- 4Apply building fingerprint (±0.3 for unique tie-breaking)
- 5Apply livability adjustment (-3 to +3 based on neighborhood)
- 6Apply score compression (90-105 → 90-99.5)
Weighted Categories
Safety Score
3.5×Critical/structural violations, 40-year recertification status, building code compliance
Flood Risk Score
2.5×FEMA flood zone, flood violation history, sea level rise risk, storm surge zone
Hurricane Prep Score
2.5×Building code era (post-Andrew), impact windows, wind resistance rating
Track Record Score
2.5×Open violations, historical violations, data confidence level
Maintenance Score
2.5×Plumbing, electrical, general upkeep, permit compliance
Pest Score
2.0×Roach, rat, bedbug, and mosquito violations and complaints
Responsiveness Score
1.5×Average time to fix violations, landlord response patterns
Water Quality Score
1.5×EPA water quality data, lead service line risk, building age factors
Miami-Specific Factors
Unlike other cities, Miami has unique factors that heavily influence building safety: hurricane risk, flood zones, and building recertification requirements. We weight these factors more heavily than other cities.
40-Year Recertification
CriticalAfter the 2021 Surfside collapse, buildings 30+ years old must pass structural inspection. We track certification status and penalize buildings that haven't complied.
FEMA Flood Zone
CriticalOver 55% of Miami properties are in flood zones. We factor in Zone AE, VE (high risk), and Zone X (minimal risk) designations.
Post-Andrew Construction
HighBuildings built after 1994 follow stronger Florida Building Code requirements implemented after Hurricane Andrew. Older buildings may have weaker structural standards.
Sea Level Rise Risk
HighMiami faces significant sea level rise. We factor in elevation and projected flooding patterns for long-term risk assessment.
Storm Surge Zone
MediumDifferent from flood zones—storm surge zones indicate hurricane-driven flooding risk during major storms.
Data Sources
- Miami-Dade County Code Enforcement
- Miami-Dade Building Department
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer
- Miami-Dade Property Appraiser
- Miami-Dade 311 Service Requests
- EPA Water Quality Data
- FCC Broadband Data