Government of Miami-Dade County

Overview

Of the county's 2,751,796 total residents (as of 2017), approximately 44% live in unincorporated areas, most of which are heavily urbanized. These residents are part of the Unincorporated Municipal Services Area (UMSA). For these residents, the county fills the role of both lower- and upper-tier government, the County Commission acting as their lower-tier municipal representative body. Residents within UMSA pay an UMSA tax, equivalent to a city tax, which is used to provide county residents with equivalent city services (police, fire, zoning, water and sewer, etc.). Residents of incorporated areas do not pay UMSA tax.

Organization

An executive mayor and the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (BCC) govern the county. The county's main administrative offices are located in the Stephen P. Clark Center (SPCC) at 111 NW 1st Street in downtown Miami.

Board of County Commissioners

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of unincorporated Miami-Dade County and has broad regional powers to establish policies for Miami-Dade County services. The government provides major metropolitan services countywide and city-type services for residents of unincorporated areas.

One county commissioner is elected from each of Miami-Dade County's 13 districts to serve a four-year term. Residents choose only from among candidates running in the district in which they live. Commissioners are chosen in non-partisan, single-district elections and can serve two four-year staggered terms, with elections scheduled every two years. The commissioners elect a chairperson, and the chairperson appoints the members, chairperson and vice chairperson of all standing committees.

In November 2012, the Miami-Dade County Term Limit Amendment was approved, modifying the county charter to establish term limits of two consecutive four-year terms.

As of November 2025, there are seven Republicans and six Democrats, though elections are nonpartisan.

Elected officers

In addition to the county commission, there are several elected "constitutional officers" that form the Government of Miami-Dade County that are required by the Florida Constitution and Florida law and authorized under the charter.

Mayor

The mayor is an independently elected county executive. The incumbent mayor of Miami-Dade County is Democrat Daniella Levine Cava (2020–present).

Sheriff

Florida sheriffs are vested with wide-ranging constitutional powers as both county officers and a part of the state judicial branch. The incumbent sheriff of Miami-Dade County is Republican Rosie Cordero-Stutz (2025–present).

State attorney

The state attorney is a state and county official, serving as both the chief prosecutor of the state circuit court and county court. The incumbent state attorney for Miami-Dade County is Democrat Katherine Fernandez Rundle (1993–present).

Clerk of the circuit court

The clerk of the circuit court is a state and county official, serving as both the clerk of the state circuit court and county court. The clerk also functions as the ex-officio county comptroller, county auditor, county recorder, and clerk to the board of county commissioners. The incumbent Miami-Dade County clerk of court is Republican Juan Fernandez-Barquin (2023–present).

Public defender

The public defender is a state and county official, representing county residents in both the state circuit court and county court. The incumbent public defender of Miami-Dade County is Democrat Carlos J. Martinez (2009–present).

Property appraiser

The incumbent property appraiser of Miami-Dade County is Republican Tomás Regalado (2025–present).

Supervisor of elections

The incumbent Miami-Dade County supervisor of elections is Republican Alina Garcia (2025–present).

Tax collector

The tax collector is charged with collecting county and state taxes in addition to its role as head of the county DMV. The incumbent tax collector of Miami-Dade County is Republican Dariel Fernandez (2025–present).

Departments

• Miami-Dade Transit oversees the largest transit system in Florida, operating the Metrorail, Metromover, and Metrobus.
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Animal Services
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Audit and Management Services
• The Miami-Dade Aviation Department (Miami International Airport)
• The Miami-Dade County Communications Department
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Community Action and Human Services
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Elections
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Finance
• The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR)
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Human Resources
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Information Technology
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Internal Services
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Juvenile Services
• The Miami-Dade Public Library System
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Management and Budget
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Medical Examiner
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 270 parks and 13,573 acres of land.
• The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO)
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD)
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources
• The PortMiami
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Solid Waste Management
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW)
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Vizcaya Trust (Vizcaya Museum and Gardens)
• The Miami-Dade County Department of Water and Sewer
• Jackson Health System (Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County)

References

References

1. {{Cite constitution. (1885). link
2. "Report Regarding Transition to Constitutional Offices".
3. Rynor, Morgan. (January 13, 2025). "Alina Garcia sworn in as Miami-Dade's new elections supervisor". [[CBS News]].
4. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Miami-Dade County, Florida; Florida". Census.gov.
5. "About Board of County Commissioners".
6. (July 11, 2018). "Governance - Miami-Dade County". Miamidade.gov.
7. "Elected Democrats". Coral Gables Democratic Club.
8. "Meet Our GOP Elected Officials". Republican Party of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
9. "Chapter 30, Florida Statues". State of Florida.
10. (January 2020). "Hon. Carlos J. Martinez, Miami-Dade Public Defender".
11. "About Parks - Miami-Dade County". Miamidade.gov.