Kaluz has been a South Florida favorite since its Fort Lauderdale flagship opened in 2013. In November 2025, the restaurant group opened its fourth location in Pembroke Pines, and Permit Express LLC permitted the project from the ground up as a new building. Here is a look at the restaurant, its indoor fountain, and what permitting a new full-service restaurant in Pembroke Pines typically involves.
About the project
Kaluz Pembroke Pines is at 10780 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33025. It serves modern American cuisine, including hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood and salads, and joins the group’s restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Plantation and Wellington.
The restaurant opened on November 18, 2025. According to local coverage, it seats roughly 290 guests across an indoor dining room, a bar and an outdoor lounge. Inside the restaurant is a fountain, a design feature that adds its own permitting layer.
Permitting an indoor fountain in a restaurant
A decorative water feature looks simple, but it touches several trades. For a permanently installed indoor fountain, reviews typically cover:
- Plumbing: the recirculating system, drains and the water supply that refills the basin. The Florida Building Code requires the potable water supply to an ornamental fountain to be protected against backflow by an air gap.
- Electrical: the National Electrical Code (Article 680, Part V) covers permanently installed fountains. Underwater lights and submersible pumps generally need GFCI protection, and metal piping, fittings, pump equipment and nearby metal surfaces must be bonded together.
- Structural: water, basin and finishes add concentrated weight, so the floor or slab design has to account for it.
- Restaurant plan review: in a food service space, the state restaurant plan reviewer (Florida DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants) may also look at the feature’s location relative to food and service areas.
Coordinating the fountain’s plumbing, electrical and structural details across the design team is what keeps it from becoming the item that holds up an approval.
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What restaurant permitting in Pembroke Pines typically involves
Commercial construction permits in Pembroke Pines are handled by the City of Pembroke Pines Building Department. A new full-service restaurant with a bar and outdoor seating typically involves:
- Building: structure, foundations, accessibility, egress and occupant load for a large dining room and bar.
- Mechanical: kitchen hood and exhaust, make-up air and HVAC.
- Electrical and plumbing: kitchen and bar equipment, lighting, grease interceptor, restrooms and gas piping.
- Fire: hood suppression, sprinklers, alarms and life-safety review.
- Outdoor lounge: outdoor seating typically involves added building, zoning and fire review.
- State restaurant approval: plan review from the Florida DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants.
Planning around plan review time
In our experience, plan review in Pembroke Pines tends to take longer than in some other municipalities. That’s not unusual for a busy, growing city, but it’s worth building into the schedule from the start. Submitting complete, well-coordinated plans, answering comments quickly and planning inspections early all help keep the opening date realistic.
Why restaurant groups use a commercial permit expediter in Broward
Since 2004, Permit Express LLC has helped contractors, designers and owners permit restaurant projects across Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, including work for brands like The Cheesecake Factory, Wawa and Shake Shack. We prepare complete submittals, track each review and respond to comments quickly so your project keeps moving.
Opening a restaurant in Pembroke Pines?
We can help you plan the permits your project will need before you submit. Check our permitting FAQ, then call Permit Express LLC at 954-632-0353 or contact us online. We are open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.