Branch: U.S. Coast Guard
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Installation Type: Coast Guard Base
Status: Active

Overview

Coast Guard Base Miami Beach is located on Government Cut in Miami Beach, Florida, one of the most recognizable urban Coast Guard installations in the United States. The base is highly visible from the Port of Miami cruise ship terminals and is home to Sector Miami, which is responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection across South Florida, the Florida Straits, the Bahamas, and Caribbean waters. The installation is operationally one of the busiest in the Coast Guard, conducting continuous maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and environmental response missions in a region with tremendous recreational and commercial vessel traffic and significant drug smuggling and undocumented migrant interdiction requirements.

Mission & Units

• Primary Mission: Conduct search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, drug interdiction, undocumented migrant interdiction, ports and waterways security, and environmental response across South Florida, the Florida Straits, and Caribbean Sea.
• Major Units: Coast Guard Sector Miami (operational command); multiple 87-foot Marine Protector class patrol boats; response boat-medium and small fast boats; Aids to Navigation Team Miami; Marine Safety Unit Miami
• Tenant Units: Coast Guard Air Station Miami (Opa-Locka, MH-65 Dolphin helicopters, approximately 15 miles north); Coast Guard District 7 headquarters (Miami, separate location); National Pollution Funds Center elements

Location & Access

• Nearest Major City: Miami Beach, FL (population approximately 90,000) immediately adjacent; Miami, FL (population approximately 460,000; metro approximately 6.1 million) – across Government Cut via MacArthur Causeway
• Nearest Commercial Airport: Miami International Airport (MIA) – approximately 8 miles west; Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) – approximately 30 miles north
• Gate Access: Main gate; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; urban location with active port creates unique access considerations

Population

• Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 600
• Family Members: Approximately 700
• Civilian Employees: Approximately 150
• Total Installation Population: Approximately 1,450

Key Facilities

• Medical: Coast Guard Clinic; primary care; specialty referrals to civilian hospitals in Miami (Jackson Memorial Hospital, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital) or Veterans Affairs Healthcare System; Miami has world-class medical facilities
• Commissary: Limited on-base commissary; Miami Beach and Miami metro offer extensive commercial shopping alternatives
• Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Coast Guard Exchange; limited; Miami metro commercial options extensive
• Fitness & Recreation: Fitness center on base; Miami Beach itself – one of the world’s premier outdoor recreation destinations; ocean swimming, beach access, surfing, water sports year-round
• Schools: Miami-Dade County Public Schools serve military families; no DoDEA schools; Miami-Dade is the 4th largest school district in the nation with widely varying school quality; Coral Gables, South Miami, Coconut Grove, and Aventura area schools generally better-regarded; private schools and charter schools widely available
• Childcare: Limited on-base childcare; Miami has extensive private childcare options; register early; Miami childcare costs are above national average
• Veterinary Services: Local Miami Beach and Miami veterinarians widely available; no on-base veterinary treatment facility
• Legal Assistance / JAG: Coast Guard JAG support available; appointment-based

Housing

• On-Post Housing: Very limited government quarters on base given the urban Miami Beach location; most Coast Guard personnel live off-base
• Average Wait Time: Not applicable in traditional sense; off-base BAH housing is standard for Miami Beach assignment
• Off-Post Housing: Miami Beach, Miami, Hialeah, North Miami, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Kendall, Homestead, and other Miami-Dade and Broward communities; average rent approximately $2,500-$3,500/month for 3-bedroom home; Miami is very expensive; Florida has no state income tax
• BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); Miami/Miami Beach BAH is relatively high

PCS & Newcomer Info

• Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; Sector Miami sponsorship programs; urban Miami assignment with international and multicultural character
• In-Processing: Sector Miami in-processing; typically 2-3 days; South Florida operational orientation
• EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Work-Life Staff; enrollment required; Miami has outstanding specialist access including Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Jackson Memorial, and multiple specialized medical centers

Local Area & Quality of Life

• Climate: Tropical wet/dry; year-round warm (average high 89F/32C in August; average low 60F/16C in January); high humidity; distinct wet season (May-October) and dry season (November-April); hurricane risk (South Florida is one of the highest-risk areas in the nation); Atlantic Ocean breezes; tropical beauty
• Cost of Living: High; Miami is one of the more expensive cities in Florida; housing particularly expensive; no state income tax in Florida; other costs (food, services) above national average but offset by income tax savings
• Nearby Attractions: South Beach (Art Deco Historic District, Ocean Drive, world-famous beach and nightlife); Wynwood Walls (street art cultural district); Little Havana (Cuban cultural district); Miami Design District; Brickell financial district; Vizcaya Museum and Gardens; Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden; Miami Seaquarium; PortMiami (world’s largest cruise port); Everglades National Park (40 miles west, UNESCO, airboat tours, wildlife); Key West (160 miles south via Overseas Highway, spectacular drive through Florida Keys); Bahamas day trips by ferry or air; Fort Lauderdale Las Olas Boulevard; Palm Beach
• Spouse Employment: Miami metro offers extensive employment in healthcare (Baptist Health, Jackson Memorial, Nicklaus Children’s), international business and trade, tourism/hospitality, financial services, education, and technology; Miami is a major international business hub with connections to Latin America; bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates especially competitive; one of the better Coast Guard employment markets; Work-Life assists

Contact & Resources

• Official Website: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Atlantic-Area/District-7/Sector-Miami/
• Main Installation Phone: (305) 535-4300
• MWR Website: Not publicly available; contact installation directly
• ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Work-Life Staff, Sector Miami; (305) 535-4416; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/coast-guard-base-miami-beach; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnitedStatesCoastGuardSector_Miami