What is a structural integrity reserve study, and why does it matter when you buy a Cocoa Beach condo?

A structural integrity reserve study (SIRS) is a Florida-required funding plan for condo buildings three or more habitable stories tall. In Cocoa Beach and across Brevard County, it …

Who picks up trash and recycling on Florida's Space Coast?

It depends on whether your Brevard County address is inside city limits. Unincorporated areas like Merritt Island, Viera, and Suntree are served through Brevard County's contract with Waste Management, while each incorporated city on the Space Coast …

How does beach renourishment work in Brevard County, Florida?

Brevard County's beaches are restored through a federal shore protection project run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with Brevard County as local sponsor, split into the North, Mid, and South Reaches plus a county-run South Beaches …

What does salt air actually do to a beachside home on Florida's Space Coast?

Salt air accelerates corrosion on metal components: fasteners, hardware, air conditioner coils, garage door tracks, and light fixtures. It does not damage the structure of a well-built Brevard County home, but it changes …

Do you need a permit to build a fence in Brevard County, Florida?

Yes. Unincorporated Brevard County requires a construction permit and a copy of a boundary survey before a fence goes up, and every Space Coast city reviewed here requires a permit as well.

Fences …

Can you park an RV or boat trailer at your house on the Space Coast?

It depends entirely on which Brevard County jurisdiction you are in. Unincorporated Brevard County allows a driveway RV on smaller lots. Melbourne, Rockledge, Satellite Beach, and Indialantic all push it behind the …

What is the FEMA 50 percent rule in Brevard County, Florida?

If a repair or remodel on a Space Coast home in a flood zone costs 50 percent or more of the structure's market value, Brevard County treats it as a substantial improvement, and the entire building …

What happens if the seller of a Space Coast home is a foreign person?

Under FIRPTA, the buyer of a Brevard County, Florida property generally has to withhold 15 percent of the sale price and send it to the IRS. The obligation sits on the buyer, not …

Can you trim mangroves on a Space Coast waterfront property?

In Brevard County, Florida, you can trim mangroves yourself only when they sit in a riparian mangrove fringe, stand no more than 10 feet tall, and are never cut below 6 feet. Anything beyond that needs a …

What is the Coastal Construction Control Line in Brevard County, FL?

The Coastal Construction Control Line is a state jurisdictional line along Brevard County's beaches. Build seaward of it on the Space Coast and you generally need a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on …