Living in Florida's Space Coast
Riviera Isles
Riviera Isles occupies the Banana River side of central Merritt Island, reached from North Banana River Drive or from East Merritt Avenue off South Courtenay Parkway. Nearly every home here touches water, either a navigable canal or the open river. There is no association and there are no dues. Houses date from 1964 to 1989.
Riviera Isles In Merritt Island, Florida
The plat wraps around a set of canals cut back from the Banana River. East Riviera Drive is the main run, with Westport Road, South Shelter Trail, Larchmont Court, Rochelle Parkway and East Central Avenue branching off it. Coming from State Road 528 you drop south on North Banana River Drive; coming from State Road 520 you go north on Courtenay Parkway and cut east on East Merritt Avenue. Either way, the last turn puts you on water.
Eleven of twelve properties front water. Most are canal lots with a seawall, a dock and a lift already installed, and several sit directly on the Banana River itself. The canals are navigable, and the majority of these homes have no fixed bridge between the dock and open water. That is the single fact that sets Riviera Isles apart from most of the island: you can leave the slip in a tower boat without checking a clearance table.
The housing is 1960s through 1980s coastal ranch, mostly stucco over block, mostly single story, 1,596 to 3,336 square feet. A few have been taken down to the studs and rebuilt with impact windows, standing seam or metal roofing, new seawalls and hardie siding. Others still carry original layouts and original systems. The gap between those two conditions explains most of the price spread you will see on the same street.
There is no homeowners association here, no dues and no architectural review. Nothing bills you annually and nothing stops a neighbor from parking a boat trailer beside the garage. Buyers who have come from a covenant-heavy community find that liberating. Buyers who expect uniform landscaping and matched mailboxes should look at a newer plat instead. County code is the only rule set, since Merritt Island is unincorporated Brevard County.
Asking prices have run from $449,000 up past two million, with the middle around $682,500 and roughly $333 per square foot. Homes take about forty-one days to go under contract and sellers typically land within five percent of their original figure, which is a tighter result than most waterfront pockets on the island. Seawall age, dock permits and windstorm coverage are the three line items to price out before you write.
Riviera Isles At A Glance
Riviera Isles at a glance.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | East of North Banana River Drive between State Road 520 and State Road 528, Merritt Island 32952 |
| Built | 1964 to 1989, median year 1971 |
| Home size | 1,596 to 3,336 square feet, median about 1,950 |
| Bedrooms | 3 to 4 |
| Bathrooms | 2 to 4 |
| Lot size | 0.17 to 0.29 acre, median about 0.19 |
| Construction | Stucco over concrete block, ranch and coastal styles, mostly single story |
| Association | None. No dues, no board and no architectural committee |
| Utilities | Public water, public sewer |
| Price range | $449,000 to $2,175,000, median about $682,500 |
| Price per square foot | About $333 |
| Water frontage | Eleven of twelve homes on water, canal front or Banana River front |
| Boating | Navigable canals, most homes with no fixed bridges to the Banana River, docks and lifts common |
| Pools | In-ground pools on two thirds of homes |
| Streets | East Riviera Drive, Westport Road, South Shelter Trail, Rochelle Parkway, Larchmont Court, East Central Avenue |
| Gated | No |
Riviera Isles Details
No Fixed Bridges To Open Water
Most docks here reach the Banana River without passing under a fixed span. For a sailboat, a tuna tower or a flybridge, that removes the clearance math that governs so much of Merritt Island boating.
Zero Dues, Zero Architectural Review
No association exists. You answer to county code and to your own survey, not to a board. Renovate the elevation, repaint in a color you like, keep the trailer beside the house.
Launch Views From The Back Yard
The east-facing lots look across the Banana River toward the Cape. Owners watch launches, see the Vehicle Assembly Building on the horizon and track cruise ships moving in and out of Port Canaveral.
Seawalls, Docks And Lifts Already In
Most waterfront lots came with a seawall and many have a dock and a boat lift in place. That saves a permit cycle, though you should still verify the permits transferred and the seawall cap is sound.
Renovation Range Is Wide
Some homes have been rebuilt with impact glass, new roofing and new seawalls. Others are original 1970s stock. Two houses on the same canal can be six figures apart, and the difference is almost always documented work.
East Merritt Avenue Convenience
The neighborhood sits minutes from State Road 520 for the beach and the mainland, and minutes from State Road 528 for Port Canaveral and the run toward Orlando, without any of that traffic passing your door.
Homes For Sale In Riviera Isles
Current listings in Riviera Isles appear below. With only about a dozen properties trading in a typical stretch, waterfront here does not sit long once it is priced correctly.
Riviera Isles Frequently Asked Questions
Does Riviera Isles have an HOA?
No. There is no homeowners association, no dues and no architectural review committee. Merritt Island is unincorporated Brevard County, so county code and your recorded plat govern what you can build.
Can I get to open water without a bridge?
For most of the properties here, yes. The canals run out to the Banana River and the majority of these homes have no fixed bridge between the dock and open water, which is unusual on this part of the island.
How do I reach Port Canaveral by boat?
Run north on the Banana River to the Canaveral Barge Canal, then east through Canaveral Lock. The lock was built in 1964, is the largest navigation lock in Florida, is free to use, and takes roughly twenty to thirty minutes to transit.
What do homes cost in Riviera Isles?
Asking prices have spanned $449,000 to $2,175,000, with the middle near $682,500 and about $333 per square foot. Direct river frontage, canal width and the depth of the renovation drive the differences.
How old are the houses?
They were built between 1964 and 1989, with 1971 as the median. Expect stucco over block, single story ranch plans and 1,596 to 3,336 square feet, with several homes fully rebuilt inside in the last few years.
Do I need a permit to replace a dock or seawall?
Yes. Brevard County Planning and Development issues a Residential Marine Construction permit for that work, Natural Resources reviews anything touching the shoreline, and you will need a survey dated within the past 180 days.
What is the flood zone situation?
It varies by parcel and by elevation. Get a written determination rather than relying on a listing sheet. Brevard County Public Works, Floodplain Administration issues those at (321) 617-7340, along with elevation certificates.
How long does a home take to sell here?
About forty-one days to go under contract is typical, and sellers usually finish within five percent of their original asking figure. Overpriced waterfront sits, correctly priced waterfront moves.
East Riviera Drive, Merritt Island 32952
Riviera Isles is on the Banana River shoulder of central Merritt Island, south of State Road 528 and north of State Road 520, with North Banana River Drive running along its eastern edge. The plat is compact, roughly a dozen streets of quarter-acre lots, and the canals were cut perpendicular to the river so almost every lot has a straight run to open water. There is no commercial frontage inside the neighborhood.
Drive times are short in every direction that matters. State Road 520 puts Cocoa Beach about fifteen minutes east and Cocoa Village about fifteen minutes west. State Road 528 puts Port Canaveral roughly fifteen minutes northeast and Orlando International Airport around forty-five minutes to an hour west. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a straightforward run north on State Road 3.
Near Riviera Isles In Merritt Island
Considering Riviera Isles?
Buying waterfront without an association means the diligence falls entirely on you: seawall, dock permits, survey, elevation, insurance. My partner Nichole and I do that homework before you write, not after. If you want to see what is available on East Riviera Drive or the canals off it, call or text (321) 212-7676.
Exceptional luxury waterfront residence on coveted Riviera Drive, completely renovated from top to bottom in 2025/2026. Blending timeless coastal architecture with modern...
- 4 Beds
- 4 Baths
- 1080803 MLS
Experience the best of waterfront living with direct Banana River frontage and no bridges to the Intracoastal or open water! This 4-bedroom, 2-bath home offers 1,833 squa...
- 4 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1083709 MLS
Some homes simply feel like Florida. Tucked along the Banana River in Merritt Island, this corner-lot home offers DIRECT WATER ACCESS, a NEW 2025 seawall and dock, and wa...
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1084546 MLS
Welcome to 1695 N Banana River Dr, a beautifully updated and fully gated home in Merritt Island. This property features a double entrance, a 2-car attached garage, and am...
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1063281 MLS
