Living in Florida's Space Coast
Riviera Isles
Riviera Isles is a grid of east to west canals off North Banana River Drive, five recorded plats deep, laid out in the late 1960s and filled in through the 1970s. Streets like Westport Road, East Riviera Drive and North and South Shelter Road carry roughly a hundred and fifty houses. There is no association, and the canals reach the Banana River without a fixed bridge.
Riviera Isles In Merritt Island, Florida
Riviera Isles was dredged and platted the way waterfront Florida was built in the 1960s: rows of finger canals running east toward the Banana River, house lots on both banks, and a seawall at the end of every back yard. It spans five recorded plats, Unit One, a Unit One replat, Unit One Section Two, Section Two and Section Four, and together they hold on the order of a hundred and fifty single family homes.
The boat access is the whole point. These canals reach open water on the Banana River with no fixed bridge to duck under, which means a flybridge or a tall antenna is not a problem, and Port Canaveral and the ocean are a short run north. If you have been shopping Merritt Island canal homes and getting frustrated by bridge clearances, this is the plat that solves it.
The houses are period Florida and they show it. Expect single story block construction of 1,400 to 2,100 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths, two car garages, terrazzo under the carpet in some of them, jalousie era details in others, and a Florida room on the water side. Lots run about a sixth to a fifth of an acre. Renovation quality is all over the map, from untouched originals to full rebuilds with new seawalls and metal roofs.
There is no homeowners association here and no mandatory dues, which is the second reason people buy in Riviera Isles. Boats, trailers and RVs park in driveways. Fences, docks and davits are between you and the county. Confirm for any specific address whether a voluntary neighborhood association exists and what, if anything, it collects, because voluntary and mandatory are very different things at closing.
Prices have run from about $335,000 for an interior lot needing work up to roughly $790,000 for a renovated waterfront with a dock, with the middle around $560,000. The gap is not about square footage. It is about the seawall, the dock, the roof and how much of the 1968 house is still 1968. Have the seawall inspected before anything else, because it is the one repair that can rewrite your budget.
Riviera Isles At A Glance
Riviera Isles at a glance, canal by canal.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | Off North Banana River Drive at East Riviera Drive, Westport Road and North and South Shelter Road, Merritt Island 32952 |
| Jurisdiction | Unincorporated Brevard County. County code governs, with no city layer |
| Recorded plats | Five, Unit One, Unit One Replat, Unit One Section Two, Section Two and Section Four |
| Built | 1967 to 1978, with the bulk of it late 1960s |
| Home size | About 1,400 to 2,100 square feet |
| Bedrooms | Three and four, with two baths |
| Lot size | Roughly 0.17 to 0.19 acre |
| Construction | Single story concrete block, terrazzo floors in original homes, metal and shingle roofs, some Hardie siding on rebuilds |
| Association | None. The records show no association and no mandatory dues. Confirm whether any voluntary neighborhood group exists for the address |
| Water frontage | Finger canals on the Banana River, navigational, with no fixed bridges to open water |
| Docks and seawalls | Common, with condition and age varying widely. Several seawalls have been rebuilt recently |
| Pools | Some, generally added rather than original |
| Garage | Two car, with room in most driveways for a boat or RV |
| Flood | Get a written flood zone determination. Brevard County Public Works Floodplain Administration, (321) 617-7340, is the official county source |
| Utilities | Confirm water source, sewer or septic and irrigation for the specific address |
| Price range | $335,000 to $790,000, with roughly $560,000 in the middle |
Riviera Isles Details
Open Water Without A Bridge
The canals here run out to the Banana River with nothing overhead. That single detail separates Riviera Isles from a lot of Merritt Island canal neighborhoods and it is worth real money to anyone with a sailboat, a tower or a flybridge.
Nobody Tells You Where To Park
With no association, the boat trailer, the RV and the work truck live in the driveway if you want them to. County code still applies, and you should read it, but there is no architectural review committee to satisfy.
Terrazzo, Jalousies And Florida Rooms
These are late 1960s houses and the good ones wear it well. Polished terrazzo, low slung rooflines, a Florida room facing the water. Renovated examples keep that character. The ones that were remuddled in the 1990s usually show it.
The Seawall Is The Main Event
Every waterfront lot here has one and they are all roughly the same age. Some have been replaced in the last few years, some have not. Inspect it, price it, and treat a recent replacement as a genuine asset rather than a footnote.
Ten Minutes To Port Canaveral
You are close to the north end of Merritt Island. Port Canaveral, the cruise terminals and the ocean locks are a short drive or a short cruise, Cocoa Beach is minutes east, and Kennedy Space Center is up State Road 3.
Five Plats, One Neighborhood
Unit One, its replat, Unit One Section Two, Section Two and Section Four all recorded separately, which is why lot lines and canal widths are not perfectly uniform across the community. Check the survey rather than assuming the block next door matches.
Riviera Isles Price Range
These are the figures the public property records carry for homes in Riviera Isles, not current asking prices, and a single address can sit outside the band for reasons a number will not show you. Call or text (321) 212-7676 and we will price the exact home you are looking at.
Homes For Sale In Riviera Isles
Everything for sale across the five Riviera Isles plats appears below. Waterfront and interior lots list side by side here, so read each one for canal frontage, dock and seawall before you compare prices.
Riviera Isles Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a homeowners association in Riviera Isles?
No. The records show no association and no mandatory dues, which is one of the main reasons buyers look here. If a voluntary neighborhood group is active, participation is optional. Confirm that in writing for the specific address rather than assuming either way.
Can I get to open water without going under a bridge?
Yes. The canal system runs east to the Banana River with no fixed bridge, so vertical clearance is not a limiting factor. From there it is a short run north toward Port Canaveral or south along the Banana River.
Are all the homes on the water?
No. Riviera Isles has interior lots as well as canal frontage, and the price difference between the two is significant. If water access matters to you, verify the frontage and the dock rights on the survey, not from the listing photos.
What condition are the houses in?
It varies more here than in almost any other Merritt Island plat. Some are original 1968 block homes with terrazzo and older systems. Others have new metal roofs, replaced seawalls, updated siding and remodeled interiors. Inspect each one on its own merits.
What about flood zones and insurance?
Ask early. Canal front property in Brevard is commonly mapped in a flood zone, and rates depend on elevation. Brevard County Public Works, Floodplain Administration, at (321) 617-7340 is the official county source for FEMA map panels and written determinations.
How far is the beach?
Cocoa Beach is roughly ten minutes east over the causeway, and Port Canaveral is about the same. State Road 528 sits just north of the neighborhood, which is why the drive to the beaches and the port is as short as it is.
Can I park a boat or an RV at the house?
Generally yes, subject to Brevard County code, because there is no association restriction layered on top. Most driveways here were built wide with exactly that in mind. Verify current county rules for the specific setback and screening requirements.
Is this a good spot for launches?
Yes. North Merritt Island sits close to the pads, and the open sight line over the Banana River is why so many back yards here have chairs facing northeast. Launch days are a scheduling habit, not a novelty.
North Banana River Drive, Merritt Island 32952
Riviera Isles sits on the east side of Merritt Island, off North Banana River Drive, just south of State Road 528. The neighborhood is unincorporated Brevard County, so county code governs and there is no city layer to satisfy. The canals run east toward the Banana River, and the streets, East Riviera Drive, Westport Road and North and South Shelter Road, wrap the canal fingers rather than cutting across them.
The practical geography is excellent for boaters and commuters both. State Road 528 puts Orlando about an hour west and Port Canaveral a few minutes northeast. Cocoa Beach is roughly ten minutes east, Kennedy Space Center is up State Road 3, and the shopping along North Courtenay Parkway handles everyday errands. Orlando International Airport is about forty five minutes by the Beachline.
Near Riviera Isles In Merritt Island
Considering Riviera Isles?
Whether you are buying in Riviera Isles or thinking about selling here, work with an agent who is in these neighborhoods every week. My partner Nichole and I got your back. We will run the numbers on any address, tell you straight what it is worth, and handle the whole process from the first showing through the closing table. Call or text (321) 212-7676.
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