Residential new builds

Permits and code on the Space Coast

This section collects public facts about the agencies and codes that govern a new single family home in Brevard County. It describes the jurisdictions and their published requirements, not any one builder. Each claim links to the agency page that states it; rules change, so check the current version before design begins.

Who permits a new home in Brevard County?

The answer follows the lot. Brevard County issues permits for new construction on properties in unincorporated areas, and its permit FAQ shows how to check a parcel’s Taxing District on the property appraiser’s record to learn which jurisdiction applies (Brevard County building permits, permit FAQ). A lot inside a city goes to that city’s department instead. The City of Melbourne lists new homes among the projects that typically need a permit (Melbourne building FAQ), and the City of Palm Bay publishes its own forms and an online portal for applications (Palm Bay).

What does a plan set for a new house have to include?

Requirements differ by city, so the best evidence is a published checklist. Palm Bay’s building forms for one and two family dwellings call for a digitally signed and sealed foundation plan, a truss layout and package, a full set of signed and sealed plans, plumbing and electrical riser diagrams, and proof of ownership. The same forms ask for approvals from other city departments before a permit is issued and for a recorded notice of commencement above a stated project value (Palm Bay Building Department forms). Indian Harbour Beach posts residential permit checklists and applications, which are the documents to read for a lot in that town (Indian Harbour Beach Building Department), and Satellite Beach publishes permit information of its own (Satellite Beach permit information).

Does a beachfront lot need state approval as well as a building permit?

Possibly. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection runs the Coastal Construction Control Line program, which regulates structures and activities that can cause beach erosion, destabilize dunes, damage upland property or limit public access. A control line creates a jurisdictional area with siting and design criteria that can be stricter than those for the rest of the coastal building zone, because storm forces are greater on the seaward side of a beach (Florida DEP, Coastal Construction Control Line). Whether a particular oceanfront parcel in Melbourne Beach, Indialantic, Satellite Beach or Cocoa Beach falls inside that area is a question for the department’s program staff, and the answer should arrive before a design is drawn.

How do flood zones shape the foundation of a new house?

New homes on low ground, whether on the barrier island or along the Indian River, sit under floodplain rules in addition to the building code. Brevard County states that any development in the floodplain requires a building permit under Chapter 22 of its code of ordinances, and its Public Works office publishes the current flood zone map and manages the county’s participation in the Community Rating System, which lowers flood insurance premiums for unincorporated residents (Brevard flood zone information). Satellite Beach says development there is reviewed against both the Florida Building Code and the city’s floodplain regulations, and invites contact before design starts (Satellite Beach flood insurance update).

What is the statewide legal basis?

Part IV of Chapter 553, Florida Statutes, creates the Florida Building Code, and the Florida Building Commission adopts it by rule for the design, construction, alteration, repair and demolition of buildings (Chapter 553, Florida Statutes). Product approvals matter too: Palm Bay’s forms for windows, doors, shutters and garage doors require approved products and a floor plan showing where each unit goes.

What paperwork surrounds a new house permit?

Beyond the plans, the departments publish forms. Indian Harbour Beach lists a building permit application, an owner-builder disclosure, a notice of commencement and a roof affidavit among its forms, and its Building Official handles inspections, compliance and certificates of occupancy (Indian Harbour Beach Building Department). Melbourne states that the permit holder schedules each required inspection before the next phase begins, and that its construction permit fee is based on estimated construction cost, with plan check charged as a share of the base fee (Melbourne Building Section).

Who is responsible for the permit?

Cocoa Beach states that the property owner is ultimately responsible for obtaining the permit, and that an owner may be cited if work starts without one (Cocoa Beach Development Services). Satellite Beach reviews permits in about three business days as a typical figure and allows only licensed contractors registered with the state or with Brevard County to apply (Satellite Beach permit information). Brevard County adds that owner-builders must file in person rather than online (Brevard County building permits).

Which edition of the code applies to a new home?

Melbourne notes that the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), took effect in 2024 (Melbourne building FAQ). Editions turn over on a regular cycle, and the Building Code Information System at the Florida Building Code Online site hosts the current one (Florida Building Code Online).