Do You Need a Permit for Pavers in Brevard County? A City by City Guide

Here's the short answer most homeowners don't hear: in Brevard County, there isn't one permit office. Each city runs its own building department. If you live in Melbourne, Palm Bay, Rockledge or one of the beach towns, your city handles it. If you live in an unincorporated area like Viera, Suntree or Merritt Island, Brevard County handles it.

That matters because the rules for a paver driveway change the moment your project crosses your property line and touches the strip between your yard and the street. That strip is usually public right of way.

The Part of Your Driveway You Don't Own

On most Brevard lots, the last few feet of driveway, the apron that meets the road, sits in city or county right of way. Cities care about that strip because they may need to dig it up for water lines, drainage or road work. When the apron is pavers instead of plain concrete, many cities want extra paperwork first.

Rockledge

The City of Rockledge building department asks for a permit application and a survey or site plan that shows the existing and proposed driveway. If any work happens in the right of way, Public Works has to approve it. For pavers in the right of way, Rockledge requires approval from the City Manager. Larger jobs also need a recorded Notice of Commencement. You can read the city's own checklist on the Rockledge residential permit page.

Palm Bay

Palm Bay runs driveway permits through its Public Works Right of Way Services, Driveway Permit Section, on Malabar Road. The city's fee schedule lists a separate driveway permit for replacing or revising an existing driveway, so a concrete to paver swap still goes through the city. Palm Bay also splits driveways by drainage type: lots with an open swale and pipe, and lots with curb and gutter. We cover why that matters in our guide to Palm Bay driveways, swales and culverts.

Melbourne Beach

The Town of Melbourne Beach uses a Right of Way Driveway Covenant for driveways built from anything other than broom finished concrete or asphalt. Pavers fall into that group. The covenant spells out who handles the driveway if the town ever works in its right of way.

Melbourne and the Other Cities

Melbourne, West Melbourne, Satellite Beach, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach and Titusville each set their own requirements. The pattern is similar across the county: a site plan, a permit for the work, and extra review if pavers go into the right of way. Rules get updated, so we check the current requirements with the city before every job.

Unincorporated Brevard: Viera, Suntree, Merritt Island

If your address isn't inside a city limit, Brevard County Planning and Development is your permit office. Many unincorporated neighborhoods also have an HOA with its own approval process, and that approval usually comes first. If you're in Viera, read our Viera HOA paver approval guide.

Who Should Pull the Permit?

Ask this before you sign anything. The contractor doing the work should know which office covers your address, what that office wants on the site plan, and whether your apron needs right of way approval. If a contractor tells you no permit is ever needed for a driveway, get that in writing and call the city yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to replace my concrete driveway with pavers?

In many Brevard cities, yes. Palm Bay, for example, lists a permit for replacing or revising a driveway. Check with your city or ask your installer to confirm before work starts.

Does a backyard paver patio need a permit?

It depends on the city and the project. A patio that stays on your property is usually simpler than a driveway that reaches the road, but some cities still review it. Your HOA may also want to approve it.

What happens if the city digs up pavers in the right of way?

That's exactly what the covenants and agreements cover. In many cities, the homeowner is responsible for the pavers in that strip. Ask your installer to set aside extra pavers from your job so a future repair matches.

Get a Real Price for Your Project

Alliance Pavers of Brevard is a Melbourne paver company. We walk your site, measure, and give you a written scope and price. See our driveway pavers page, browse real Brevard jobs, or send us your project details to get your price.