Annual Reporting:

The Building Department's monthly Building Activity Report gives an account of the permits issued and the income generated by permit activity.

2024-2025 Building Permit and Inspection Utilization Report

Beware of Unlicensed Contractors

If you are planning to build a room addition, add a second story, build a boat dock or begin other renovations on your home or property, take care to select a qualified person to perform the work. Under state and local law any person you hire under contract (verbal or written) to perform construction work on your property must be a licensed contractor. The contractor must be either state certified or registered. All printed advertisements must show his or her state license number. If you wish to check on the licensing of any individual you may contact the Department of Business and Professional Regulation at (850) 487-1395.

The following departments/agencies need to be contacted to determine if your lot is buildable:

Determine if Water or Sewer Service is Available in Your Area

• City Water / Sewer: Water/Sewer Availability

Contact Utilities Customer Service: (321) 952-3420 e-mail Customer Service

• Septic / Well Permit: Environmental Health
  
  Contact Environmental Health Services at (321) 633-2100 to find out if a septic permit and/or well permit can be obtained.

Determine if your lot is in a flood hazard area:

• Flood Information 

If your lot is in a flood hazard area (has a flood zone designation other than “x” or “x500”), you will need to obtain a floodplain permit from Land Development, prior to issuance of a building permit.

Contact Land Development at (321) 733-3042 Or e-mail Land Development

Obtain Building Permit:

• Building Permits Forms
  

After you have determined that your lot is buildable, you may review the One and Two Family Dwellings Documents Required under the Residential Forms section or the Commercial Project Documents Required under the Commercial Forms section.

At the earliest point when trash/debris is generated a trash/debris receptacle must be on-site.

Trash Containment Acknowledgement Form

For more information review: Palm Bay City Ordinance 150.30

Guidelines and requirements for constructing new single and two family residential homes.

Landscape Plan:

• Only new homes or duplexes are required to provide landscape plans.
• The landscape plan must be shown on a survey drawing.
• All proposed buildings, driveways, septic tanks, septic drainfields, pools, sheds and other construction must be shown.
• The type, size, and location of the trees to be preserved.
• The location, common names, and estimated size at planting of proposed shrubs, trees, lawn, and other living ground cover.
• The type, quantity (in square feet), and location of all non-living ground cover must be shown or listed on the plan.

Landscape Requirements for Lots Smaller than One (1) Acre:

• Four (4) trees and ten (10) shrubs. Existing trees and shrubs can be used to meet the requirements, as long as the trees and shrubs are not in easements or right-of-ways.
• A minimum of 50% of the required trees shall be native species to Brevard County.
• No trees or shrubs may be planted on or near septic systems, wells, utility lines, driveways, water bodies, easements, or right-of-ways.
• Solid sod must be used in swales and along right-of-ways.
• 100% of the lot must be covered with lawn grass or other approved living ground cover excluding the dwelling unit. Accessory structures, parking/driveways, and walkways.
• Up to 10% of the lot, less excluded impervious areas, can be covered with non-living ground cover.

Landscape Requirements for Lots Larger than One (1) Acre:

• Lots larger than one (1) acre must have six (6) trees and Twenty (20) shrubs, plus two (2) trees and ten (10) shrubs per every additional 1/2 acre. Note: The maximum required trees and shrubs for any lot larger than one (1) acres is forty (40) trees and fifty (50) shrubs.
• No trees or shrubs may be planted on or near septic systems, wells, utility lines, driveways, water bodies, easements, or right-of-ways.
• Solid sod must be used in swales and along right-of-ways.
• 100% of the developed portion of the lot must be covered with lawn grass or other approved living ground cover excluding the dwelling unit, accessory structures, parking/driveways, and walkways.
• Up to 10% of the lot, less excluded impervious areas, can be covered with non-living ground cover.
• A tree clearing site work permit must be submitted to the Land Development Division before the lot can be cleared.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does the City of Palm Bay have a required caliper dimension for planted trees?

• No, the only dimension for planted and existing trees to be counted towards the landscape requirement is that trees must be six (6) feet tall. In addition, palms must be 4 1/2 feet of clear trunk to be used for the landscape requirements.

Is a separate inspection required for landscaping?

• No, the Building Department will inspect the landscaping as part of the final certificate of occupancy inspection.

Can native vegetation, such as saw palmettos left undisturbed on a property be used towards the landscape requirements?

• Yes, the City of Palm Bay encourages those existing native trees and shrubs are left undisturbed on residential property.

If I own two lots but only build on one lot or a portion of the two lots, do the two lots have to be sodded?

• The only part of a lot that must be covered with sod, plants and trees is the disturbed area. Any portion of the property that has been cleared down to dirt must be re-vegetated.

Does a landscape architect have to prepare the landscape plans for the single-family houses and duplexes?

• No, the City of Palm Bay does not require residential landscape plans be signed and sealed by a landscape architect.