Brevard County ADU Rules (2026)

Brevard County (Space Coast) ADU rules, permit process, and coastal considerations.

By Andy West

Brevard County ADU Rules (2026) — quick facts

Maximum ADU size
800 sq ft OR 50% of primary dwelling
Minimum lot size
7,500 sq ft in most residential zones
Short-term rental allowed?
No — 30-day minimum typical
Owner-occupancy required?
Yes
Current ordinance status
Existing Code governs; local policy interest remains
Typical permit timeline
10–14 weeks

Detailed rules

Size and lot requirements

  • Max ADU size: 800 sq ft OR 50% of primary dwelling
  • Min lot size: 7,500 sq ft in most residential zones

Setbacks

Rear: 10 ft; Side: 7.5 ft

Parking

1 additional space

Permit process

Permit office
Brevard County Planning & Development
Phone
(321) 633-2070
Online portal
https://www.brevardfl.gov/PlanningAndDevelopment
Typical timeline
10–14 weeks
Typical fees
$1,700–$3,200 total

Cities in Brevard County ADU Rules (2026)

Incorporated cities may have rules that differ from the county. Click a linked city for its specific ordinance.

  • Melbourne
  • Palm Bay
  • Titusville
  • Cocoa
  • Cocoa Beach
  • Rockledge
  • Satellite Beach
  • Merritt Island — Merritt Island is unincorporated but has a distinct community identity.

Brevard County, Florida’s Space Coast, has the clearest economic case for ADUs in our coverage area. The surge in aerospace employment tied to Kennedy Space Center, Blue Origin, SpaceX, and the supporting contractor base has pushed rents and home prices up faster than most Central Florida counties, and workforce housing pressure is an active political concern.

County leadership has expressed interest in ADUs as a middle-housing tool, but Florida’s 2026 ADU preemption bill (SB 48) did not become law, so any change to Brevard’s rules would now proceed through the county’s own ordinance process rather than state mandate. The existing Code of Ordinances remains the operative rule. See the Florida ADU law pillar (or in Spanish) for the statewide legal picture and the SB 48 post-mortem for the legislative record.

Coastal and base-proximity considerations

Brevard’s coastal parcels face the same flood zone elevation requirements as Volusia’s. Patrick Space Force Base and the Cape Canaveral security zones impose additional height and structural setbacks near the coast. For inland parcels in Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, and the unincorporated mainland, ADU construction is substantially simpler.

Palm Bay has seen higher pre-application inquiry volume related to workforce housing. Expect some queue pressure at the permit office, but no state-law-driven deadline is forcing homeowners to act in any particular quarter.

Primary sources