County guide
Brevard County and the 2030 septic rule
Most of Brevard County's lagoon side in Florida, from Titusville and Merritt Island to Melbourne, Palm Bay and the beaches, is inside the Indian River Lagoon septic program area: about 61,000 septic parcels by our count. Brevard's Save Our Indian River Lagoon program pays $6,000 to $20,000 toward an ENR upgrade, approved before work starts.
Which parts are inside
Most of east and central Brevard, from Titusville to Palm Bay and Malabar, plus Merritt Island and the beaches. Three plan areas meet here:
| Plan area | Septic parcels | Roughly where |
|---|---|---|
| Central IRL | 40,087 | South Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Palm Bay, Malabar, Grant-Valkaria |
| North IRL | 12,735 | Mims, Titusville, Port St. John, Cocoa, Rockledge, north Merritt Island |
| Banana River | 8,506 | Central and south Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach to Satellite Beach |
Counts are ours, from state FLWMI records (November 2026). Edges follow the watershed, so check your address.
The North IRL court order
In the North IRL plan area, a federal court order stopped new septic permits from July 17, 2025, and FDEP listed repairs there as needing an ENR system. On October 8, 2026 the 11th Circuit set that order aside and sent the case back to the district court, so the rules there could change again. State rules still apply: ENR for new systems since January 1, 2024, a notice about the 2030 rule at any repair permit, and the 2030 deadline. Where the case stands.
Cities and places
Septic parcels inside the program area, by ZIP code, from our count of state records (method and downloads). ZIP codes do not match city limits exactly, and in several of them only part of the septic homes are inside the line.
| Place | ZIP codes | Septic parcels inside the area | All septic parcels in those ZIPs | Plan area | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay | 32905, 32907, 32908, 32909 | 29,733 | 29,737 | Central IRL | Palm Bay |
| Merritt Island | 32952, 32953 | 7,164 | 7,164 | Banana River, North IRL | Merritt Island |
| Melbourne | 32901, 32904, 32934, 32935, 32940 | 4,723 | 6,695 | Central IRL, North IRL | Melbourne |
| Cocoa Beach | 32931 | 3,374 | 3,798 | Banana River | |
| Melbourne Beach, Indialantic | 32951, 32903 | 2,913 | 3,412 | Central IRL, North IRL | |
| Rockledge | 32955 | 1,849 | 2,511 | North IRL | |
| Malabar | 32950 | 1,697 | 1,697 | Central IRL | |
| Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach | 32937 | 1,483 | 1,666 | Banana River | |
| Micco, Barefoot Bay | 32976 | 1,454 | 1,454 | Central IRL | |
| Mims | 32754 | 1,370 | 3,086 | North IRL | |
| Cocoa | 32922, 32926 | 1,295 | 6,390 | North IRL | Cocoa |
| Port St. John | 32927 | 1,180 | 9,477 | North IRL | Port St. John |
| Grant-Valkaria | 32949 | 1,130 | 1,130 | Central IRL | |
| Titusville | 32780, 32796 | 485 | 1,848 | North IRL | Titusville |
Money for an upgrade or a hookup
Brevard's Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) program pays at least $6,000 and up to $20,000 per parcel toward an ENR upgrade, and up to $12,000 (gravity) or $24,000 (with a pump) toward a sewer connection. Approval must come before any work starts; request an application at [email protected] or (321) 633-2016. Amounts, who qualifies, what it covers and the application steps are on the Brevard septic grant guide. Our address check shows the county's grant estimate for your parcel.
The county reported an average ENR upgrade cost of more than $22,000 in 2025. See what a septic replacement costs and the calculator.
Permits and who checks
Septic permits in Brevard (repair, modification and new systems) go through the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, environmental health, under state rules. Since July 1, 2026, the office must tell you about the 2030 rule when you apply to repair, modify or replace a system. A county ordinance of October 9, 2018 separately requires advanced treatment systems (65% or more nitrogen removal) on the barrier islands and Merritt Island and on the mainland within 197 feet of the lagoon. See septic repairs before 2030.
Sewer projects
SOIRL also funds septic-to-sewer projects, including Port St. John, the Merritt Island septic phase-out and Breeze Swept. Where a project reaches your street, the county can require connection and help with part of the cost; news reports cited $12,000 in help for Port St. John. The county's quick connect grant pays up to $12,000 for a gravity connection and up to $24,000 where a pump is needed: see the Brevard septic and sewer grant guide. See the SOIRL project map.
The sales tax vote
SOIRL's money comes from the lagoon half-cent sales tax, and its renewal is on the November 2026 ballot. If it fails, grants after the current tax ends are at risk. We will update this page after the result.
Does this apply to your home?
The free address check answers in about ten seconds: inside the program area or not, septic or sewer on record, lot size and, in Brevard, a grant estimate.
Is sewer available? Ask your utility
Whether you connect or upgrade depends on whether sewer counts as available at your lot. The county lists these utility lines for that question:
| Utility | Phone |
|---|---|
| Brevard County Utility Services | (321) 633-2091 |
| City of Cocoa | (321) 433-8400 |
| City of Cocoa Beach | (321) 868-3321 |
| City of Melbourne | (321) 608-7100 |
| City of Palm Bay | (321) 952-3420 |
| City of Rockledge | (321) 221-7540 |
| City of Titusville | (321) 567-3866 |
| City of West Melbourne | (321) 837-7750 |
Fees differ by utility: compare them in what it costs to connect to sewer.
Who to contact
- SOIRL grant and sewer projects: [email protected], (321) 633-2016, brevardfl.gov/SaveOurLagoon
- Septic permits: Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, environmental health
- Official program map: FDEP OSTDS requirements map
Your address, your answer
Find out what the 2030 rule means for your home
Type your address to see if it is inside the program area, whether state records show septic or sewer, your lot size and, in Brevard, an estimate of the county grant. Free, about ten seconds.
Sources
The laws, agency documents and reports this page relies on. Rules and grant amounts change; confirm with your county before you sign anything.
- Save Our Indian River Lagoon: sewer projects and utility contacts (archived November 17, 2025), Brevard County
- Save Our Indian River Lagoon: septic system upgrades (archived March 5, 2026), Brevard County
- Florida Water Management Inventory, wastewater parcel layer, Florida Department of Health
- To cut pollution, Brevard offers more money for septic upgrades, WUSF / Central Florida Public Media
- Guaranteed money for septic upgrades in Brevard County, Onsite Installer
- Save Our Indian River Lagoon: septic system upgrades, Brevard County
- IRL sales tax referendum on the November ballot, WFIT
- Septic to sewer conversion could cost Port St. John homeowners, News 6 ClickOrlando
- ENR requirements for septic systems, BMAP tables (February 2026), Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Save Our Indian River Lagoon project map, Brevard County
Related
Brevard County septic grant and sewer connection grant
Brevard's Save Our Indian River Lagoon pays $6,000 to $20,000 to upgrade a septic system and up to $24,000 to connect to sewer. Who qualifies and how to apply.
Palm Bay and the 2030 septic rule
Is Palm Bay inside Florida's 2030 Indian River Lagoon septic area? Yes, for nearly every septic home. Sewer notices, fee waivers, grants and who to call.
Merritt Island and the 2030 septic rule
Is Merritt Island inside Florida's 2030 Indian River Lagoon septic area? Yes, about 7,200 septic parcels. County sewer zones, grants, costs and who to call.
The North IRL septic court order, and where it stands now
A federal order stopped new septic permits in the North Indian River Lagoon from July 2025. The 11th Circuit vacated it on October 8, 2026. What applies now.
What it costs to connect to sewer, utility by utility
What it costs to switch a septic home to sewer in Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Volusia, by utility: fees, owner totals, grants and payment plans.