If you’re planning for concrete work on your residential or commercial property in Brevard County, understanding the local permitting process is just as important as the work itself. Skipping permits or missing requirements can lead to costly fines, failed inspections, and having to redo work. At Ed’s Concrete & Culverts, Inc., we’ve been navigating these requirements for our customers since 1984, and we want to help you understand what to expect before your project begins.
Why Permits Matter for Concrete and Culvert Work
Brevard County requires permits for most concrete and culvert work that touches a county right-of-way or involves drainage infrastructure. The primary purpose of this permitting process is to ensure that any work performed within county rights-of-way and easements meets current design standards and county regulations. Permits also ensure that stormwater drainage systems continue to function properly.
Unpermitted work doesn’t just risk fines. It can also jeopardize your property’s drainage, create liability issues, and complicate future sales or refinancing of your home.
Driveway Permits: What Brevard County Requires
There are two main scenarios when it comes to driveway permits in Brevard County:
Driveways Associated With a Building Permit
If you’re building a new home and need a driveway to access the property, you can apply for a right-of-way/easement permit at the same time as your residential building permit. Importantly, no certificate of occupancy can be issued until the driveway is completed and passes a final inspection. The driveway permit expires at the same time as the building permit, but can be extended if needed.
Driveways Not Associated With a Building Permit
For standalone driveway projects, such as replacing an existing driveway or adding a new one without constructing a home, the Brevard County Building Code office requires a separate right-of-way/easement permit. These permits are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance and can be extended by 6 months if requested before the expiration date.
For commercial and industrial driveways, the permit application is processed through the Public Works Department and is also valid for 12 months, with the same six-month extension option.
Culvert Requirements: Sizing, Materials, and Inspection
Brevard County has specific technical requirements when a culvert must be added to a driveway on a county road. According to the county code, the applicant must provide the pipe size, material, and invert elevations for the proposed installation, along with spot elevations at approximately 50-foot intervals along the pavement edge.
Here’s what else you need to know:
- Minimum culvert size: The county requires a minimum diameter of 12 inches and a minimum length of 20 feet for culvert installations.
- Responsibility for installation: The property owner or their contractor is responsible for installing the culvert, all catch basins, headwalls, riprap, and any other necessary work as determined by the Public Works Department.
- Ongoing maintenance: Once the work is complete, the property owner is responsible for maintaining all private improvements within the right-of-way associated with a driveway permit. This includes the culvert and any end treatments.
Ed’s Concrete & Culverts installs culvert pipes in concrete, metal, and durable ribbed plastic. We can handle the headwalls and mitered ends required to meet county specs.
Inspections and As-Built Drawings
For commercial work, Brevard County requires three surveyed, certified as-built drawings to be submitted at least five working days before scheduling a final inspection. These must be signed and sealed by the engineer of record. Residential projects also require pre-pour and final inspections before the permit can be closed out.
If a final inspection is requested before the site is ready, or if required benchmarks are disturbed, an additional re-inspection fee will apply.
Let Us Handle the Hard Part
Navigating permits, meeting technical specifications, and coordinating inspections can feel overwhelming, especially for a first-time project. That’s where an experienced contractor makes all the difference.
Ed’s Concrete & Culverts, Inc. is licensed and insured to work throughout Brevard County, including Melbourne, Palm Bay, and West Melbourne. We’ve been solving concrete and culvert problems for homeowners and businesses since 1984, and we know exactly what Brevard County requires to get your project done right the first time.
Ready to get started? Contact us to request a free quote online, and we’ll respond within 24 hours.