Which record system should you search?
| Authority | Record route | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
Unincorporated Brevard | BASS through county Building Permits. | Match the parcel and permit scope; ask staff about older files. |
Cocoa | Citizenserve permit search. | The city says online records cover permits issued after March 1, 2021. |
Cocoa Beach | OpenGov / Development Services. | Ask for plans and final signoff, not only application status. |
Titusville | BS&A Online. | Online records cover 2012 onward; request older permits through the Building Department. |
Rockledge | SmartGOV for current applications. | Ask staff how to retrieve a legacy BS&A record. |
Brevard County residential marine construction · Cocoa Building and Permitting · Development Services · Ldc Chapter Iv Article Ii Building Permit Application Procedures · Titusville Building Department · Rockledge Building Division and SmartGOV Portal
What if a search returns nothing?
For BASS, try only the street number and the first few letters of the street name. Leave out the direction and street type. The county says permit information can be viewed without an account.
Check that you are searching the right jurisdiction and record type. If an older file is still missing, request the records rather than treating an empty result as proof of unpermitted work.
Ask for the whole file in one clear request
- Property address, parcel identifier and known permit numbers.
- Original approved plans and any later revisions.
- Inspection history and final approval or closeout status.
- Required as-built surveys or engineering completion documents.
- Separate environmental or submerged-land authorization, where applicable.
Keep the agency’s response date and note anything it could not locate.
A records request you can adapt
Subject: Seawall and dock permit records for [address / parcel].
Please provide the approved plans and revisions, inspection history, final approval or closeout records, and any required as-built or engineering completion documents for this property. Known permit numbers: [numbers]. Approximate work dates: [dates, if known]. Please let me know if another office holds part of the file and advise me of any charges before processing.
Keep the request focused on the wall and related marine work. County, city and environmental records may be held separately.
Where can you request an older file?
| Property jurisdiction | Records contact |
|---|---|
Unincorporated Brevard / Merritt Island | Brevard Public Records Coordinator: 321-633-2071. |
Cocoa | City Clerk: 321-433-8480. |
Cocoa Beach | City Clerk: 321-868-3286; the city also links its NextRequest portal. |
For deeds and liens, use the Clerk of the Circuit Court. For parcel research, use the Property Appraiser. A permit file does not settle title or property boundaries.
Brevard County Public Records Requests · Cocoa Public Records Search · Cocoa Beach Records Request
Compare records with the existing shoreline
Ask the assessor to identify visible differences from the approved drawings: wall alignment, dock footprint, added lifts, drains and neighboring transitions. A record review does not substitute for a field inspection.
Brevard’s seawall/dock affidavit also separates permit approval from title responsibility. Resolve ownership and easements through the appropriate property records and advisers.
Seawall and Dock Affidavit · Brevard environmental permitting review process
Save a file a future owner can understand
Use clear names for the final plans, final inspections, dated photographs and paid scope. Mark unresolved questions instead of deleting them from the folder.
A transaction can then distinguish a documented repair, a proposed repair and a current observation. See the buyer guide and the seller guide.
Questions that often come next
Is an issued permit the same as final approval?
No. Keep the approved work scope and the final inspection or closeout record together. If the portal shows an open or unclear status, ask the issuing office which item remains outstanding instead of treating the application status as completion.
Can a survey replace the permit file?
A survey and a permit file serve different purposes. Compare the current layout and boundaries with the approved work and inspection history. Ask the relevant professional or records office to resolve differences rather than choosing whichever document seems more convenient.
Ldc Chapter Iv Article Ii Building Permit Application Procedures
Show sourcesHide sources
- Brevard County residential marine constructionSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Cocoa Building and PermittingSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Development ServicesSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Ldc Chapter Iv Article Ii Building Permit Application ProceduresSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Titusville Building DepartmentSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Rockledge Building Division and SmartGOV PortalSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Brevard County: How to Permit OnlineSource reviewed 2026-10-26
- Brevard County Public Records RequestsSource reviewed 2026-10-26
- Cocoa Public Records SearchSource reviewed 2026-10-26
- Cocoa Beach Records RequestSource reviewed 2026-10-26
- Seawall and Dock AffidavitSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Brevard environmental permitting review processSource reviewed 2026-10-26