If you got a code violation notice
Read the notice for the deadline, the case number and exactly what the city wants done. If it's about tall grass, weeds or debris, the fix is mowing and cleanup, not clearing the lot.
Text a photo of the notice to (321) 604-1285 along with the parcel ID. If the deadline is close, call the code office listed on the notice and tell them work is being arranged. Only the city can move its own deadline.
Mowing is not the same as clearing
Brevard County's definition of land clearing leaves out allowable mowing, trimming and pruning. Removing or cutting down vegetation, trees included, and root-raking are land clearing, and they need a permit unless the property is exempt (s. 62-4332; s. 62-4337).
Palm Bay draws similar lines. Taking out underbrush is grubbing, and single- and two-family sites under 1 acre are exempt from the grubbing permit. Removing a tree 6 inches or more in diameter, or any land clearing on a residential lot under 1 acre, needs a permit (Palm Bay Code s. 175.014 and s. 175.015). A bush hog knocking down weeds and brush is one job. Taking the pines out is another, with its own paperwork.
Keep the work to what the notice asks for unless you're ready to clear the lot properly. If you are, see lot clearing.
For owners who don't live here
If you own a Brevard lot from out of state, all of this can be handled by phone and text. A few things make it go smoother:
- Send the parcel ID from your tax bill. Vacant lots often have no house number.
- Say where the corners are, or ask the crew to look for the survey stakes.
- Ask for photos of the finished lot by text so you can see the work.
- If a Palm Bay permit ever comes into it, the application needs an authorization letter when the applicant isn't the owner (s. 175.014).
- Ask whether the crew offers repeat mowing on a schedule, so the lot doesn't drift back.
Check the lot before the mower goes in
Overgrown sandy lots can hold gopher tortoise burrows. FWC's 25-foot rule covers clearing, grading and site prep near a potentially occupied burrow (FWC). Point out any burrows you know about, ask for a look around before work starts, and keep machines well clear.
Dumped trash, tires and old appliances turn up on vacant lots. Hauling those is extra and may need a different truck, so mention anything you know about.
In Melbourne, altering vegetation in designated occupied scrub-jay or gopher tortoise habitat needs U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval (Melbourne LDC s. 9.272).
Questions for the crew
Overgrown lots hide surprises. Settle these up front:
- Will they mow, mulch or both, and how low?
- Does the price cover hauling dumped debris?
- Can they text photos when the lot is done?
- Are any trees coming out, and if so, is there a permit?
- Is repeat mowing available, and how often?
Questions people ask
My vacant lot got a code-compliance notice. How fast can it be cleared?
That depends on the crew's schedule and the size of the job, so no one can promise a date before the lot is seen. Send the notice and the parcel ID right away. If the deadline won't work, call the code office on the notice; the city sets its own deadlines and decides on extensions.
What's the difference between bush hogging and forestry mulching?
A bush hog is a heavy rotary mower. It cuts grass, weeds and light brush and leaves the stubs. A forestry mulcher grinds brush and small trees, woody stems and all, into chips. Lots with saplings and palmetto often need the mulcher. See forestry mulching.
Do I need a permit to mow an overgrown lot?
Brevard's code doesn't treat allowable mowing as land clearing. Cutting down trees or root-raking is different and can need a permit. In Palm Bay, underbrush on single- and two-family lots under 1 acre is exempt from the grubbing permit, but removing trees 6 inches and up needs one.
I live out of state. Can this be handled remotely?
Yes. Call or text (321) 604-1285 with the parcel ID and a copy of any notice. The crew you're matched with can price it from the lot and send photos when it's done.
Will clearing help the lot sell?
A lot buyers can walk is easier to show, but whether it changes the price is a question for a local agent or appraiser. Think twice before taking trees out just to sell: the next owner may want them, and the permits would be yours.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026. General information, not legal or professional advice. Check the linked sources for the current rules.