The county handles building permits for unincorporated areas and the Town of Orchid, while the cities of Vero Beach, Sebastian, Fellsmere, and Indian River Shores operate their own independent building departments. All coastal properties are subject to strict Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) regulations and flood zone requirements due to the county's Atlantic shoreline location.
The county enforces a strict tree protection ordinance that requires permits for the removal of protected native species and specific canopy trees on private property.
How this fits with the state
The state authority here is Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.
Source · Indian River County Building DivisionLast verified · 05 / 2026