Questions asked by the public about Florida law.
Any two adults may witness a Florida health care surrogate designation, except the named surrogate, and at least one must not be the principal's spouse or blood relative.
Yes. A business operating inside Melbourne city limits needs a city Business Tax Receipt for each location, plus a Brevard County Business Tax Receipt.
Florida documentary stamp tax on a deed is 70 cents per $100 of consideration, including any mortgage on the property, paid when the deed is recorded in Brevard County.
A Melbourne business forms a Florida LLC by filing articles of organization on Sunbiz with the Division of Corporations and paying the $125 state fee.
Melbourne homeowners apply with the Brevard County Property Appraiser by March 1, after owning and living in the home as a permanent residence on January 1.
Probate for a Melbourne resident is handled by the Brevard County Circuit Court in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, with cases filed through the Clerk's Probate Department.
A Melbourne rezoning starts with an online application to the city, then goes through public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Board and the City Council.
Brevard County code liens attach to Merritt Island property when fines go unpaid, but Florida law bars foreclosing these liens on a homestead.
Merritt Island has no city government of its own, so Brevard County commissioners and county boards decide its zoning, permits and code matters.
North Merritt Island has its own elected advisory board that reviews zoning requests in the district before they reach the Brevard County Commission.
The Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency, known as MIRA, funds projects and business incentives in four designated redevelopment zones on the island.
Before a Merritt Island rezoning hearing, the applicant posts a sign on the land and the county mails notice to owners within 500 feet.
Yes. Florida's residency rule covers the registered agent, not members or managers, so an owner in another state can form and run a Florida LLC through Sunbiz.
An owner of unincorporated land that touches Palm Bay can petition the City Council for voluntary annexation, and an accepted annexation runs with the land.
Palm Bay's Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency reached its sunset date in May 2024, so it no longer operates as an active redevelopment agency.
Palm Bay businesses apply for a city Business Tax Receipt through the iMS online portal, then obtain a separate Brevard County receipt from the Tax Collector.
Palm Bay property owners can ask the city to reduce a code violation lien by filing a Petition for Relief with the Code Compliance division.
Palm Bay requires mortgagees and trustees to register foreclosed and vacant properties online through HERA Property Registry and pay a fee.
Palm Bay lien searches are ordered online through Orange Data, the city's contracted vendor, which confirms whether a property owes money to the city.
No city receipt applies on Merritt Island, but a business there still needs a Brevard County Business Tax Receipt and a county Zoning Use permit.
