Attorneys Serving Palm Bay, Florida

Palm Bay warns buyers and sellers that unpaid water and sewer charges create a lien under section 159.171, Florida Statutes, even though that lien is not recorded in the public records.

The statute gives this lien the same priority as property taxes, and a lien delinquent for more than 30 days may be foreclosed like a mortgage. The city holds new owners responsible for any unpaid water or sewer charges at transfer, so a search for unrecorded utility liens before closing is a sensible step.

Palm Bay requires developed properties to connect to city sewer or water when those lines are readily available, and connection to central sewer is also governed by section 381.00655, Florida Statutes. The City Council approved the mandatory connection ordinance on November 2, 2023, and the Utilities Department notifies affected owners in writing in phases. An owner has one year from the date of that written notice to complete the connection.

For new construction in a Palm Bay flood hazard area, the Building Department asks for a signed and sealed survey showing elevations in the NAVD88 datum before the permit. An Elevation Certificate marked building under construction is due after the slab is poured and before any vertical work begins.

A final Elevation Certificate with photos and a final survey is required at completion, and an owner may also seek a FEMA Letter of Map Revision based on fill to remove the building from the Special Flood Hazard Area.

As of October 2026, the Mayor of Palm Bay is Rob Medina, who is serving his second consecutive term, which runs from November 2024 to November 2028. The Mayor is one of the five members of the Palm Bay City Council. The Mayor's office at City Hall, 120 Malabar Road SE, can be reached at 321-952-3414.

As of October 2026, the members of the Palm Bay City Council are Mayor Rob Medina, Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe, Councilman Mike Hammer, Councilman Chandler Langevin and Councilman Kenny Johnson. The city's council page shows the terms for Seat 4 and Seat 5 beginning in November 2026, so the November 3, 2026 election results should be checked against the City Clerk's records. All council members share the City Council office line at 321-952-3414.

As of October 2026, the Palm Bay City Manager is Matthew Morton, with Brian Robinson and Jason DeLorenzo serving as Deputy City Managers. The City Manager is one of three charter officers, is appointed by the City Council and runs daily operations under the council manager form of government. The office can be reached at 321-952-3400 or Citymanager@palmbayfl.gov.

Palm Bay City Council meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of each month, except in June, starting at 6 p.m. Meetings take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 120 Malabar Road SE, and are open to the public. Anyone who plans to show electronic media while addressing the Council must give the file to the City Clerk at least 48 hours before the meeting.

The Palm Bay City Clerk's Office accepts public records requests online, by phone, in person, by mail or by email. The online portal, run on GovQA, lets a requester open an account to track the request, and a request may also be made without giving a name. Questions go to the Office of the City Clerk at 321-952-3414.

Palm Bay Utilities provides city water and sewer, and service is started, stopped, transferred or suspended through the residential application for service. Under city ordinance, a new customer either pays the required deposit or requests a credit screening for a $5 fee, and some customers qualify for a reduced or waived deposit. Deposits are refunded after 36 months of timely payments, and the solid waste deposit is $30.

Palm Bay utility bills can be paid at any hour through the city's InvoiceCloud customer portal or by phone at 321-733-3069. Since June 22, 2026, card payments carry a fee of 3.5 percent with a $2.95 minimum, and electronic check payments carry a flat $1.95 fee. Autopay, scheduled payments and paperless billing are set up through the same portal, and Customer Care answers questions at 321-952-3420.

Palm Bay bills residents for Republic Services trash collection and the city stormwater fee through the Utilities Department. Customers who were billed quarterly received their last quarterly bill on April 23, 2026 and moved to monthly billing with the first monthly bill on July 23, 2026. Billing questions go to Utilities at 321-952-3420, and stormwater questions go to Public Works at 321-952-3437.

Republic Services collects trash and recycling in Palm Bay under a city contract, and the residential charge listed by the city is $31.01 per month. Carts come in 35, 65 and 95 gallon sizes, and a cart exchange through Republic Services at 321-989-6030 carries a one time fee. Since October 1, 2025, Republic no longer empties extra carts that are not registered, so extra carts are registered with the Utilities Department at 321-952-3420.

Palm Bay requires yard trash to be kept in reusable containers, and plastic or paper bags are not accepted. Limbs under 6 inches across are cut to 4 foot lengths, while thicker pieces are cut to 2 foot lengths. Piles too large for the standard truck are noted for a claw truck, usually within 1 to 3 days, and debris left by hired landscapers is the landscaper's job to remove.

Palm Bay Code Compliance takes complaints through the city's iMS online portal, and residents who need help can visit the office at City Hall, 120 Malabar Road SE, or call 321-952-3430.

The complainant's name and address are required because state law since July 1, 2021 bars investigations based on anonymous complaints. Each request is sent to the officer assigned to that area, and a closed status online does not always mean the case itself is resolved.

The Palm Bay Police Department's automated line for calls that are not emergencies is 321-952-3456. Emergencies should always be reported by calling 911. Police headquarters is at 130 Malabar Road SE, next to City Hall.

The Housing and Community Improvement Division of the Palm Bay Growth Management Department runs programs for low and moderate income residents.

Its funding comes from the federal Community Development Block Grant and Neighborhood Stabilization programs, HOME funds through the Brevard County HOME Consortium, and the state SHIP program. The division is in the City Hall Annex on the second floor at 120 Malabar Road SE and can be reached at 321-726-5633.

Palm Bay hears code violation cases before a Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Board and a separate Special Magistrate, both of which decide alleged violations of the City Code of Ordinances.

The Board meets on the second Wednesday of each month and the Special Magistrate on the third Wednesday, both at 1 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Under section 162.11, Florida Statutes, a final order may be appealed to the circuit court within 30 days.