Brevard County, Florida
Sell your land in Merritt Island for cash
Parcel Buyers buys vacant lots and land for cash on Merritt Island, including bare lots in this unincorporated census place, where Brevard County issues building permits and the City of Cocoa provides drinking water service. You get a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours, and closings run through an independent title company, typically in about 10 days, with no fees or commissions.
By Parcel Buyers · · Lot figures from the 2026 Florida property tax roll · How we made this page
Quick answers
- Who buys land for cash in Merritt Island?
- Parcel Buyers is a direct land buyer that makes written, no-obligation cash offers on vacant lots and acreage in Merritt Island, Brevard County, usually within 24 hours. Sales close through an independent title company, typically in about 10 days, with no fees or commissions to the seller.
- What did vacant lots in Merritt Island sell for in 2025?
- In 2025, vacant lots in Merritt Island sold for a median of $97,000 across 26 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $51,200 to $125,000.
- How many vacant lots are in Merritt Island?
- The 2026 Florida property tax roll lists 1,049 vacant residential lots in Merritt Island; 13% are micro lots, and the median lot is 0.35 acre.
- How is a cash offer for land in Merritt Island set?
- We start from recent sales of similar lots nearby, like the 2025 prices on this page, then adjust for water and sewer, road access, flood zone, lot size and any title issues, and for the time and cost of reselling. You get one written number, not a range.
- How do I know a land buyer in Merritt Island is legitimate?
- A real buyer closes through an independent, licensed title company and never asks you to pay anything up front. We never charge sellers a fee, deposit or closing-cost advance, and the title company pays you by check or wire at closing.
- Who is buying lots in Merritt Island?
- In 2025, companies bought 38% of the vacant lots that sold in Merritt Island, including 12% bought by homebuilders. Individuals bought the rest.
- How many vacant lots in Merritt Island got a home on the tax roll in 2025?
- 132 vacant lots in Merritt Island changed from vacant-residential use to a home with new-construction evidence on the 2026 preliminary tax roll.
Local data
Merritt Island land at a glance
Tax-roll figures cover parcels whose property address city is Merritt Island, plus lots with no street address that sit in census block groups or taxing districts where nearly all addressed parcels are Merritt Island in Brevard County. Local rules and services are sourced below.
| Vacant residential lots | 1,049 parcels classified vacant residential on the 2026 tax roll [1] |
|---|---|
| Most common lot size | Micro lot (2,000–5,000 sq ft): 13% of vacant lots; next, sliver / remnant at 12%. Median lot: 0.35 acre (15,250 sq ft). [1] |
| Typical assessed value | $42,500 median just (market) value for a vacant lot; the middle half fall between $4,300 and $105,000 [1] |
| Recent lot sale prices | $97,000 median across 26 arm's-length sales of vacant lots in Merritt Island (Jan 2025–Dec 2025); the middle half sold for $51,200–$125,000 [1] |
| Who bought lots in 2025 | Companies made 38% of those purchases, including 12% by homebuilders; individuals made the rest [1] |
| Owners who live elsewhere | 21% of vacant lots have an owner mailing address outside Florida (most often CA, UT, NY) [1] |
| Unincorporated census place | The Census Bureau says census designated places are "closely settled, unincorporated communities" with no city government. This place covered 16.97 square miles of land in 2020, with 34,518 people. [2],[3] |
| County building permits | Brevard County issues building permits for new construction in unincorporated areas. A new one-family or two-family house needs a plot plan signed and sealed by a Florida land surveyor, including flood-zone notes. [4],[5] |
| Cocoa drinking water | The City of Cocoa provides drinking water here, across about 268 square miles. Its schedule lists a $1,750 single-family water impact fee when reclaimed water is not available, plus a $450 meter for a 5/8-by-3/4-inch service. [8],[9] |
| Sykes Creek sewer plant | County Utility Services runs the Sykes Creek plant on north Merritt Island. It is an extended-aeration plant permitted for 6.0 million gallons a day, and it also supplies reclaimed water for irrigation. [10] |
| North-end zoning district | Ordinance 98-64, adopted December 15, 1998, created an elected board for the unincorporated area north of the Barge Canal and south of the NASA Causeway. The ordinance says the district "shall have no operating budget." [6] |
| Stormwater utility rate | The county stormwater utility started in 1990. One equivalent residential unit is 2,500 square feet of impervious area, and a single residential unit is currently $64. [11] |
| New septic permit fees | Where sewer is not available, a new septic permit from the health department is $510, or $395 if a site evaluation is submitted, plus a $90 county density-ordinance review. [12] |
| Kennedy Space Center | Kennedy Space Center is on northern Merritt Island and covers about 139,490 acres of land and lagoon waters. NASA's functional operations area is 4,212 acres; the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manage 135,278 acres outside it. [15] |
| Vacant lots that got a home on the tax roll in 2025 | 132 recorded with new-construction evidence. [1] |
| Years of lot supply at the 2025 building pace | 7.9 years; simple ratio, not a forecast. [1] |
| Owner-type shares | Individuals 60.3%; companies 20.4%; trusts 18.8%; estates/heirs 0.3%; government/associations 0.3%. [1] |
| 2026 so far (Jan-May) | County-level for Brevard County: 358 recorded vacant-lot sales; median $40,000. [1] |
Pricing
What is a lot in Merritt Island worth?
In 2025, vacant lots in Merritt Island sold for a median of $97,000 across 26 arm's-length sales; the middle half sold for $51,200 to $125,000. [1]
These are open-market sale prices. A direct cash offer is usually lower, because a cash buyer closes in days and takes on the time and cost of reselling the lot.
See what similar lots sold for
What moves the price in Merritt Island
Micro lots lead the count, not the median
The largest size group is micro lots, at 13%, and that is not most of the vacant lots. The median lot is 0.35 acres, about 15,250 square feet, and the land runs from slivers through multi-acre tracts. The health department's quarter-acre line is 10,890 square feet. If city water loops the entire block, a lot below one-quarter acre is denied the standard septic application when block density exceeds 66 percent, though a county variance may be sought. With a well, or city water that does not loop the entire block, a lot below one-half acre faces the 30 percent threshold. Density is houses plus active septic permits divided by all lots on the block. [1],[13]
Cocoa water hookup versus a well and septic
A Cocoa water connection and a well-and-septic lot are different costs. The city supplies drinking water across about 268 square miles, but its system-wide service statement does not identify whether a particular lot has a connection. A new single-family connection lists a $1,750 impact fee when reclaimed water is not available, and a 5/8-by-3/4-inch meter is $450. Those charges appear in the city's utility impact, connection, and meter-installation schedule. If sewer is missing, a new septic permit is $510, or $395 with a site evaluation, plus $90 for the density review. The county plant at Sykes Creek is permitted for 6.0 million gallons a day, which does not mean every street has a sewer line. We check utilities, access and title on every parcel before offering. [8],[9],[12],[10]
2025 sale prices versus the tax value
Sale prices and tax values are not the same number. In 2025, 26 arm's-length single-lot sales had a median of $97,000, and the middle half sold for $51,200–$125,000. The median assessed value is $42,500, inside a wider band of $4,300–$105,000. Assessed value is what the tax roll uses; it is not a cash price. The same roll shows that 79% of vacant-lot owners have a Florida mailing address and 21% have an address in another state. [1]
Yearly bills while the lot sits empty
There is no one flat yearly fee on every empty lot. The county stormwater page lists $64 for a single residential unit and defines one equivalent residential unit as 2,500 square feet of impervious area; it does not state whether every bare lot is charged. Ordinance 98-64 says the north-end district has no operating budget and cannot borrow money. The county's current district page describes its advisory board and boundaries. The median assessed value is $42,500. Check the parcel's current tax bill for the charges that apply. [11],[6],[7],[1]
Common situations
Selling land in Merritt Island in these situations
The lot has no water or sewer hookup
Yes. A lot with no water or sewer hookup can still be sold. We buy vacant lots and land for cash, including lots with no water, sewer or road work. Cocoa supplies drinking water across about 268 square miles, and the county runs the Sykes Creek sewer plant, but neither source says a pipe reaches a particular lot. Where a future house would use septic, the permit is $510 without a site evaluation or $395 with one submitted, plus $90 for density review. A small lot may also face the county density thresholds. [8],[10],[12],[13]
You inherited it and live out of state
Yes. You can sell a lot you inherited without living here. 79% of vacant-lot owners have a Florida mailing address, and 21% have an address in another state. You can sign electronically and close by mail. Payment is by check or wire. You do not have to fly in to walk the lot for the offer. [1]
The lot is north of the Barge Canal
Yes. You can sell a lot north of the Barge Canal. The county's current page says the district covers unincorporated land north of the canal, south of the NASA Causeway, and between the Banana and Indian River channels. Its board advises the county commission on zoning and land-use matters. Ordinance 98-64 says the district has no operating budget and cannot borrow money. The county floodplain office keeps FEMA maps for unincorporated areas. The only contingency is our land inspection, and a failed inspection costs the seller nothing. [7],[6],[14]
A tax lien is already on the lot
Yes. You can still sell if a tax lien or another lien is on the lot. Liens or back taxes can be paid from sale proceeds at closing, with the seller's consent. The county stormwater page lists $64 for a single residential unit and defines one equivalent residential unit as 2,500 square feet of impervious area. Ordinance 98-64 separately says the north-end district has no operating budget and cannot borrow money. [11],[6]
Step by step
How do I sell my land in Merritt Island?
From your first message to money in hand, with nothing left out. Requesting an offer costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
See every detail of the process-
Tell us about your land
Fill out the short form (about 60 seconds) or email us. A land specialist reaches out to confirm the details, usually the same business day.
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Get your cash offer within 24 hours
We review the property and send a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. It is a real number, not a range. Take it or leave it, with no pressure either way.
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Sign electronically
If you accept, everyone signs the purchase agreement electronically. There is nothing to print or mail at this stage.
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We inspect, the title company verifies
Our team inspects the land and an independent title company runs a title search for liens or taxes owed. If the land does not pass inspection, you are never charged anything.
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Close and get paid
The title company prepares the closing documents for notarization and issues your funds by standard check, overnight check, or wire transfer. A typical sale closes in 10 days.
Questions
Selling land in Merritt Island: common questions
Can I sell my lot if it has no water or sewer?
Yes. A missing water or sewer hookup does not block a cash sale. The City of Cocoa supplies drinking water across about 268 square miles, and the county sewer plant at Sykes Creek is permitted for 6.0 million gallons a day. Neither source says a pipe reaches a particular lot. A new septic permit is $510 without a site evaluation or $395 with one submitted, plus $90 for density review. Small lots may also face the county's block-density thresholds.
How much does it cost to keep an empty lot each year?
There is no single yearly price for every empty lot. The county stormwater page lists $64 for a single residential unit and defines one equivalent residential unit as 2,500 square feet of impervious area; it does not state whether every bare lot is charged. Ordinance 98-64 says the north-end district has no operating budget and cannot borrow money. The median assessed value on vacant lots is $42,500. Check the parcel's current tax bill for the charges that apply.
What survey document is needed before building a house?
The cited county page addresses construction, not a land-sale survey requirement. A permit for a new one-family or two-family house requires a plot plan signed and sealed by a Florida land surveyor. The plan must show property dimensions, easements, the proposed building and setbacks, right-of-way elevations, drainage, and flood-zone information.
Who issues a building permit for a new house?
Brevard County does, not a city. Census designated places are unincorporated and have no city government, and the county issues building permits for new construction in unincorporated areas. A new house file also asks for a septic approval if the house will not be on sewer, and for a potable-water availability certificate. The listed application fee is $25, plus a $79 concurrency review and a $240 land-development review.
Can flood rules stop me from selling a vacant lot?
The county page addresses flood mapping and development requirements; it does not say that a flood designation bars transfer of a vacant parcel. The floodplain office keeps FEMA maps for unincorporated Brevard and identifies the Indian River Lagoon system and its tributaries as flooding sources. The county has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program since 1972. Substantial improvements to an existing structure—work reaching 50 percent of market value—must meet the requirements for new construction, including elevation rules.
What does the north-end district board do?
The county's current page says the board advises the county commission on zoning and land-use matters in the unincorporated area north of the Barge Canal, south of the NASA Causeway, and between the Banana and Indian River channels. Ordinance 98-64 says the district has no operating budget and cannot borrow money.
Owner resources
Guides for your situation
- Can You Build on a Vacant Lot?
Maybe. A vacant lot is buildable only if the proposed use fits the rules that apply to that parcel and the site can satisfy access, utility, environmental, and permit requirements. Start with the local planning or zoning office, confirm that the parcel is a legal lot, and get a written parcel-specific answer. A zoning label or tax parcel number alone is not approval to build.[1][2]
- How to Sell Land During a Divorce
Florida land can be sold during a divorce when the people with authority to convey title sign and the sale follows every applicable agreement and court order. Divorce law may treat land as marital even when only one spouse appears on the deed.[1][2] If ownership, signing authority, or the division of proceeds is unsettled, have a Florida attorney and the closing title company resolve those issues before closing.
- Can You Sell Land With a Lien?
Yes. Land with a lien can often be sold, but signing a deed does not by itself erase a valid claim. The lien may need to be paid, released, discharged, or otherwise resolved under the law that applies. With the seller's consent, an approved payoff can come from sale proceeds at closing. If the balance or lien is wrong, dispute it before closing and require proof of the cure.
More places in Brevard County
Your written offer
Get your cash offer
Four short steps, about 60 seconds. We review your property and send a written, no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. You can take it or leave it.
What happens after you send this
- A land specialist reaches out, usually the same business day, to confirm the details.
- You get a written cash offer within 24 hours: a real number, not a range.
- You decide. Requesting an offer costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
You will never be asked to pay us anything. No deposit, no processing fee, no closing-cost advance.
Nearby areas we buy
- Cocoa
6,840 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $30,000
- Rockledge
1,411 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $214,100
- Canaveral Groves
2,940 vacant lots · 2025 median lot sale $24,500
- Brevard County
48,261 vacant lots countywide
How we made this page
Parcel Buyers is a land-buying company based in Florida. We buy vacant land directly from owners and publish these local pages so owners can see what land in their area is doing before they sell, to us or anyone else. We count the tax-roll figures ourselves from state data, take local rules and fees from the official sources listed below, and use AI tools to help research and draft the text. Every number links to its source, and we update the page when the data changes.
Method and sources
Tax-roll figures cover parcels whose property address city is Merritt Island, plus lots with no street address that sit in census block groups or taxing districts where nearly all addressed parcels are Merritt Island. Source [1] is our own count of the Florida Department of Revenue's 2026 preliminary property tax roll: "vacant residential" means land-use code 000; lot sizes use the land square footage on the roll; values are the county property appraiser's just (market) value as of January 1, 2026; sale prices count only arm's-length sales of a single lot that was vacant when it sold and was still vacant on January 1, 2026 (bulk and multi-parcel deeds removed). Page updated October 5, 2026. The reviewed 2026 recorded-sale window runs from January through May 2026; unreviewed recent sales are excluded. County-level figures are used on this place page.
- [1] Florida Department of Revenue (data); Parcel Buyers (analysis), Parcel Buyers analysis of the 2026 preliminary Name-Address-Legal (NAL) property tax roll (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [2] U.S. Census Bureau, Census Designated Places (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [3] U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Merritt Island CDP, Florida (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [4] Brevard County Planning and Development, Brevard County building permits (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [5] Brevard County Planning and Development, Residential new one- and two-family residence permit (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [6] Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, Ordinance 98-64, North Merritt Island Dependent Special District (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [7] Brevard County Planning and Development, North Merritt Island Dependent Special District (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [8] City of Cocoa, Drinking water system overview (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [9] City of Cocoa, Schedule B: miscellaneous utility rates, fees, and charges (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [10] Brevard County Utility Services, Local wastewater treatment facilities (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [11] Brevard County Natural Resources, Stormwater management information and facts (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [12] Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, Onsite sewage application packet for new systems (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [13] Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, Brevard County septic density restrictions (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [14] Brevard County Public Works, Floodplain administration and local flood hazard (accessed 2026-10-05)
- [15] NASA, Final Environmental Assessment for Launch of NASA Routine Payloads (accessed 2026-10-05)