Screened Lanai Addition in Brevard County, FL

A screened lanai (covered outdoor living space with screen walls) is one of Brevard County's most beloved home features. It extends your usable living space, keeps bugs out, blocks afternoon storms, and creates a perfect spot for entertaining. Brevard's climate means a properly-built lanai is used 8-10 months a year.

Lanai vs Patio vs Pool Cage

Lanai = covered porch with screen walls (usually attached to the house). Patio = uncovered hardscape (concrete or pavers). Pool cage = larger screen enclosure typically wrapping the pool. Some homes combine - covered lanai connected to a screened pool cage.

Cost of Lanai Addition

Adding a screened lanai to existing patio: $5,000-15,000 depending on size. New construction lanai (concrete slab + roof + screen + electrical): $25,000-60,000. Premium lanai with solid roof and outdoor kitchen: $50,000-150,000+.

Roof Options

Solid roof (real roof structure tied into house): most expensive ($15-50K just for roof), best weather protection, real shade. Polycarbonate panels (translucent solid panels): mid-range, lets light through, keeps rain out. Pergola with cover (lattice/wood structure): cheaper, decorative shade, some weather protection. Screen-only "roof": cheapest but minimal shade.

Florida-Specific Considerations

Hurricane code applies - frames must be engineered for wind load. Salt-air coastal homes need premium aluminum and stainless fasteners. Drainage must direct water away from the house. Electrical for lighting and fans requires GFCI protection because of moisture.

Lanai Code, Wind and Permit Questions

Does a screened lanai addition need engineering in Brevard County?

Yes in practice. A new lanai or screen enclosure is a structure under the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), so the permit set normally includes drawings or an engineered design showing the frame, fasteners and connections are sized for the site's design wind speed and exposure. Coastal lots need corrosion-resistant fasteners and framing details. Ask for the sealed drawings and the permit number before work starts, and confirm the final inspection is passed before the last payment.

Should a lanai be scheduled around hurricane season?

It helps. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 (NOAA National Hurricane Center), and summer brings daily afternoon storms, so slab pours, roof tie-ins and screen installation are easiest to keep on schedule outside the peak months. If work does run into the season, ask how an unfinished frame or open roof tie-in will be secured if a storm watch is issued.

Can I pull the permit for a lanai myself?

Florida's owner-builder exemption in section 489.103(7), Florida Statutes lets an owner act as their own contractor on a one- or two-family home they occupy, but the owner must directly supervise the work on site and takes responsibility for meeting code, and selling or leasing within 1 year of completion creates a presumption the work was done for sale or lease. Most homeowners hire a contractor for an engineered structure like a lanai, but check any contractor's license on the DBPR license lookup first.

Who issues the permit for a screened lanai addition in Brevard County?

It depends on where the house sits, not on the mailing address. Homes inside one of Brevard's 16 incorporated cities and towns, such as Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville or Cocoa Beach, are permitted by that municipality, while unincorporated areas such as Merritt Island, Viera, Suntree and Mims go through Brevard County in Viera. Look up the parcel on the Brevard County Property Appraiser site to confirm which side of a city line you are on, and see our Brevard permit guide for the documents each office asks for.