Question 1

Do you need a club membership to live on the island?

Accepted Answer

No. Of the 24 neighborhoods on the island, five require club membership as a condition of ownership: John's Island, Windsor, Orchid Island, Sea Oaks and Riomar.

Question 2

Where is the Vero Beach barrier island?

Accepted Answer

The barrier island sits directly east of mainland Vero Beach in Indian River County, Florida, separated from it by the Indian River Lagoon. It runs roughly 13 miles north to south, from Ambersand Beach down to the south county line, and is reached by three bridges: Wabasso, Merrill Barber (Beachland Boulevard) and 17th Street.

Question 3

Is beachside Vero Beach the same as 32963?

Accepted Answer

Yes. 32963 covers the barrier island and only the barrier island, so the ZIP code is a reliable shorthand for a beachside address. Mainland Vero Beach uses 32960, 32962, 32966, 32967 and 32968. If a listing shows any of those, it is not on the island.

Question 4

Are the beaches on the island public?

Accepted Answer

Most of the shoreline is fronted by private property, but thirteen public access points provide free entry to the beach along the island, seven with year-round lifeguards. Under Florida law the wet sand seaward of the mean high water line is public, so you can walk the full length of the beach as long as you enter at a public access point.

Question 5

How tall can buildings be on the barrier island?

Accepted Answer

The City of Vero Beach enforces a 35-foot building height limit, protected by the city charter — any change would require a voter referendum. Indian River County zones on the island also cap height at 35 feet. A small number of older condominium buildings predate the current rules and stand taller. The limit is the single biggest reason the island still reads as low and residential from the beach.

Beachside Vero