Barefoot Bay: roughly 4,900 homes on 1,500 acres in unincorporated south Brevard County, three miles south of our dock.
Quick answers
- What county is Barefoot Bay, FL in?
- Brevard County — unincorporated south Brevard — even though the mailing address is Micco or Sebastian, FL 32976 and Sebastian sits in Indian River County.
- Is it a 55+ community?
- Yes. At least one occupant must be 55 or older to buy or rent, under the federal 80/20 rule. Day guests can be any age.
- What do homes cost?
- Most manufactured homes on owned land trade between roughly $60,000 and $260,000; leased-land units cost less up front but carry a ~$700–$800 monthly ground lease.
- Is there a golf course?
- Yes — Barefoot Bay Golf Course, an 18-hole executive course designed by Joe Lee, with a pro shop (772-664-3174) open to non-residents on daily fees.
- How far is the beach?
- About 15 minutes by car to the barrier-island beaches and 20–25 minutes to Sebastian Inlet State Park.
Barefoot Bay at a glance
| County | Brevard County, Florida (unincorporated, south end) |
|---|---|
| Mailing city / ZIP | Barefoot Bay / Micco / Sebastian, 32976 |
| Governance | Barefoot Bay Recreation District (BBRD) — bbrd.org, elected board of trustees |
| Size | ~4,900 homes on roughly 1,500 acres |
| Population | ~9,000–10,000 residents (seasonal swing) |
| Age restriction | 55+ community (federal 80/20 rule) |
| Distance from us | 3 miles south on US-1 (about 6 minutes) |
| Nearest interstate | I-95 exit 156 (Fellsmere/Sebastian) or exit 173 (Palm Bay) |
Which county is Barefoot Bay in?
This is the single most-asked question about the place, and the answer trips up mail carriers, insurance agents and homebuyers alike.
Barefoot Bay is in Brevard County — the south end, unincorporated, just above the Indian River County line. But the postal address is Micco or Sebastian, FL 32976, and Sebastian is in *Indian River County*. So residents pay Brevard County property taxes, vote in Brevard elections, are served by Brevard County Sheriff's Office and Brevard County Fire Rescue, and hold Brevard library cards — while their driver's license says Sebastian.
Practical consequences worth knowing before you buy:
- · Property taxes, homestead exemption and permits: Brevard County.
- · Voter registration and school zoning: Brevard County — Brevard Public Schools.
- · Closest hospital, however, is Sebastian River Medical Center in Indian River County (about 12 minutes).
- · Two counties means two sets of alerts in hurricane season. Follow Brevard County Emergency Management for evacuation zones.
The neighborhoods inside the gates
Barefoot Bay isn't one uniform grid — locals talk in units and landmarks:
- · Barefoot Boulevard corridor — the spine. Buildings A through E (administration, pub, halls) sit along it, so these streets are the most walkable to amenities.
- · The lake units — homes fronting the community's interior lakes. Quietest streets, best sunsets, and the highest resale premiums inside the community.
- · The canal / marina side — homes near the C-54 canal, prized by boat owners for direct access to the Indian River Lagoon.
- · The golf-course frontage — homes along the 18-hole course; expect early-morning mowers and afternoon carts.
- · The eastern units toward US-1 — cheapest entry point, closest to the highway, easiest for commuters and shoppers.
Amenities
- · 2 pools (one heated)
- · Barefoot Bay Golf Course — see below
- · Pickleball courts — leagues, ladder play and clinics; the busiest amenity in season
- · Tennis courts
- · Shuffleboard, bocce, horseshoes
- · Community theater and multiple halls for clubs (over 100 clubs run in season)
- · Building A pub — karaoke, trivia and live music
- · Marina and boat ramp on the C-54 canal — Indian River Lagoon access
- · Community garden, dog park, fitness room, library
The golf course
Barefoot Bay Golf Course is an 18-hole executive course designed by Joe Lee, located in Micco right inside the community. Small greens and a tight routing make it a shot-making course rather than a driver course — locals will tell you it's more demanding than "executive" suggests.
- · Pro shop / tee times: 772-664-3174 — call up to three days in advance.
- · Open to non-residents. The course sells both resident memberships and non-resident "associate" memberships (single and family, with trail fees for cart owners), plus daily green fees — so guests staying with us can play without knowing anybody inside the gates.
- · Annual memberships have run roughly $900–$1,000 single / $1,300–$1,500 family for residents, with non-resident associate rates a couple hundred dollars higher. Rates change yearly — confirm with the pro shop.
- · Winter (December–April) mornings book out; afternoons in summer are wide open and cheap.
Home types and prices
Barefoot Bay is predominantly manufactured and mobile homes, with a mix of ownership structures — this is the part buyers most often misunderstand.
| Type | Typical size | Typical price range |
|---|---|---|
| Older 2/1 mobile, land included | 700–950 sq ft | ~$60,000–$110,000 |
| Updated 2/2 manufactured, land included | 1,000–1,300 sq ft | ~$120,000–$230,000 |
| Lake-front or golf-front, renovated | 1,100–1,400 sq ft | ~$180,000–$260,000 |
| Leased-land units | varies | Lower purchase price + monthly ground lease |
- · Homes on owned land carry the BBRD annual assessment (a district recreation fee per home, in the several-hundred-dollars-per-year range — check bbrd.org for the current adopted assessment).
- · Homes on leased land cost far less up front but carry a monthly ground-lease payment that can approach $700–$800 and typically bundles land, amenities and some services.
- · Cash sales dominate — many lenders won't finance older manufactured homes, and that shapes the whole market.
- · Insurance, not price, is the real budget question. Get a wind-mitigation quote before you go under contract, and ask about the roof-over and tie-down history.
- · Use an agent who actually closes in Barefoot Bay; the district's rules, lease structures and inspection quirks are unlike standard Brevard resales.
Rentals
Seasonal rentals inside the community exist but are limited and rule-bound: the district sets minimum lease terms and requires registration of tenants, and at least one occupant generally must meet the 55+ requirement. Snowbirds who want short-term flexibility (a week, a month, a family visit) usually rent outside the gates — which is how most of our winter guests end up with us three miles north.
Getting around: transportation
- · US-1 runs along the community's east side — 6 minutes to us, 12 minutes to Sebastian, 25 minutes to Melbourne.
- · I-95: exit 156 (Fellsmere/Sebastian) to the south, exit 173 (Palm Bay) to the north — both about 15–20 minutes.
- · Golf carts are a normal way to move around inside the community; interior streets are low-speed.
- · Public transit: Brevard County's Space Coast Area Transit serves south Brevard, including a route along the US-1 corridor and door-to-door paratransit for eligible riders. Service is limited compared with a city — most residents drive.
- · Airports: Melbourne Orlando International (MLB) ~35 min · Orlando International (MCO) ~1 h 20 · Vero Beach (VRB) ~30 min · West Palm Beach (PBI) ~1 h 45. See our airports guide.
- · Brightline passes through Grant with three crossings but does not stop here; the nearest stations are West Palm Beach and Orlando.
- · Boating: the marina and ramp on the C-54 canal put you in the Indian River Lagoon; from there it's about 5.4 miles to the Sebastian Inlet sandbar.
Who lives there
Median age inside the gates is in the low 70s. Roughly a third of residents are Canadian snowbirds — Québécois French is commonly heard in season — with the balance split between full-time retirees, Midwest and Northeast snowbirds, and a growing group of remote-working 55–65-year-olds. Population swings noticeably between January and July.
Visiting: guest access
Guests are welcome when accompanied by a resident or holding a guest pass issued through their host. If you're staying with us and know someone inside, ask them for a pass — you can use the pools, pickleball and pub. Without a resident host, plenty is still open to you:
- · Barefoot Bay Golf Course — daily green fees, no residency required.
- · The C-54 canal ramp area at the marina end.
- · Public-facing events: the craft fair, holiday markets and open pub nights.
Everyday services nearby
- · Publix (Micco) — 5 min, full grocery
- · Winn-Dixie (Micco) — 6 min
- · Ay Jalisco — family Mexican, 6 min
- · Whitey's Bait & Tackle — 5 min
- · Sebastian River Medical Center — 12 min, ER and urgent care
- · Sebastian's Riverview Park, restaurants and marinas — 15 min
Why this matters for our guests
For snowbirds and winter visitors at Sunrise on the River, Barefoot Bay works as an amenity extension: golf, pickleball, pool, live music and a peer group three miles down US-1 — while you stay waterfront with a private dock, kayaks and a dog-friendly house. Many winter guests rebook year after year specifically because of friendships made inside the gates. More context: snowbird guide · nearby communities · Grant-Valkaria area guide · nearby beaches · best fishing spots at Sebastian Inlet.
Want to see the house that's three miles north? Start with the waterfront rental on the Indian River , walk through the photo gallery, read guest reviews, and message us about winter dates.
More from the river: wintering in Grant-Valkaria: a snowbird's month-by-month guide · watching a rocket launch from the Indian River · travel-nurse housing on the Space Coast
Frequently asked
What county is Barefoot Bay, FL in?
Barefoot Bay is in unincorporated south Brevard County, Florida, even though its mailing address is Micco or Sebastian, FL 32976 and Sebastian itself sits in Indian River County. Property taxes, sheriff, fire rescue and schools are all Brevard County.
Is Barefoot Bay the same as Micco or Sebastian?
No. Barefoot Bay is a 55+ community with a Micco/Sebastian 32976 mailing address. Micco is the adjacent unincorporated Brevard community, and Sebastian is a separate city across the county line in Indian River County.
Who runs Barefoot Bay?
The Barefoot Bay Recreation District (BBRD), a special district governed by an elected board of trustees. It funds and operates the pools, golf course, halls, marina and other amenities through an annual assessment on homes.
How much do homes cost in Barefoot Bay?
Most manufactured homes with owned land trade in the $60,000 to $260,000 range depending on age, size, condition and whether the lot is lake- or golf-front. Leased-land units sell for much less up front but carry a monthly ground lease that can approach $700 to $800.
Does Barefoot Bay have a golf course?
Yes — Barefoot Bay Golf Course, an 18-hole executive course designed by Joe Lee, located in Micco inside the community. Call the pro shop at 772-664-3174 for tee times up to three days ahead; non-residents can play on daily fees or associate memberships.
Can non-residents play the Barefoot Bay golf course?
Yes. The course offers daily green fees and non-resident associate memberships in single and family tiers, so visitors staying nearby can play without a resident sponsor.
Do I need to be 55 to visit Barefoot Bay?
No — day guests of a resident can be any age. To purchase or rent a home, at least one occupant must be 55 or older under the federal 80/20 housing-for-older-persons rule.
How do I get a guest pass for Barefoot Bay?
Guest passes are issued through a resident host, either directly or at the district office on entry. They are free but require the resident's information.
Can I bring a dog to Barefoot Bay?
Yes, the community is pet friendly, with a dedicated dog park and dog-walking common on the low-speed interior streets.
Is there public transportation in Barefoot Bay?
Brevard County's Space Coast Area Transit serves the south Brevard US-1 corridor and offers paratransit for eligible riders, but service is limited. Most residents drive, and golf carts are common inside the community.
How far is Barefoot Bay from the beach and Sebastian Inlet?
About 15 minutes by car to the barrier-island beaches and roughly 20 to 25 minutes to Sebastian Inlet State Park. By boat from the C-54 canal it is about 5.4 miles down the lagoon to the Sebastian Inlet sandbar.
Where can visiting family stay near Barefoot Bay?
Short-term rentals inside the gates are limited and rule-bound, so most visiting families rent nearby. Sunrise on the River is three miles north on US-1 in Grant-Valkaria, sleeps 8, is dog friendly and has a private dock on the Indian River.