Short answer: The Indian River County Commission is the five-member board that governs Indian River County, including county services inside Sebastian such as water and sewer and solid waste disposal. Each commissioner represents a numbered district but is elected countywide, so Sebastian voters choose all five. The board meets in Vero Beach at 1801 27th Street, airs on IRCTV, and hears public comment at three points per meeting, three minutes per speaker.
Last verified: October 12, 2026, against the sources listed at the end of this page.
What does the Indian River County Commission decide for Sebastian?
The Indian River County Commission is the five-member board that sets county laws, taxes and services, so it shapes Sebastian services the county runs, from water and sewer to solid waste disposal.
The county states it plainly: the Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of Indian River County and sets the laws and policies under which the County runs (Indian River County). Inside the Sebastian city limits the work is split. The City of Sebastian runs city government from Sebastian City Hall at 1225 Main Street, while the county board sets countywide policy, including water and sewer service through Indian River County Utilities and garbage disposal through a countywide district.
Florida law gives a county board broad power. Under Florida Statutes 125.01, the board may adopt its own rules of procedure and set the time and place of its official meetings, provide parks, preserves, playgrounds, recreation areas and libraries, and provide and regulate waste and sewage collection and disposal and water supplies. For a Sebastian household on county water, rates and service rules are county decisions. Indian River County Utilities keeps a Sebastian Customer Service Office at Sebastian Corners Plaza, 1921 US Highway 1, reachable at (772) 770-5300 (Indian River County Utilities).
There is also a guard for city taxpayers. The Florida Constitution provides that property situate within municipalities shall not be subject to taxation for services rendered by the county exclusively for the benefit of the property or residents in unincorporated areas. Under that rule, a parcel inside Sebastian is not taxed for county services rendered exclusively for unincorporated areas, and section 125.01 allows municipal service taxing units for any part or all of the unincorporated area of the county.
How are county commission districts drawn and who votes for them?
Indian River County has five numbered commission districts, each commissioner must live in the district, and every seat is chosen by voters across the whole county, Sebastian included.
State law sets the frame for Indian River County. Florida Statutes 124.01 requires five county commissioners districts, numbered one to five, inclusive, and shall be as nearly equal in proportion to population as possible, with one commissioner for each, who shall be elected by the qualified electors of the county. Boundaries are fixed by the board itself, and the statute bars changing them in the 270 days before a regular general election. The Florida Constitution, Article VIII adds that commissioners serve staggered terms of four years and that one commissioner residing in each district shall be elected as provided by law.
In practice, a voter on Indian River Drive helps choose all five Indian River County commissioners, not only the one whose district covers that street. Sebastian Daily, covering the open District 2 race on Aug. 6, 2026, summed it up: eligible voters countywide may cast ballots in the race, though candidates must live in District 2 (Sebastian Daily). The commission page links a Commissioner District Map and a Find my Commissioner's District tool for anyone who wants to see which district a specific Sebastian address falls in.
The next chance to vote is close to home. For the 2026 General Election, the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections lists Sebastian City Hall, 1225 Main Street, Sebastian, FL 32958 among four early voting locations, with early voting from October 19th to 31st and Election Day on November 3rd, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (Supervisor of Elections).
Where does the commission meet, and how can Sebastian residents watch?
The Indian River County Commission meets in the County Commission Chambers on the first floor of Building A, 1801 27th Street, Vero Beach, in Indian River County.
County notices give the exact room. A notice for a hearing on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 9:05 a.m. placed it in the County Commission Chambers located on the first floor of Building A of the County Administrative Complex, 1801 27th Street, Vero Beach (Indian River County public notice). All five commissioners keep offices in that same Building A, according to the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections. The commission page links the 2026 meeting schedule, agendas, minutes and video, and committee assignments for each commissioner (Board of County Commissioners).
For a Sebastian resident who cannot attend in Vero Beach, the county broadcasts on IRCTV, the Indian River County Government Channel. The county says viewers can watch through the free Cablecast Streaming App on phones, Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV, or directly at irctv.cablecast.tv/watch-now?site=1 (IRCTV).
Accessibility is handled through the county, not Sebastian City Hall. Anyone who needs a special accommodation for this meeting must contact the County's Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator at 772-226-1223 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting (Indian River County). The same notices warn that anyone appealing a decision must ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made.
How can Sebastian residents speak at a county commission meeting?
Sebastian residents can address the Indian River County Commission at three points in a meeting, each speaker limited to three minutes unless the Chair grants more time.
The rules are on the county commission page (Indian River County). At the beginning of the agenda, time will be provided for the public to comment on any agenda related items that are not public hearings. During the public hearing section, members of the public will be invited to provide public comment once each hearing is opened. At the end of the meeting, the Board has set aside time for the public to comment on non-agenda related items. A speaker steps to the microphone and, when recognized by the Chair, shall give his or her name and address before making remarks.
| When | What can be raised | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning of the agenda | Agenda items that are not public hearings | Three minutes unless the Chair grants more |
| Public hearing, once opened | The item under public hearing | Public invited to comment |
| End of the meeting | Non-agenda items | Time set aside by the Board |
| Any time | Email or call a commissioner | Phones listed on the county site |
State law backs the right to speak. Florida Statutes 286.0114 says members of the public shall be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard on a proposition before a board or commission, although the chance to speak may come at an earlier meeting during the decision process. That matters for Sebastian residents following a county item about CR 512 or a utility extension, because the comment that counts may come at an earlier meeting in the decision process, within reasonable proximity in time before the final vote.
Contact outside meetings goes directly to commissioners. In October 2026 the county lists Susan Adams, District 1, at (772) 226-1442; Joseph E. Flescher, District 2, at (772) 226-1919; Joe Earman, District 3, at (772) 226-1433; Chairman Deryl Loar, District 4, at (772) 226-1440; and Vice-Chairman Laura Moss, District 5, at (772) 226-1473 (Board of County Commissioners). Because all five answer to Sebastian voters, any of them can take a Sebastian concern.
Which other county boards do the commissioners control?
The same five Indian River County commissioners also sit as the boards of the Emergency Services District and the Solid Waste Disposal District, special districts whose decisions reach Sebastian.
The Emergency Services District page says Ordinance 90-25 dated November 27, 1990, created the Indian River County Emergency Services District and that this Board is comprised of the 5 Indian River County commissioners. The Solid Waste Disposal District was created by Ordinance 95-01, dated June 20, 1995, and its service area is the whole county: the Indian River County Solid Waste Disposal District shares a boundary with Indian River County, Florida. Its board members are the five district commissioners, each elected by the residents of Indian River County.
| Body | Created | Commission role |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Services District | Ordinance 90-25, November 27, 1990 | All five commissioners are the board |
| Solid Waste Disposal District | Ordinance 95-01, June 20, 1995 | District 1 to 5 commissioners are the board |
| Tourist Development Council | Ordinance 1987-11, January 27, 1987 | Appoints six of nine voting members; one commissioner sits |
| Value Adjustment Board | Florida Statute Chapter 194 | Two county commissioners sit on the five-member board |
Two more county boards have direct Sebastian links. The Tourist Development Council prepares and submits to the Board of County Commissioners a plan for tourist development; of its nine voting members, six are appointed by the county board, two by municipalities and one is a county commissioner, and in 2026 Sebastian councilmember Christopher Nunn holds a municipal seat. The Value Adjustment Board, which hears property value appeals from Sebastian owners, consists of five members: two County Commissioners, one School Board member, and two citizen members.
How else can Sebastian residents take part in county decisions?
Beyond speaking at meetings, Sebastian residents can apply for county advisory boards, request a proclamation, file public records requests and read the Clerk to the Board's minutes.
Indian River County fills citizen seats on its boards and committees. Its vacancy list, Current Vacancies Updated 9/16/26, shows openings such as a Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board seat with a 3-year term and Children's Services Advisory Committee seats that require Indian River County residency (Indian River County). Applications go through the committee application linked from the commission page, which also covers how to request formal recognition from the Board by the issuance of a Proclamation (Board of County Commissioners).
The official record sits with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, whose Clerk to the Board office is in the County Administration Building, 1801 27th Street, Bldg A, at 772-226-1916 (Indian River Clerk). The Clerk also runs a Sebastian Office at 1921 U.S. Highway 1, closer to home for Sebastian residents than the Vero Beach courthouse. County general office hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, with the main switchboard at 772 567 8000 (Indian River County).
Last verified: October 11, 2026, on the Indian River County website.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Sebastian voter only vote for one county commissioner?
No. Florida Statutes 124.01 says each district commissioner is elected by the qualified electors of the county, so Sebastian voters help choose all five seats. Each candidate must live in the district for the seat.
How long can a Sebastian resident speak at a county commission meeting?
Three minutes. The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners limits remarks to three minutes unless the Chair grants more time, and speakers give their name and address when recognized.
Where can Sebastian residents vote early in the 2026 general election?
Sebastian City Hall at 1225 Main Street is one of four early voting sites listed by the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections, with early voting from October 19 to 31, 2026, before Election Day on November 3.
Can Sebastian residents watch county commission meetings without driving to Vero Beach?
Yes. Indian River County carries its government channel, IRCTV, on the free Cablecast app for phones and streaming devices and on the web at irctv.cablecast.tv, and the commission page links agendas, minutes and video.
Who handles Sebastian water and sewer bills, the city or the county?
Indian River County Utilities, a county department under the commission. It keeps a Sebastian Customer Service Office at Sebastian Corners Plaza, 1921 US Highway 1, open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, phone (772) 770-5300.
Sources
- Board of County Commissioners, Indian River County https://indianriver.gov/government/board_of_county_commissioners/index.php Used for: statement of function, public comment rules, three-minute limit, commissioner phones, chair and vice-chair, office hours
- Who Are My Representatives?, Indian River County Supervisor of Elections https://www.voteindianriver.gov/elected_officials/who_are_my_representatives.php Used for: commission districts 1 to 5 and office address 1801 27th Street, Building A
- Florida Statutes 124.01, Division of counties into districts; county commissioners http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0124/Sections/0124.01.html Used for: five districts, election by county electors, boundary changes
- Constitution of the State of Florida, Article VIII http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?submenu=3 Used for: staggered four-year terms, residency in district, municipal taxation limit
- Florida Statutes 125.01, Powers and duties http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0125/Sections/0125.01.html Used for: county powers: meeting rules, parks and libraries, water and sewer
- Florida Statutes 286.0114, Public meetings; reasonable opportunity to be heard http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0286/Sections/0286.0114.html Used for: right to be heard before a board acts
- Emergency Services District, Indian River County https://indianriver.gov/government/boards_and_committees/emergency_services_district/index.php Used for: Ordinance 90-25, board made up of the five commissioners
- Solid Waste Disposal District, Indian River County https://indianriver.gov/government/boards_and_committees/solid_waste_disposal_district/index.php Used for: Ordinance 95-01, boundary, commissioners as board
- Utilities Customer Service, Indian River County https://www.indianriver.gov/services/utilities/customer_service.php Used for: Sebastian Customer Service Office at Sebastian Corners Plaza
- Public Hearing notice, Amending County Code Ch 103 Commissions and Boards, Indian River County https://www.indianriver.gov/notice_detail_T47_R500.php Used for: Commission Chambers location, 9:05 a.m. hearing time, ADA coordinator
- Upcoming Elections, Indian River County Supervisor of Elections https://www.voteindianriver.gov/election_information/upcoming_elections.php Used for: early voting at Sebastian City Hall, Election Day hours
- Tourist Development Council, Indian River County https://indianriver.gov/government/boards_and_committees/tourist_development_council/index.php Used for: TDC membership, Sebastian municipal officer seat
- Board / Committee Vacancies, Indian River County https://indianriver.gov/government/boards_and_committees/committee_vacancies.php Used for: current vacancies list updated 9/16/26
- IRCTV Indian River County Government Channel https://indianriver.gov/irctv/index.php Used for: watching meetings on IRCTV and the Cablecast app
- Value Adjustment Board, Indian River County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller https://indianriverclerk.com/value-adjustment-board/ Used for: VAB membership, Clerk to the Board phone
- Early voting begins in open Indian River County District 2 race, Sebastian Daily, Aug. 6, 2026 https://www.sebastiandaily.com/business/early-voting-begins-in-open-indian-river-county-district-2-race-94652/ Used for: countywide voting for district seats (supplement)
- Local Business Tax Receipt Information, City of Sebastian https://www.cityofsebastian.org/188/Local-Business-Tax-Receipt-Information Used for: Sebastian City Hall address, 1225 Main Street (fact-check)
