Palm Bay, FL -- Brevard County will hold three days of free tire disposal for residents April 16, 17, and 18, 2026. Each household can drop off up to 24 tires at no cost. The program is a direct response to a public health concern: discarded tires collect rainwater, and standing water is where mosquitoes breed. In a county that led Florida in locally-acquired dengue cases last year, that is not a small issue.
The drop-off event is organized by Brevard County Mosquito Control, Solid Waste Management, the Florida Department of Health, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This year’s event includes two improvements over the 2025 program: the household limit increased from 20 to 24 tires, and hours extended from 7 AM to 4 PM instead of closing at 2 PM.
Where to Drop Off Tires
Two locations are open for the three-day event. For Palm Bay residents, one is practical and one is not.
The South Area Mosquito Control station at 3 Pilots’ Place, Valkaria, sits roughly 15 to 20 minutes south of central Palm Bay. That is the location to use. The North Area Mosquito Control station at 800 Perimeter Road, Titusville, runs 50 to 60 minutes north. Both are open 7 AM to 4 PM on April 16, 17, and 18.
Bring a valid driver’s license. The license serves as proof of Brevard County residency. Tires must come off the rim. Tires on rims are not accepted. Commercial businesses are not eligible for the program.
Questions? Call Brevard County Mosquito Control at (321) 264-5032.
Why the County Runs This Program
Tires are a perfect mosquito nursery. They hold water even when tipped, the black rubber heats up and keeps standing water warm, and the curved interior makes it hard for water to drain or evaporate. A single tire can produce hundreds of mosquito larvae.
Brevard County Mosquito Control and the Florida Department of Health set up the Tire Amnesty program specifically to pull those breeding sites out of yards, vacant lots, and roadside piles before mosquito season peaks. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection provides program coordination statewide under its Tire Amnesty Program Initiative.
The Dengue Numbers From 2025 Should Get Your Attention
Brevard County recorded 35 locally-acquired dengue cases in 2025. That was 35 out of 62 statewide, making Brevard the number one county in Florida for local dengue transmission last year. These were not travel cases. People caught dengue here, from mosquitoes living here.
The Florida Department of Health -- Brevard issued both a mosquito-borne illness advisory and a full alert in July 2025. Two mosquito pools tested positive for dengue during late summer 2025. The county responded with ground and aerial spraying, but surveillance and treatment are reactive measures. Eliminating standing water and tire piles before the season starts is preventive.
As of early 2026, Brevard has logged two travel-associated dengue cases. The state continues active surveillance for West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya, and dengue. Mosquito season in Brevard runs roughly April through October, with peak breeding conditions in summer.
What Tire Disposal Normally Costs
Without an amnesty event, getting rid of old tires costs money. Florida charges a $1 fee per new tire sold under Florida Statute 403.718, which funds the state’s waste tire program. Landfill disposal for a standard car or light truck tire runs around $5 per tire. Add a rim and the surcharge jumps another $10.
Twenty-four tires at normal landfill rates would run $120 in disposal fees alone. This event covers that cost for free. Palm Bay Code Compliance handles illegal tire dumping complaints through the city’s iMS system, and Brevard County code prohibits the accumulation of solid waste on private property under Section 94-183. The free disposal event is the county offering residents a clean, legal path to get rid of tires they might otherwise leave in a yard or drop illegally.
Quick Reference
What: Brevard County Tire Amnesty Days
When: April 16, 17, and 18, 2026. Hours: 7 AM to 4 PM daily.
Where (closest to Palm Bay): South Area Mosquito Control, 3 Pilots’ Place, Valkaria. Approximately 15-20 minutes from central Palm Bay.
Where (north option): North Area Mosquito Control, 800 Perimeter Road, Titusville. Approximately 50-60 minutes from Palm Bay.
Limit: 24 tires per household. No tires on rims. No commercial businesses.
Bring: Valid driver’s license (proof of residency).
Cost: Free.
Questions: Brevard County Mosquito Control, (321) 264-5032.
