Home Business in Sarasota, FL (2026)
4 verified home business rules for Sarasota, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
City of Sarasota allows a home occupation inside any dwelling, but caps it at 25% of combined floor area or 500 square feet, whichever is smaller, and every worker must live on site.
City of Sarasota Home Occupation Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code § VII-602(ff)(2)b
b.General use limitations. Home occupations shall be subject to all use limitations applicable in the zone district in which they are located, the following additional limitations...:1.The principal person or persons conducting the home occupation shall reside in the dwelling and all employees of the home occupation shall be inhabitants of the dwelling.2.The home occupation shall be located wit...
Signage Rules
A City of Sarasota home occupation can post no sign at all beyond the resident's name and address: no business name, logo, hours, or product sign is allowed anywhere on the property, and the rule applies in every zoning district that permits home occupations, under Zoning Code Section VII-602(ff)(2)b.5.
City of Sarasota Home Business Sign Ban
Significant RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code § VII-602(ff)(2)b.5
(ff)(2)b. General use limitations. ... 2. The home occupation shall be located within the dwelling or an accessory building thereto, and does not exceed 25 percent of the total gross combined floor area of the buildings or 500 square feet, whichever is less. 3. The home occupation shall not alter the outside appearance of the dwelling unit. 4. There shall be no displays, or sale of merchandise ...
Customer Traffic Restrictions
A City of Sarasota home occupation can't generate more vehicle traffic than the house would produce without the business, and can't require any extra on-site parking beyond what the dwelling unit normally uses; violate either limit and the business loses its accessory status under Zoning Code Section VII-602(ff)(2)b.8-9.
City of Sarasota Home Occupation Traffic Rule
Some RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code § VII-602(ff)(2)b.8-9
(ff)(2)b. General use limitations. Home occupations shall be subject to all use limitations applicable in the zone district in which they are located, the following additional limitations, and such limitations which may be imposed by the director of neighborhood and development services: ... 8. No traffic is generated by such home occupation in greater volume than would normally be generated by...
Home Daycare
The City of Sarasota permits family day care homes by right in every single-family zoning district, capped at the state's per-age headcount formula under the zoning code's definitions.
Home Daycare Zoning Rules in City of Sarasota
Light RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code §§ II-201, VI-202 (Table VI-201)
Day care, family: Family day care home means an occupied residence in which child care is regularly provided for children from at least two unrelated families and which receives a payment, fee or grant for any of the children receiving care, whether or not operated for profit. A family day care home shall be allowed to provide care for one of the following groups of children, which shall includ...
Looking for Sarasota County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sarasota city rules.
Home Business in Sarasota County →