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Sign Regulations in Sarasota, FL (2026)

4 verified sign regulations for Sarasota, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Political Signs

City of Sarasota caps political campaign signs at 16 square feet in residential zones and 32 square feet in commercial or industrial zones, displayable 90 days before an election through 21 days after.

City of Sarasota Political Sign Limits

Some Restrictions

Sarasota Zoning Code § VII-106(a)(16)

Political campaign signs announcing candidates seeking public political office and other data pertinent thereto shall be permitted up to a total area of 16 square feet for each premises in a residential zone and 32 square feet in a commercial or industrial zone. These signs shall be confined within private property. These signs may be displayed 90 days prior to and 21 days after the election fo...

Digital Billboards

Electronic message boards in City of Sarasota office and commercial zones must auto-dim, capping brightness at 5,000 nits by day and 500 nits at night, and are banned entirely from the CT downtown zone.

City of Sarasota Digital Sign Limits

Some Restrictions

Sarasota Zoning Code § VII-110(18)

All electronic message boards shall come equipped with functioning automatic diming technology that allows the nit level to be controlled by sensor or timer that will change the intensity automatically (nits are a unit measurement of luminance and are the standard measure of brightness for electronic signs and devices).c.Electronic message boards shall not exceed a maximum illumination of 5,000...

Window Signs

In the CT tourist-commercial district covering St. Armands Key, City of Sarasota zoning caps window signs at 20 percent of the total window and glass area, plus a permanent address exempted from that limit.

Sarasota Window Sign Coverage Cap

Some Restrictions

Sarasota Zoning Code § VII-110(16)f

Such signs shall cover no more than 20 percent of the total window and glass portion of the door area. A permanent address shall be permitted in addition to the 20 percent coverage. Window signs shall not be included in any calculation of total sign area for the building or tenant. Handwritten signs of any type are prohibited.

Freeway-Facing Signs

City of Sarasota bans off-site signs, those advertising a business, service, or product located elsewhere, the classic freeway billboard, in every zoning district citywide under its sign code.

City of Sarasota Off-Site Sign Ban

Heavy Restrictions

Sarasota Zoning Code § VII-109(l)

(l)Off-site signs. For purposes of this section, the word "sign" shall mean any object, device, display, or structure, such as, but not necessarily limited to, a board, poster or placard which is used to advertise, impart information, give directions or convey a message. Notwithstanding the prohibitions contained in this article, banners on city light poles in public rights-of-way may be autho...

Looking for Sarasota County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sarasota city rules.

Sign Regulations in Sarasota County