Business Licensing & Operations in Sarasota County, FL (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Sarasota County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Operating an adult bookstore, cabaret, motel, theater, model studio, sexual device shop, or encounter center in unincorporated Sarasota County requires a sexually oriented business license under Code § 26-34. Applicants file with the County Administrator's Office, pay a $100 initial fee, and undergo criminal-history and location screening before a license issues.
Sarasota County Sexually Oriented Business Licensing
Significant RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 26-34(a)-(b)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a sexually oriented business in Sarasota County without a valid sexually oriented business license.(b)An applicant for a sexually oriented business license shall file in person at the office of the Sarasota County Administrator's Office a completed application made on a form provided by the County Administrator's office.
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers in unincorporated Sarasota County must register each location with the Florida Department of Revenue and obtain a local occupational license before transacting in any goods. Cash payments over $100 are banned, and every transaction must be logged and held for the Sheriff's Office.
Secondhand Dealer Licensing in Sarasota County
Significant RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 26-120
(1) A Secondhand Dealer shall not transact in any goods, without previously registering that location with the Florida Department of Revenue, regardless of whether that location is temporary or permanent. The Secondhand Dealer shall notify the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office upon application for any new location and must prominently display such license bearing that location address. (2) A Sec...
Towing Companies
Sarasota County's nonconsensual towing ordinance controls every non-consent tow off private property in the unincorporated county. A tow company must notify the Sheriff's Office Teletype Section within 15 minutes of a tow, store the vehicle within 15 miles, and honor an owner's right to reclaim the car free if they arrive before hook-up, or for half the posted rate if they arrive after hook-up but before the truck leaves. Rebates to property owners for towing privileges are banned outright.
Sarasota County Non-Consent Towing Rules
Significant RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 122-77
(1)Any towed or removed vehicle must be stored at a site within 15 miles of the point of removal. If no towing business providing such service is located within the area of towing limitations, the following limitations apply: any towed or removed vehicle must be stored at a site within 30 miles of the point of removal...(3)The Tow Truck Owner or designee shall, within 15 minutes of completion o...
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Sarasota County
2 cities in Sarasota County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Sarasota County ordinances
See every category we cover for Sarasota County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Sarasota County Ordinance Hub →