Outdoor burning rules in Sarasota, FL — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Open burning of yard waste, household trash, or construction debris is prohibited in the City of Sarasota under Ch. 14 Fire Prevention regulations and Florida Administrative Code Rule 62-256. Land-clearing fires require authorization from the Florida Forest Service under F.S. Ch. 590.
F.A.C. 62-256.300 statewide prohibits the open burning of biological waste, hazardous waste, asbestos, mercury devices, tires, rubber, oil, asphalt, treated wood, plastics, and garbage. Sarasota City Code Chapter 14 incorporates the Florida Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1) which limits any open burning in densely populated urban areas. The Florida Forest Service (1-941-475-3811 for the Myakka River District) issues authorizations for legitimate land-clearing burns under F.S. §590.125. Yard waste must go to the City's weekly yard waste collection or the Sarasota County Bee Ridge Solid Waste Facility - not the burn pile. The Fire Marshal can issue an outdoor burn ban during extreme drought conditions.
Unauthorized open burning is both a state-law violation (F.A.C. 62-256, with DEP enforcement) and a City Ch. 14 violation (up to $500 per offense). Cost-recovery for fire suppression response can be pursued under F.S. §125.01 and local ordinances. Negligent fire spread can be charged as arson under F.S. §806.13.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Sarasota, FL
Beekeeping in Sarasota is governed primarily by Florida state law - F.S. §586 (Honeybee Law) preempts most local regulation of beekeeping. Beekeepers must re...
Sarasota, FL
Sarasota does not have a citywide wildlife-feeding ban, but Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules under F.A.C. 68A-4.001 prohibit int...
Sarasota, FL
Florida Statute §373.185 (Florida-Friendly Landscaping Act) preempts HOA and local-government bans on Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL). Sarasota homeowners...
Sarasota, FL
The City of Sarasota observes the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) year-round watering restrictions: two days per week for residential ad...
Sarasota, FL
Sarasota's property maintenance rules require lawns and lots to be maintained free of overgrown vegetation. While the Code does not specify an exact maximum ...
Sarasota, FL
Tree trimming in Sarasota is governed by Zoning Code Sec. VII-309 et seq. and ANSI A300 industry standards. Heavy pruning (more than 25% canopy removal) typi...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sarasota County.
See how other cities in Sarasota County handle outdoor burning.
See how Sarasota's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.