Sec. 20-5 of the City of Sarasota Sound Control Ordinance sets objective dBA/dBC caps at the real property line for three sound categories: amplified outdoor sound, continuous source sound, and impulsive source sound - with the strictest caps applying to amplified sound during quiet hours.
Sec. 20-5(b)(1) caps amplified outdoor sound at 65 dBA / 70 dBC during 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. (extended for Lemon Ave Mall). Sec. 20-5(b)(2) caps continuous source sound at 75 dBA / 80 dBC during 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. and 75 dBA / 75 dBC during 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. Sec. 20-5(b)(3) caps impulsive (single-burst) sound at 80 dBA peak; if impulsive sound from an industrial or commercial facility recurs more than 4 times per hour, the continuous-source caps apply instead. A 5 dB or greater dBA-to-dBC spread (or 10 dB for continuous source) is itself a violation - this targets heavy bass. Sec. 20-5(a)(2) requires measurements at or beyond the real property line, approximately 5 feet above ground, using slow-response.
Violations are municipal code violations under Sec. 20-9 - up to $500 per offense under Sec. 1-11, daily violations charged separately. Sec. 20-9(b) also authorizes injunctive relief.
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 decibel limits.
See how Sarasota's decibel limits 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.