Unincorporated Sarasota County declares excessive vegetation growth, improper outdoor storage of junk, and graffiti to be public nuisances under the Property Standards Ordinance (Sec. 54-473). Owners must abate; the County may abate and lien the property.
Sarasota County's Property Standards Ordinance (Ch. 54, Art. XV) prohibits three blight conditions in unincorporated areas: Excessive Growth (vegetation over 12 inches), Improper Outdoor Storage (accumulated junk, appliances, inoperative vehicles), and Graffiti. Mosquito Breeding Areas are regulated countywide. A Code Enforcement Officer serves a Notice of Public Nuisance giving a reasonable time to correct. If the owner neither abates nor requests a hearing before a Special Magistrate, the County abates at the owner's expense and records a lien. Inside incorporated cities (Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Longboat Key), city code governs instead.
County may abate and bill the owner; unpaid costs become a property lien. Obstructing enforcement is punishable by up to a $500 fine or 60 days imprisonment.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Sarasota County, FL
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in Sarasota County. County code prohibits letting grass clippings, vegetative material, or debris wash, sweep, ...
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County has no outright ban on residential artificial turf, but it does not count toward required landscape, open-space, or stormwater-pervious area....
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County promotes Florida-Friendly, drought-tolerant landscaping and requires water-efficient landscape design for new development. State law also pro...
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County encourages rain barrels and cisterns as a conservation practice, and Florida law protects residential rainwater collection. There is no count...
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County follows Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) rules. The standard year-round schedule allows watering twice per week by addres...
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County treats excessive weeds and overgrown vegetation on developed lots as a code nuisance. Enforcement is complaint-based, beginning with a Notice...
See how Sarasota County's property blight rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.