City of Sarasota Code Chapter 34.5 (Vacation Rentals) requires a Certificate of Registration for any short-term rental of single-family, duplex, triplex, or quadplex properties in Residential Single-Family (RSF) and Residential Multi-Family (RMF) zones. As of January 1, 2025, operating without an issued and inspected certificate is illegal.
Chapter 34.5 was adopted to bring Sarasota's vacation rental market under a registration regime that survives Florida's preemption framework (F.S. §509.032(7)). The certificate process requires application, inspection, and approval by the City's Development Services Department before any advertising or operation. Registration is annual and tied to the property; condominiums, cooperatives, and owner-occupied STRs are exempt. The responsible-party rule requires a designated contact available by phone 24/7 and able to physically reach the property within one hour of a complaint. Contact: VacationRentals@SarasotaFL.gov or (941) 263-6623.
Operating an unregistered vacation rental is a Ch. 34.5 violation enforceable through Code Compliance with civil penalties, Special Master orders, and potential liens. F.S. §162.09 caps repeat-violation fines at $1,000/day. Continued advertising of an unregistered STR can trigger additional penalties and platform takedown requests.
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