Sarasota, FL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Sarasota Zoning Code § VII-1201(b) keeps every public right-of-way open and unobstructed from below ground to the sky, and bars private encroachments unless an encroachment agreement has been approved. Minor encroachments, vegetation, signs, flagpoles, fences, irrigation lines and paved areas, are executed by the city manager on the city engineer's recommendation. Major encroachments, meaning structures such as footers or arcades, require an agreement approved by the city commission and executed by the mayor. Owners must maintain and indemnify the city for any approved encroachment, and unauthorized ones found later must be removed within 30 days or referred for code enforcement.