Sarasota County, FL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

County Code § 98-11 governs how people can use Sarasota County roads, sidewalks, and medians in relation to vehicle traffic. Subsection (b)(2) defines 'Obstruction of Traffic' as the intentional act of walking, standing, sitting, lying, or placing or using an object in any manner that results in interference, slowing, or interruption of the normal flow of vehicles on the Road, and subsection (c)(1) makes it unlawful for any person to act on a Road in a way that causes that obstruction. The same subsection separately bars going onto the Road, or standing on the Sidewalk including an off-ramp, to distribute an item to, receive an item from, or exchange an item with the occupant of a motorized vehicle, unless the person has obtained a permit; it also bans throwing or tossing items to or from vehicle occupants outright.

Anyone other than County or State roadway-maintenance staff, or a permit holder, must keep six feet of separation from the Road Surface while occupying a Median for longer than it takes to safely cross; if that six-foot separation cannot be maintained, occupying the Median at all becomes unlawful. m.