Sarasota, FL Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Coverage cap
- 20% of window/glass area
- Zone district
- CT (St. Armands Key only)
- Handwritten signs
- Prohibited, any size
- Permanent address sign
- Exempt from the cap
- Unpermitted sign penalty
- Triples the permit fee
Summary
In the CT tourist-commercial district covering St. Armands Key, City of Sarasota zoning caps window signs at 20 percent of the total window and glass area, plus a permanent address exempted from that limit.
Such signs shall cover no more than 20 percent of the total window and glass portion of the door area. A permanent address shall be permitted in addition to the 20 percent coverage. Window signs shall not be included in any calculation of total sign area for the building or tenant. Handwritten signs of any type are prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33 | Zoning: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Sarasota Zoning Code § VII-110(16)f governs window signs in the CT (Commercial Tourist) zone district, which the code restricts to St. Armands Key. Coverage is capped at 20 percent of the total window and glass portion of the door area, with a permanent address sign allowed on top of that allowance and excluded from the building's total sign-area calculation. Handwritten window signs of any type are banned outright, regardless of size. The same 20-percent formula is echoed in other City of Sarasota zone districts and overlays, but each carries its own citation -- this row governs CT only.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding 20 percent coverage or posting a handwritten sign requires a City of Sarasota sign permit under § VII-107; erecting an unpermitted sign first triples the permit fee under § VII-107(4).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a St. Armands Circle shop cover its whole storefront window with a sale sign?
Are handwritten "Open" or sale signs allowed in CT-district shop windows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota to another location·View the Florida sign regulations overview
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Window Signs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sarasota County handle window signs.