Sarasota, FL Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Mandatory hookup trigger
- line within 50 ft of property
- Allowed uses
- lawns, golf courses, cemeteries, parks, medians
- Banned uses
- indoors, pools, hot tubs, spas
- Buffer from eating/drinking areas
- 100 feet
Summary
City of Sarasota caps reclaimed water to irrigation, golf courses and cemeteries, bans it indoors and in pools, and requires hookup once a line reaches within 50 feet.
Use of reclaimed water shall be limited to irrigation of residential lawns; golf courses; cemeteries; parks; landscaped areas; highway medians and rights-of-way; as a water source for toilets in commercial establishments; or other uses specifically approved by the director and allowed by FDEP. Reclaimed water shall not be used inside any residential dwelling, or to fill swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, or wading pools.
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
City of Sarasota Code § 37-71 makes reclaimed-water hookup mandatory for existing single-family lots once a distribution pipe with capacity to serve the site sits within 50 feet of any property line: existing irrigation meters must switch over from potable water. Section 37-76 then limits what reclaimed water may be used for: lawn, golf course, cemetery, park and median irrigation, plus toilet flushing in commercial buildings. It bans indoor residential use and filling pools, hot tubs, spas or wading pools, and keeps it 100 feet clear of public eating, drinking or bathing areas.
Violations & Fines
Violations trigger service discontinuation under § 37-78; cross-connecting reclaimed and potable lines is separately a misdemeanor under Article V, § 37-95, fined up to $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fill my pool with reclaimed water in the City of Sarasota?
Do I have to connect to reclaimed water once it reaches my street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota to another location·View the Florida water use rules overview
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Recycled Water Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sarasota County handle recycled water rules.