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Sarasota County

Sarasota County Planning and Development Services, Zoning

In short

Sarasota County Planning and Development Services, Zoning issues 2 permits we publish for Sarasota County, last verified 2026-10-15. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Business Use Permit (Unified Development Code s. 124-51)Sarasota County Planning and Development Services, ZoningUnified Development Code s. 124-51 sets no dollar amount, and the fee is not published in the Code. Contact Sarasota County Planning and Development Services, 870 Apex Road, Sarasota (941-861-5000), for the current Business Use Permit fee.issued for a location, ownership and business use; s. 124-51 requires a new permit for any change of location, ownership or business use2026-10-15
Temporary Use Permit (Unified Development Code ss. 124-52 and 124-74)only if it applies to youSarasota County Planning and Development Services, ZoningThe county's Acknowledgment of the Temporary Use Permit and UDC s. 124-52 state no dollar amount; the fee is not published in either document. Contact Sarasota County Planning and Development Services for the current fee.per event, for the period of time stated in the application2026-10-15

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Business Use Permit (Unified Development Code s. 124-51)

Unified Development Code s. 124-51 states that no building, tenant space or structure shall be used for the purpose of operating a business, whether for profit or not-for-profit, until the Administrator has issued a Business Use Permit, and that the business owner and property owner, or agent, apply on the current Business Use Permit application form. Under the same section the Administrator may issue the permit only when the UDC and the County Code are met, including Chapter 22 (Building Code), Chapter 58 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Chapter 70 (Impact Fees and Capacity Fees) and Chapter 126 (Utilities), so the permit is the point where building, fire and utility sign-offs come together before a business opens. The permit is not transferable: the section states that any change of location, ownership or business use requires a new Business Use Permit. Applications go through the county's Accela online permitting portal. This applies to fixed premises in the area governed by the county's Unified Development Code; a business inside a city follows that city's zoning approvals instead.

Temporary Use Permit (Unified Development Code ss. 124-52 and 124-74)

The county's Acknowledgment of the Temporary Use Permit (TUP), published March 30, 2026, states that TUPs are regulated by Unified Development Code ss. 124-52 and 124-74, that the review is done in coordination with the Sheriff's Office for compatibility with existing uses and public safety, and that applications are made through the Accela Civic Application portal. The applicant attests that a TUP not submitted at least 30 business days before the temporary use may be denied. The document lists four events that are exempt from the 30-day period and need an application at least 10 business days before the event: tent sales, grand opening sales, outdoor vehicle shows and sales, and outdoor display of merchandise. Depending on the event, the county may ask for a site plan, parking plan, Sheriff's Office contract, property owner permission, insurance certificate, a temporary alcohol permit if alcohol is served, and a flame certificate for tents over 900 square feet. Section 124-52 requires a site plan or survey showing where the use will occur, the activities and the period requested.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Sarasota County
Phone
Not verified — use the website

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Acknowledgment of the Temporary Use Permit (TUP) (published March 30, 2026)Sarasota County Government · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  2. Sarasota County Licensing FAQ (Form LIC20, Rev. 04/14/2026)Sarasota County Government · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15
  3. Unified Development Code ss. 124-51 (Business Use Permit) and 124-52 (Temporary Use Permit) (Supp. 98)Sarasota County, Florida (Municode Library) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-15

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Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.