Knowledge Base

Residential property owners may obtain building permits; provided that:

•   The property and the home are not rental properties or offered for sale for one year from permits completion.
•   The property must be in their name as individuals or a trust and cannot be listed under a corporation or LLC.
•   The owner of property must appear in-person at one of the County’s Permit Centers to finalize the permit submittal process. 

* For condominiums and multi-family structures a licensed general contractor must apply and obtain permits, property owners cannot apply under State Law.

All permit submittals will be electronic and submitted online. Below are useful instructional video links for creating an account and for applying for your residential permit.

Instructional video link for creating a new account: Sarasota County Government: Accela: New Account

To access the Accela permitting system, please click on the following link: https://aca-prod.accela.com/SARASOTACO/Login.aspx

Instructional video link for applying online for residential permits: Sarasota County Government: Building New Construction Permit Application

After completing the submittal process you’ll receive an email notification, prompting you to appear in person at one of our permit centers with the Owner Disclosure form and picture identification. The State of Florida mandates that owner/builders MUST appear in person to finalize the permit application process. You will need the following:

•   Form of picture identification.
•   Owner disclosure form.

The following information on the construction drawings will be required for your on-line permit submittal:

•   Detailed information related to the scope of work specific to the permit application.
•   Construction drawings depicting the proposed. Examples: floor plans showing rooms and current window sizes, floor plans showing existing layout and proposed repairs, framing details, roof sheathing, and trusses if applicable. Please include any electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work if they are part of the project.
•   For applicable exterior envelope items (such as windows, doors, exterior siding, etc.) require that specific product’s Florida approval documentation be provided.

The Permit Centers are located at: 

870 Apex Road, Sarasota, Florida 34240 (North County)

4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL (South County)

Contacts:

For additional assistance, please email:
Building@scgov.net

Building Inspector Contact List, please click: here