ADU Zoning in Sarasota County, Florida (2026)
What ADU can you build in your Sarasota County backyard?
Instant zoning report — see exactly what your zoning allows: permitted ADU types, size limits, setbacks, and lot requirements for your specific property.
Sarasota County ADU — Key Facts
- ADUs are allowed in the RSF, RE, OUR and OUE districts of unincorporated Sarasota County (UDC Section 124-76)
- In RSF and RE the cap is 750 sq ft, rising to the lesser of 50% of the home or 1,200 sq ft on lots twice the minimum size
- The owner must live on the property, in either unit
- Rentals must be longer than 30 days, no more than once every 30 days (Section 124-131)
- ADUs must meet main-home setbacks, stay no taller than the home, and match its exterior
- One extra parking space is required; tandem, shell or grass parking is allowed
- No ADUs on Siesta Key, Casey Key, Manasota Key or the other barrier islands, or in cluster subdivisions
Unincorporated Sarasota County Rules
*These rules apply if your address is NOT inside a specific city limit.
Sarasota County ADU Permit Process
- 1Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Sarasota County, not in Sarasota, Venice, North Port or Longboat Key.
- 2Confirm the zoning is RSF, RE, OUR or OUE, and that the lot is not on a barrier island or in a cluster subdivision.
- 3Check whether the lot is at least twice the minimum lot size, which raises the RSF/RE size cap from 750 sq ft.
- 4Design to principal-structure setbacks, the height limit and matching exterior finish, with one extra parking space.
- 5Apply for permits with Sarasota County Planning and Development Services.
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Cities in Sarasota County
Sarasota County ADU — Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions from Sarasota County homeowners about ADU rules, permits, and costs.
How big can an ADU be in unincorporated Sarasota County?
In the RSF and RE districts, up to 750 sq ft. If your lot is at least twice the district's minimum lot size for a single-family home, the cap becomes 50% of the home's enclosed living area or 1,200 sq ft, whichever is less. In the OUR and OUE open use districts the ADU only has to be smaller than the main home.
Can I rent out an ADU in Sarasota County?
Yes, but the owner must live in either the main home or the ADU, and rentals in these districts must be for periods longer than 30 days, no more than once every 30 days (UDC Section 124-131). Short-term vacation rentals are not allowed.
Can I build an ADU on Siesta Key or another barrier island?
No. Sarasota County's code does not permit ADUs on the barrier islands or within cluster subdivisions. Guest houses for temporary, unpaid guest use are a separate category with their own limits.
Does a Sarasota County ADU have to match the main house?
In RSF and RE, yes: it can be no taller than the home and must have a similar architectural style, roof style, building materials and exterior finish, though the roof material can differ. The county's example is that a stucco home needs a stucco-finish ADU.
Do Sarasota County's ADU rules apply in the City of Sarasota or Venice?
No. These rules cover unincorporated Sarasota County only. The City of Sarasota, Venice, North Port and Longboat Key have their own ADU rules, so confirm which jurisdiction your address is in first.
Florida ADU Laws 2026 — What State Law Does and Doesn't Do
How §163.31771 works, and what your local government controls.
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