City of Sarasota · Site Plan
Site Plan Approval in City of Sarasota
The detailed plan that turns approval into a buildable project. Here's how it works in City of Sarasota — and how we manage it end to end.
Site Plan in City of Sarasota
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Site plan approval is the detailed review of how a development sits on its land — building placement, parking, access, drainage and stormwater, landscaping, utilities, and code compliance. It's the bridge between an entitled use and an issued building permit.
Most non-single-family projects need it, and it's reviewed by multiple departments at once. A site plan that doesn't reconcile every department's rules stalls in comment cycles — the same multi-department coordination we run in permit management.
How it works in City of Sarasota
Decided by: Development Review Committee → Planning Board (Commission ratifies on consent); Administrative Site Plans are staff-decided
Typical timeline: completeness ≤7 business days; full review runs months
Controlling code: Sarasota Zoning Code (2002 Ed.)
Site plan review comes in two tracks: Administrative Site Plan Review (staff-level, no hearing) and full Site Plan Review (DRC technical review plus a Planning Board hearing, with the City Commission ratifying on consent).
The base site-plan fee is $6,319.54 plus per-unit and per-square-foot add-ons, and extra review fees begin at the third review cycle — so getting the submittal right early matters. A School Impact Analysis is required before final site plan unless the project is de minimis.
We assemble the full plan set, coordinate the engineers and surveyors, and drive DRC comments to resolution so the project clears in as few cycles as possible.
How we manage it
- →Coordinate the full site-plan submittal across departments
- →Manage review comments and corrections to resolution
- →Coordinate engineers, surveyors, and drafters on the plan set
- →Carry the approved site plan into the building-permit phase
Frequently asked questions
- When do I need site plan approval?
- Generally for commercial, multifamily, and mixed-use projects — not typical single-family homes. We confirm whether your project triggers it in your specific jurisdiction.
Planning a project in City of Sarasota?
Tell us about your project. We reply within one business day — and we’ll tell you straight whether we’re the right fit.