Sarasota County · Rezoning
Rezoning in Sarasota County
Change what the land is allowed to become. Here's how it works in Sarasota County — and how we manage it end to end.
Rezoning in Sarasota County
Tell us about your project — we’ll reply within one business day.
Rezoning changes a property's zoning designation so the code allows a different use or density than it does today. It's a legislative, public, discretionary decision — not an over-the-counter permit — and it's the foundation of most land development.
Because it changes what can legally be built, rezoning is where raw or underused land gains its development value. Approved, a parcel's potential — and what a lender or appraiser will value it at — can change dramatically. It pairs with land entitlements and development strategy.
How it works in Sarasota County
Decided by: Planning Commission (advisory) → Board of County Commissioners (final, by ordinance)
Typical timeline: ~4–9 months (two public hearings)
Controlling code: Unified Development Code (UDC), Ch. 124
A Sarasota County rezoning (UDC §124-39) amends the Official Zoning Map and is decided by the Board of County Commissioners after an advisory recommendation from the Planning Commission — two public hearings. A mandatory pre-application conference and an advertised neighborhood workshop come first.
Approval turns on consistency with the Comprehensive Plan and the §124-39 findings; any stipulations the Board attaches are recorded in the county deed records. We prepare the justification, run the workshop, and carry it through both hearings.
How we manage it
- →Confirm the request aligns with the comprehensive plan and pencils out before you file
- →Prepare the application, justification narrative, and supporting studies
- →Manage staff review and reviewer comments
- →Represent the request through the planning board and the elected commission hearings
Frequently asked questions
- Is rezoning the same as a variance?
- No. Rezoning changes the zoning category itself (a legislative act); a variance grants relief from a specific dimensional rule within the existing zoning. We handle both.
Planning a project in Sarasota County?
Tell us about your project. We reply within one business day — and we’ll tell you straight whether we’re the right fit.