Sarasota County permits: status, inspections and expiration
- Permit portal
- Accela Citizen Access
- Run by
- Sarasota County Planning and Development Services
- Phone
- Building inspections (941) 861-3271; general (941) 861-5000
- building@scgov.net
- Official page
- scgov.net
Which permits does Sarasota County issue?
Sarasota County permits construction in unincorporated Sarasota County, which includes much of the area with a Sarasota, Nokomis, Osprey or Englewood mailing address. The City of Sarasota, Venice, North Port and the Town of Longboat Key run their own building departments.
How to check a permit's status
- Without signing in: search Accela Citizen Access by the record number. The record page shows the record's status, its details and its inspections.
- Signed in: the records on your account are listed under My Records, where each record also shows conditions and fees.
Inspections
Inspections are scheduled, rescheduled and cancelled in Accela Citizen Access; the county publishes short training videos showing how. For inspection questions, the county's inspection line is (941) 861-3271 and its email is INSPhotline@scgov.net.
Keeping a permit from expiring
Under the Florida Building Code (section 105.4.1), a permit becomes invalid if work doesn't start within six months of issuance, or if work stops for six months after it starts. Work counts as in progress when the permit has an approved inspection within 180 days (section 105.4.1.3). A failed or cancelled inspection doesn't reset the clock.
If the county's record shows an expiration date, that date is the one that counts. Check it after every inspection rather than counting days yourself, and ask the Sarasota County Planning and Development Services about an extension before the date passes, not after.
This guide is general information for contractors, not legal advice. Procedures change; confirm with the Sarasota County Planning and Development Services.
See every Sarasota County permit on one list
PermitGlance signs in to your Sarasota County portal account and imports every permit on it, with its inspections and city documents. It warns you before a permit expires and tells you when an inspection fails, alongside your permits in the 16 other jurisdictions we cover. It only reads; it never changes anything on your county account.