How to Get a Contractor License in Sarasota County

Sarasota County runs along the Gulf coast south of Tampa Bay. Contractors working in the unincorporated county deal with the Sarasota County Building Division (Planning and Development Services), which handles permitting centers, plan review, inspections, contractor licensing and enforcement against unlicensed or unpermitted work. Inside the City of Sarasota, a separate city registration applies.

Certified vs registered in Sarasota County

The county's Contractor Registration Form (LIC11) goes to Sarasota County Planning and Development Services, Attn: Contractor Licensing, 1001 Sarasota Center Blvd, Sarasota FL 34240, or by email to Licensing@scgov.net. The county also lists a south county office at 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice.

Once registered, keeping your license current is mostly automatic: the county's Accela portal says that state certified licenses renewed through DBPR (to the 8/31/26 date) do not need to be uploaded, because Accela updates automatically through its integration with DBPR. Licenses not issued through DBPR do not get this treatment.

Online permitting accounts

Sarasota County Online Permitting (Accela) requires an account to do business with the county, and the county's FAQ says an account with another jurisdiction, including the City of Sarasota, cannot be used for the county system. Register separately.

Licensing and Enforcement

The Building Division's Licensing and Enforcement program investigates complaints about unlicensed contractors, unpermitted construction work and unfit or unsafe structures.

City of Sarasota: separate contractor registration

The City of Sarasota Building Division requires its own contractor registration. Its application (updated 06/25) calls for a sworn and notarized contractor's affidavit and allows up to four authorized agents to obtain permits on the contractor's behalf. Submit it in person at 1575 2nd St., 2nd Floor, or by email to CityPermits@sarasotafl.gov.

Business tax

The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners repealed the county business tax on July 9, 2024, so the Tax Collector no longer collects it (the attorney tax that funds the law library continues under a special act). Businesses located inside a municipality may owe that city's business tax: Longboat Key, North Port, Sarasota or Venice. The City of Sarasota's Business Tax Division handles new applications for the city.

Coastal construction

Sarasota County is on the Florida DEP list of counties with a Coastal Construction Control Line, and DEP assigns a CCCL permit manager to Sarasota County. Work seaward of the line on the barrier islands can need a DEP permit in addition to the local building permit.

Major cities

The county includes the cities of Sarasota, Venice and North Port, and the Town of Longboat Key.

State license pages

General contractor, residential contractor, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical. Every CILB category requires the Business and Finance exam.

FAQ

Do I need a Sarasota County business tax receipt? No. The county business tax was repealed on July 9, 2024. A city tax may apply in Longboat Key, North Port, Sarasota or Venice.

Does my county registration cover the City of Sarasota? No. The city has its own contractor registration and its own permitting accounts.

Do I have to send my renewed DBPR license to the county? Not for state certified licenses renewed through DBPR; the county's Accela system updates automatically.

Next step

One state certified license covers the county and all four cities. Start with Florida Business & Finance Exam Prep.