Sarasota County Permit Search
Search Sarasota County building permits, Accela records, inspection status, older AMANDA permits, contractor-linked records, code cases, and permit documents using the right official route.
Use this guide before buying property, hiring a contractor, uploading plans, scheduling inspections, checking storm repairs, or confirming whether older work was properly finaled.
Start with the right record
Sarasota County permit research depends on the record type and the date. Newer records are mainly in Accela. Some permits closed before August 18, 2023 may need the older AMANDA search route.
| Need | Use | Search with | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current permit records | Accela Citizen Access | Record number, address, PID, contractor, license number | Wrong module selected |
| Old closed permits | AMANDA legacy route | Address, old permit number, property details | Closed before August 18, 2023 |
| Inspection status | Accela or inspection hotline | Permit number and inspection type | Issued permit not finaled |
| Plan review | Digital Plan Room / Accela | Application, record, reviewer comments | Missing digital signature or plan validation |
| Code or lien check | Code Enforcement route | Address, PID, property owner, case details | Unincorporated county versus city limits |
| City of Sarasota permit | City permit portal | Location, owner, contractor, business name, permit number | County search may not show all city records |
For a serious property check, search Sarasota County Accela, check older AMANDA records if the work is older, verify inspections, review code or lien issues, and search the City of Sarasota portal if the property is inside city limits.
Choose your permit path
Pick the task first. This prevents wasting time in the wrong module or portal.
Permit history
Search building records, applications, contractor-linked records, address records, and permit numbers.
Search recordsPlan review
Use Accela and Digital Plan Room for plan upload, review comments, validation, and stamped plan sets.
Check plansFinal status
Check inspection scheduling, final approval, failed inspections, and pending inspection items.
Check inspectionsBuyer check
Check open permits, old permits, code cases, liens, final inspections, city records, and contractor issues.
Run checklistSearch county permits
Use Sarasota County Accela for newer online permitting records. The county FAQ says users can search within modules using permit or record number, record type, contractor license number, contractor name, address, PID and other criteria.
Open Accela Citizen Access
Start here for online permitting, applications, inspections, building records, and module-based search.
Choose the correct module
Use Building for residential or commercial building permits. Use Community Development for land development and planning items. Use Code Enforcement only when searching code-related records.
Start with one search field
Try permit number first if you have it. If not, use address, PID, contractor name, contractor license number, or record type. Too many fields can block results.
If the result looks incomplete, clear extra fields and search again. In Accela, searching the wrong module is one of the most common reasons users think a permit does not exist.
Older closed permits
Sarasota County notes a separate route for permits closed before August 18, 2023. This matters for older roofs, additions, remodels, pools, windows, electrical work and property sale research.
Check if the permit may be old
If the work was completed before the county moved records into the newer online permitting system, search the older route.
Prepare old search clues
Use address, PID, owner name at the time, permit card, contractor name, project year, and project type.
For older properties, do not rely only on current Accela search. A roof, addition, remodel, pool or garage conversion may appear in legacy records or require a records request.
Check inspections
Permit status is not enough. You need to confirm inspections, final status, holds, failed items, and whether the work was closed properly.
| Task | Need | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule inspection | Permit number, inspection type | Move work to the next required stage. |
| Check result | Permit number or record number | Confirm pass, fail, pending, or final status. |
| Ask for help | Permit details and site address | Use 941-861-3271 / 941-861-3273 or INSPhotline@scgov.net. |
| Virtual inspection | VuSpex app, permit details | Sarasota County mentions VuSpex Go for virtual inspection workflow. |
Use Accela or inspection hotline
Check the permit record online first. If the record is confusing, contact inspections with the permit number and exact inspection issue.
Check final result
Do not stop at inspection scheduled or inspection requested. Look for final approval, failed inspection, hold, correction, or incomplete items.
For resale and insurance, final inspection status matters most on roof, electrical, HVAC, pool, window, addition, lanai, seawall, dock, and storm-repair permits.
Plans and documents
Sarasota County’s Digital Plan Room is integrated with Online Permitting and allows plan upload, digital signature/file validation, sheet versioning, reviewer markups, issues, conditions, and final stamped PDF plan sets.
Use Online Permitting
Submit applications and plans online instead of making unnecessary trips to the office.
Watch for plan-room errors
Digital signature, file naming, sheet versioning, missing documents, and reviewer conditions can slow down approval.
Before uploading, check whether your permit type needs drawings, product approval, notice of commencement, contractor details, owner authorization, impact fee review, zoning review, or environmental review.
Code and lien checks
Permit search is only one part of due diligence. Sarasota County Code Enforcement investigates issues such as overgrown grass, improper outdoor storage, zoning code issues, illegal signs, unlicensed or inoperable vehicles, and similar complaints.
Check code before closing
If you are buying or selling in unincorporated Sarasota County, search for code issues and ask for lien or violation details when needed.
Use lien search contact
For Code Enforcement lien or violation searches on unincorporated Sarasota County properties, the county lists CElien@scgov.net and fax 941-861-6018.
Unpermitted work and code cases may not appear in a simple permit search. Check code, liens, old permits, inspections, city records, and contractor history before assuming the property is clear.
Before applying
Sarasota County online permitting supports building, community development, contractor licenses, public works, code enforcement, fire and general information request modules. Pick the right module before submitting.
| Prepare | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Property address and PID | Confirms correct parcel and record routing. |
| Permit type | Helps choose Building, Community Development, Fire, Code, or Public Works module. |
| Owner and contractor details | Needed for permit responsibility and license-linked access. |
| Plans and supporting documents | Needed for Digital Plan Room upload and review. |
| Storm-related or speculative home details | Sarasota County has special notes for storm-related expedited permits and speculative homes. |
Create or use Accela account
Sarasota County says users need an account to do business in the new Online Permitting system.
Use official training if stuck
Sarasota County provides official Accela training videos for new account setup, payments, inspections, plan/document upload, license linking, permit applications, and other workflows.
County or city?
Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota do not always use the same permit portal. Confirm jurisdiction before assuming one search covers everything.
Use county records for county-managed permits
Start with Sarasota County Accela for unincorporated county records and county-managed Planning and Development Services items.
Use city portal for City of Sarasota records
The City of Sarasota portal allows permit database searches by business name, owner name, location and contractor. City pages also note that some residential permit data before 1997 may not be online.
A Sarasota mailing address does not automatically mean the permit is handled by the City of Sarasota. Search county records first, then city records when the property is inside city limits.
Buyer checklist
Use this before closing, refinancing, remodeling, repairing storm damage, changing contractors, or legalizing older work.
| Step | Check | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accela permit search | Find current and converted online records. |
| 2 | Older AMANDA records | Catch permits closed before August 18, 2023. |
| 3 | Inspection final status | Issued permit is not always finaled. |
| 4 | Code and lien search | Find violations or enforcement risks. |
| 5 | City portal if applicable | City of Sarasota records may not appear in county search. |
| 6 | Contractor license details | Check who performed the work and whether records link to license data. |
| 7 | Plans and documents | Confirm approved scope where needed. |
Do extra checks for roof replacement, hurricane windows, pools, lanais, docks, seawalls, electrical panels, HVAC, plumbing, additions, sheds, fences, garage conversions, tree work and storm repairs.
Office and contacts
Call or email with the address, PID, permit number, record number, contractor name and exact issue ready.
| Item | Official detail |
|---|---|
| PDS One Stop | 870 Apex Road, Sarasota, Florida 34240 |
| Normal business hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| General Accela help | 311 or 941-861-5000 |
| Building General and Permitting | building@scgov.net |
| Building Licensing | licensing@scgov.net |
| Inspections Hotline | 941-861-3271 / 941-861-3273 or INSPhotline@scgov.net |
| Permit Records Request | permitrecords@scgov.net |
| Code Enforcement | ceadmin@scgov.net |
| Environmental Permitting | 941-861-0673 or environmental@scgov.net |
| Planning | 941-861-5244 or planner@scgov.net |
| Zoning | 941-356-6516 North County / 941-356-7067 South County or zoning@scgov.net |
Official links
Only directly useful Sarasota permit resources are included.
Important notice
CountyPermitSearch.org is an independent guide, not the official Sarasota County website.
Only the official building department, plan reviewer, inspector, zoning staff, code enforcement office or city/county permit office can confirm whether a permit is required, complete, legal, finaled or approved.
Do not submit applications, payments, plans, IDs, owner documents or contractor documents to an independent guide page. Use official government portals only.
FAQs
How do I search Sarasota County permits online?
Use Sarasota County Accela Citizen Access or the county permit search page. Search by record number, permit number, address, PID, contractor, license number or record type.
What is Sarasota County Accela?
Accela is Sarasota County’s online permitting system for building, community development, contractor licenses, public works, code enforcement, fire and general information request modules.
How do I find permits closed before August 18, 2023?
Use the older AMANDA record search route linked from Sarasota County’s Accela resources page for permits closed before August 18, 2023.
How do I check Sarasota County inspection status?
Check the permit record in Accela first. For help, use the Building Inspections Hotline at 941-861-3271 or 941-861-3273, or email INSPhotline@scgov.net.
What email should I use for Sarasota County building permits?
Sarasota County lists Building General and Permitting at building@scgov.net. For permit records requests, use permitrecords@scgov.net.
Where is Sarasota County Planning and Development Services?
Sarasota County states that PDS services moved to PDS One Stop at 870 Apex Road, Sarasota, Florida 34240, starting March 23, 2026.
Should I check City of Sarasota permits too?
Yes, if the property is inside City of Sarasota jurisdiction. Use the city portal for city building and engineering permit records.
How do I check Sarasota County code violations or liens?
Use Sarasota County Code Enforcement. For code enforcement lien or violation search on unincorporated Sarasota County property, the county lists CElien@scgov.net and fax 941-861-6018.
Can I upload Sarasota County building plans online?
Yes. Sarasota County says Digital Plan Room is integrated with Online Permitting and supports online plan upload, digital signature/file validation, reviewer markups and final stamped PDF plan sets.
What should buyers check before closing?
Buyers should check Accela records, older AMANDA records, inspection final status, code violations, liens, city permit records if applicable, contractor details and approved plan documents when needed.