Off-grid site report
Sarasota County, FL
27.3726, -82.4953 · 59 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Sarasota County, FL, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesSarasota County, FL
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Varies locallyUnincorporated Sarasota County zoning is set by the Unified Development Code (UDC), administered by Planning and Development Services; allowed uses and minimum lot sizes vary by district, so check the live UDC text for your specific parcel. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedCounty guidance says RVs may be stored on a property but not lived in or connected to utilities outside RV parks; a permanent tiny home on a foundation is treated as an ordinary site-built dwelling under the Florida Building Code.
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedSarasota County Planning and Development Services issues building permits and inspects under the Florida Building Code; no owner-built or off-grid exemption was found, and a septic approval is required before a building/plumbing permit can be issued where there's no sewer. source
Septic & composting toilets
Generally allowedThe Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County permits and inspects septic (OSTDS) systems under state rules, but the county additionally requires a professional engineer to design new or modified systems and caps system capacity; composting toilets as a stand-alone permit-free option aren't confirmed. source
Greywater reuse
RestrictedNo Sarasota County-specific greywater ordinance was found; the state Florida Building Code/DOH baseline limiting reuse to toilet/urinal flushing with approved discharge appears to apply by default.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance specifically addressing residential rainwater cisterns was found; non-potable catchment seems tolerated but is not specifically confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction permitting is delegated by SWFWMD to the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County, and a licensed Florida well contractor is generally required, with the standard state exception for a small-diameter well an owner drills for their own single-family home. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo county ordinance was found explicitly banning full utility disconnection for an occupied home, but every dwelling still needs an approved septic or sewer connection and water source regardless of grid status, so ask Planning and Development Services how this applies to your specific plan.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 5.9 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 5.0 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,639 kWh
JFMAMJJASOND
Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 53 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 476 (mild)
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center - 3.9 mi
- Fire station
Sarasota County Fire Department Station 6 - 0.6 mi
- Hardware store
DG Hardware - 1.4 mi
- Grocery
Detwiler's Farm Market - 1.1 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 34235).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Sarasota County, FL?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 21, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.