On Oct. 28, 2008, the Sarasota County Commission approved amendments to the Coastal Setback Code (Chapter 54, Article XXII of the Sarasota County Code of Ordinances).  This code applies to construction and excavation along the Gulf shore beaches seaward of the Gulf Beach Setback Line (GBSL) and the Barrier Island Pass Twenty-Year Hazard Line (PHL).

 Amended Coastal Setback Code   !New!

The revised code, Ordinance 2007-023, creates consistency with the Comprehensive Plan, other natural resource protection codes, and addresses the requirements for shore protection structures, such as seawalls and rock revetments.  The amendments also include clarifications of existing language and several of the recommendations of the Coastal Advisory Committee.

While many of the existing rules did not change, several revisions that you may notice are:

• Option of staff approval for installation of a propane tank.
• Option of staff approval for beach nourishment projects.
• Option of staff approval for demolition of existing residence and accessory structures and reconstruction of conforming structures.  Previous code language did not include accessory structures. 
• Shore protection structures may only be authorized when other alternatives are considered first (for example.: beach nourishment or moving the residence landward) and for structures that were built before the adoption of the revised code.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about living on the Gulf of Mexico or Big Sarasota Pass, call 941-861-5000 and ask for Natural Resources.