Resource Protection administers Sarasota County's natural resource protection codes and reviews development proposals to protect and monitor our natural resources, including upland and wetland habitat systems and trees.

Resource Protection also operates programs to ensure the safety and long-term survival of our local protected wildlife species, such as manatees, gopher tortoises, bald eagles and the Florida scrub-jay.

New!  Consolidated Myakka River Protection Code  New!

On April 22, the Sarasota County Commission approved a new ordinance consolidating the existing ordinances that covered the protection of the Myakka River.

Consolidated Myakka River Protection Code

This consolidated code brings all the related regulations into one document making them more user-friendly for property owners. While many of the existing rules did not change, several revisions that you may notice are:

• Allowances for maintenance of existing structures for small cleared areas for family recreation in specific cases.
• Some new construction that once required a variance from the county commission will be reviewed at the staff level with the building permit or other associated permit review.
  • This change allows for a timelier, less expensive review process for the applicant while maintaining a high level of protection along the river corridor.