Sarasota County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Sarasota County?

Public records in Sarasota County encompass a wide range of documents and information created or maintained by government agencies in the course of conducting public business. According to Florida's Public Records Law § 119.011(12), public records include "all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency."

Sarasota County maintains numerous types of public records, including:

• Court Records: Civil, criminal, probate, family court cases, and traffic citations maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller
• Property Records: Deeds, mortgages, liens, property assessments, and tax records
• Vital Records: Birth certificates (limited to births in Sarasota County), death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce records
• Business Records: Business licenses, permits, fictitious name registrations
• Tax Records: Property tax information, assessment records, and tax rolls
• Voting and Election Records: Voter registration data, election results, campaign finance reports
• Meeting Minutes and Agendas: County Commission meetings, advisory boards, and other public bodies
• Budget and Financial Documents: County budgets, expenditure reports, audits, and financial statements
• Law Enforcement Records: Arrest logs, incident reports (with certain exemptions for active investigations)
• Land Use and Zoning Records: Building permits, zoning applications, comprehensive plans

The Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court serves as the primary custodian for many county records, while specialized records are maintained by various departments such as the Sarasota County Property Appraiser, Sarasota County Tax Collector, and the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections.

Is Sarasota County an Open Records County?

Sarasota County fully adheres to Florida's Public Records Law, commonly known as the "Sunshine Law." Under Florida Statutes § 119.01, all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. The statute explicitly states that "it is the policy of this state that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. Providing access to public records is a duty of each agency."

Sarasota County government agencies comply with this mandate by making records accessible to the public upon request, with certain statutory exemptions. The county follows the principle that government records are presumed open unless specifically exempted by law.

Additionally, Sarasota County complies with Florida Statutes § 286.011, which requires that meetings of public boards and commissions be open to the public. This ensures transparency in both documentation and deliberation processes.

The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners has adopted policies that reinforce these state requirements, emphasizing the county's commitment to governmental transparency and public access to information.

How to Find Public Records in Sarasota County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records in Sarasota County may utilize several methods to access the information they need. The county provides multiple avenues for obtaining public records:

1. Online Access: Many records are available through the county's official websites:

   • The Clerk of Circuit Court's Official Records Search provides access to property records, court documents, and other official filings
   • The Property Appraiser's website offers property information and tax assessment records
   • The Tax Collector's website provides tax payment records and information

2. In-Person Requests: Individuals may visit the appropriate county office during regular business hours:

   • For court records and official documents, visit the Clerk of Circuit Court
   • For property information, visit the Property Appraiser's Office
   • For tax records, visit the Tax Collector's Office
   • For election records, visit the Supervisor of Elections Office

3. Written Requests: Submit a written public records request to the specific agency that maintains the desired records. Requests should include:

   • Specific description of the records sought
   • Preferred format (electronic or paper copies)
   • Contact information for follow-up

4. Electronic Requests: Many Sarasota County departments accept public records requests via email or through online forms on their respective websites.

For specialized records, contact the appropriate department:

• For law enforcement records: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
• For health records: Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County
• For building permits and code enforcement: Sarasota County Planning and Development Services

Pursuant to Florida law, agencies must acknowledge requests promptly and respond in a reasonable timeframe. While the law does not specify an exact timeframe, agencies are required to respond in good faith and with reasonable diligence.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Sarasota County?

Sarasota County agencies charge fees for public records in accordance with Florida Statutes § 119.07(4), which establishes the fee structure for public records throughout the state. Current standard fees include:

• Copies:

  • $0.15 per one-sided copy (letter or legal size)
  • $0.20 per two-sided copy (letter or legal size)
  • $1.00 per certified copy

• Special Service Charges: When a request requires extensive use of information technology resources or clerical/supervisory assistance, agencies may charge a reasonable special service charge based on the cost incurred. This is typically calculated based on the lowest paid employee capable of performing the work at their hourly rate.

• Electronic Records: When records are provided electronically (via email or on electronic media), the agency may charge for the actual cost of the media. Many electronic records delivered via email may not incur a fee if no extensive labor is required.

• Specialized Records:

  • Court records: Vary by document type ($1.00-$7.00 per document)
  • Certified copies of vital records: $5.00-$15.00
  • Comprehensive reports or large data sets: Fees calculated based on production costs

Accepted payment methods typically include cash, check, money order, and credit/debit cards (in person or online). Some agencies may require payment in advance, particularly for larger requests.

Fee waivers may be available in certain circumstances, such as for indigent persons or when the request serves a public purpose. Agencies have discretion to waive fees when doing so would be in the public interest.

Does Sarasota County Have Free Public Records?

Sarasota County provides several options for accessing public records at no cost:

Free Inspection: In accordance with Florida's Public Records Law, all public records may be inspected at no charge during regular business hours at the office where such records are maintained. Individuals must be provided reasonable accommodations to inspect records without charge.

Free Online Resources:

• The Sarasota County Clerk's Official Records Search provides free access to view many official records online
• The Sarasota County Property Appraiser's website offers free property record searches
• The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners provides free access to meeting agendas, minutes, and video recordings
• The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections offers free access to voter information, election results, and candidate filings
• The Sarasota County Tax Collector's website provides free access to tax payment information

Public Libraries: Sarasota County libraries offer free public computer access where residents can search many online county records at no cost.

Government Reading Rooms: Some agencies maintain public reading rooms where frequently requested documents are available for inspection without charge.

While inspection is free, fees may still apply for copies or for requests requiring extensive staff time or resources as permitted under Florida Statutes § 119.07(4).

Who Can Request Public Records in Sarasota County?

Under Florida's Public Records Law, any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may request public records from Sarasota County agencies. As stated in Florida Statutes § 119.01(1), public records are open for inspection and copying "by any person."

Key points regarding eligibility to request records:

• No Residency Requirement: Requestors need not be Florida residents or U.S. citizens
• No Identification Required: For most records, requestors are not required to show identification or provide their name
• No Purpose Statement Required: Requestors generally do not need to explain why they want the records or how they will use them
• Anonymous Requests Permitted: Many records can be requested anonymously, though providing contact information facilitates communication about the request

Exceptions to these general rules include:

• Restricted Records: Certain records with limited access may require verification of eligibility (e.g., requestors seeking their own confidential records may need to verify identity)
• Criminal Justice Information: Access to certain law enforcement records may require identification pursuant to state and federal regulations
• Commercial Solicitation: Florida Statutes § 119.071(5)(j) prohibits the use of public records for direct solicitation purposes in some circumstances

Representatives of organizations, businesses, media outlets, and legal representatives have the same rights to access public records as individuals. Foreign nationals also have equal rights to request public records under Florida law.

What Records Are Confidential in Sarasota County?

While Florida maintains a strong presumption of openness for public records, certain records are exempt from disclosure under state law. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.071, the following records are generally confidential or exempt in Sarasota County:

• Personal Information: Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit/debit card numbers, medical information, and certain personal information of specific categories of personnel (such as law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors)

• Security-Related Information: Security system plans, threat assessments, and other records that would reveal vulnerabilities of government facilities or systems

• Active Criminal Investigations: Records relating to active criminal intelligence information and active criminal investigative information

• Juvenile Records: Most records relating to juvenile offenders, dependency proceedings, and child welfare cases

• Health Records: Medical records protected under HIPAA and other health privacy laws

• Education Records: Student education records protected under FERPA

• Sealed and Expunged Records: Court records that have been legally sealed or expunged

• Adoption Records: Records relating to adoption proceedings

• Trade Secrets: Proprietary business information and trade secrets submitted to government agencies

• Attorney-Client Communications: Communications between government agencies and their attorneys regarding pending litigation

• Competitive Solicitation Documents: Sealed bids, proposals, or replies before decision or contract award

• Examination Questions and Answer Sheets: Test questions and answer sheets for licensure, employment, or academic examinations

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies must redact only the exempt information and provide the remainder of the record. The agency bears the burden of proving that an exemption applies when withholding records.

Sarasota County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller
2000 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34237
(941) 861-7400
Sarasota County Clerk of Court

Public Counter Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and legal holidays

Additional Locations:

R.L. Anderson Administration Center
4000 South Tamiami Trail
Venice, FL 34293
(941) 861-7400

Public Counter Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed on weekends and legal holidays

The Clerk's Office serves as the county recorder and maintains official records including deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, marriage licenses, and other official documents. The Recording Division processes documents for recording into the Official Records of Sarasota County and maintains these records for public access.

Services available at the Recorder's Office include:

• Recording of official documents
• Searching official records
• Obtaining certified copies of recorded documents
• Marriage license applications
• Passport applications
• Tax deed sales
• Value Adjustment Board

For specific questions about recording documents or searching records, members of the public may contact the Recording Division directly at (941) 861-7425.

Lookup Public Records in Sarasota County

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections public records

Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County

Sarasota County Tax Collector