When you finally find that perfect plot of land on which to build your dream home, it’s time to find the right team of professionals to make it happen. Yes, they will design and construct the home, but they will help to ensure make all of the requirements from the proper jurisdictions are met.
See “Don’t Overlook These 5 Tips from the Professionals When Building Your Dream Home“ for more information.
One of the most important qualifications are the setbacks that your home must reside within. The total square footage of the property is only part of the equation, as the structure cannot necessarily cover the land in its entirety. There are lots of facets that make up the buildable area of the lot including zoning, districts, and how close the property is to the coast.
According to the City of Sarasota Zoning Code, the purpose of the setback regulations includes:
- Allowing separation between residences for privacy
- Fire safety
- Required outdoor spaces
Generally speaking, anterior setbacks are larger than the sides and posterior setbacks to provide ample and aesthetically sound front yards. The setbacks are a vital piece to aid the architect and jurisdictions to determine what the appropriate size, scale, and impact for the building and its surroundings.
The following image is a very simple example of setback limits on a site plan.
Image Form Sater Design Collection
What Determines Setbacks
Setbacks change based on various facets, one of which is zoning. See the example from the City of Sarasota Zoning Code for Single Family Residential districts below to see how the setback changes by zone. See below on how to check your property’s zone.
Setbacks can also be determined by where the measurement initiates. See example below of one commencement point of the front setback within the City of Sarasota Single Family Residential districts.
Setback requirements for pools and spas may have different stipulations as well depending on your municipality, so don’t overlook this. If you have any questions about your property’s setbacks, please feel free to contact us at 941-366-3650.
How to Find Building Setbacks in Sarasota, FL
While they do change with certain factors, here is how you can find what your property’s setbacks are.
- Go to the property appraisers website here.
- Go to search records.
- Search the records for your property’s address.
- When you find the correct address, the zoning code will be indicated in the top right.
- Match up your zone with the chart above. The graph above is as of August 2021. Zoning setbacks are subject to change, so please confirm with the city of Sarasota’s website.
Every administration will have its own set of regulations as they are vital for your benefit as well as the larger community. To avoid any costly or time consuming mistakes, please ensure you have a licensed professional research your property’s regulations prior to design and construction.
Contact us at [email protected] or 941-366-3650 if you are interested in building a home. We are always happy to help!
Learn more on what it’s like to build with Nautilus Homes. Also, make sure to check out Nautilus Homes’ portfolio for more information on the homes we have built and the ones we are currently working on!
