Sarasota Contacts
Utilities
Florida Power & Light 941/917-0708
Gulfstream Natural Gas System 941/723-7100
Peace River Electric Co-Op 800/282-3824
TECO Peoples Gas System 813/275-3722
Verizon Business ~ 800-483-5000 Residential ~ 800-483-4000
Television
Bright House Networks 941-748-3816
Comcast Cable 941-371-4444
Verizon FIOS ~ 800-483-4000
Telephone
Water, Sewer, Garbage Service Unincorporated areas
Utilities (Water)
Newspapers
The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper 941/778-3986
The Anna Maria Islander 941/778-7978
The Bradenton Herald 941/748-0411
Lakewood Ranch Herald 941/708-7800
Manatee Herald-Tribune 941/745-7800
The Observer Group 941/755-5357
St. Petersburg Times 727/893-8476
Tampa Bay Business Journal 813/342-2470
Tempo News 941/721-4896
Establishing Residency
To become an official Florida resident, file a declaration of domicile. The document states that you reside at a certain address and is notarized by the Clerk of the County Court. Contact the Sarasota County Clerk of Circuit Courts, 2000 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 362-4066.
Obtaining a Driver's License
New residents must register their vehicles in Florida within 10 days of gaining employment or enrolling children in school. To register a vehicle, be prepared to provide the Sarasota County Tax Collector's office with your current driver's license, proof of Florida auto insurance, prior registration certificate and ownership title. The vehicle identification number will be verified, and you will need to apply for a Florida license plate. The fee depends on the vehicle's weight.
Newcomers also must apply for a Florida Title Certificate if there is a lien on the vehicle; you should bring your payment book to the Tax Collector's office. Contact the Sarasota Tax Collector, 101 S. Washington, (941) 362-9898. Florida law requires that new state residents apply for a Florida driver's license within 30 days. But first, register your car as noted above.
The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles will need to see proof of your Florida vehicle registration, your out-of-state driver's license and your social security card. If you own a Florida-registered vehicle, bring the registration as well. If your out-of-state license is valid, you need only take a vision test. A written exam and driver's test is required if your license is invalid or if you are applying for your first license. The written exam is based on the Florida Driver's Handbook and the driver must supply the vehicle for the test. Contact the driver license office at 601 S. Pompano Ave., (941) 361-6217, or call (941) 361-6222 for an appointment.
Taxes
The homestead exemption provision means that permanent residents don't pay taxes on the first $25,000 of their home's appraised value. You can reduce your ad valorem tax bill by seeking a homestead exemption on the first $25,000 of your home's value. To file for exemption, establish residency by Dec. 31 prior to the year you will claim exemption. Then file for exemption in January or February. Contact the Sarasota County Property Appraiser at 2001 Adams Lane (941) 861-8200.
Residents of Sarasota County benefit from a property tax millage rate that is among the lowest in the state.
The state of Florida has no personal income tax!
Registering Your Motor Vehicle
Florida law requires newcomers to register their vehicles within 10 days of employment or enrolling childen in school. To register a vehicle, drivers must present a current driver's license, proof of Florida automobile insurance (from a Florida-licensed agent) and title to the vehicle.
Newcomers can transfer valid out-of-state driver's licenses, register vehicles, obtain license plates, and purchase disabled parking permits and register to vote at any Sarasota County Tax Collector's office.
Voter Registration
To vote, you must register in your county of residence. You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, county resident and at least 18 years old by the next election. To register, fill out a form and swear an oath that you live in the county. Your voter registration card will be mailed to you before the next election. For information on registration locations near you, call the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office at 101 S. Washington St. (941) 861-8600.
County Government & Important Sites
County Site
Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller
Libraries
Parks and Recreation
Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County
Property Appraiser (property records and search)
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
Supervisor of Elections (elections and voting)
Tax Collector (licenses, property taxes, vehicle registration)
Housing and Community Development (City of Sarasota)
Public Works
Residential Garbage and Recycling
Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT)
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
Sarasota County Schools
Utilities (Water)
Visitors Bureau
Chamber of Commerce
City of Longboat Key
City of North Port
City of Sarasota
City of Venice
Colleges & Universities
Argosy University - Sarasota Campus 941/379-0404
Eckerd College - Program for Experienced Learners (Sarasota) 941/957-3397
Everglades University (Sarasota) 941/907-2262
Florida College of Natural Health (Bradenton) 941/744-1244
Hodges University (Bradenton) 941/809-5505
Keiser University EDC (Sarasota) 941/907-3900
LECOM - Bradenton EDC (Bradenton) 941/756-0690
Manatee Community College (Bradenton) 941/752-5000
Manatee Technical Institute (Bradenton) 941/751-7900
New College of Florida (Sarasota) 941/487-4150
Nova Southeastern University (Tampa) 813/393-4995
Ringling College of Art and Design (Sarasota) 941/351-5100
University of Miami (Bradenton) 941/753-9957
University of Phoenix (Sarasota) 941/554-2564
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee EDC 941/359-4200
Webster University (Sarasota) 941/358-3840
Hospitals
Blake Medical Center 941/792-6611
Dattoli Cancer Center & Brachytherapy Research Institute 941/957-1221
HealthSouth Ridgelake Hospital 941/342-3000
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center 941/782-2103
Manatee Memorial Hospital 941/746-5111
Parsons Medical Center 941/729-4400
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System 941/917-7067