Here is some helpful information for beginning your new life in Sarasota.
Important Phone Numbers
Water
Water Department Sarasota County, (941) 861-5000
City of Sarasota Water and Sewage, (941) 954-4196
Electric
Florida Power & Light Sarasota, (941) 917-0708
Peace River Electric Cooperative: Manatee, 941) 722-2729
Gas
TECO, (941) 342-4000
Telephone
(Verizon): Sarasota/Manatee, (800) 483-4200
Cable
Comcast Cable:
Sarasota, (941) 371-6700
Venice, (941) 484-0602
Englewood, (941) 474-9561
Fire Departments
Sarasota County, (941) 861-5300
Longboat Key, (941) 316-1944
City of Venice, (941) 480-3030
Hospitals
Children's Hospital of Sarasota, (941) 927-8805
Bon Secures Venice Hospital, (941) 485-7711
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, (941) 342-1100
Englewood Community Hospital, (941) 475-6571
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, (941) 782-2100
Sarasota Memorial Hospital, (941) 917-9000
Poison Control, (800) 282-3171
Libraries
Selby Public Library, (941) 861-1100
Jacaranda Library, (Venice) (941) 861-1260
Fruitville Library, (941) 861-2500
Longboat Key Library, (941) 383-2011
Gulf Gate Library, (941) 861-1230
Elsie Quick Library, Englewood, (941) 861-1200
Venice Public Library, (941) 861-1330
North Port Library, (941) 861-1300
Police/Sheriff
City of Sarasota Police, (941) 366-8000
Longboat Key Police, (941) 316-1977
City of Venice Police, (941) 486-2444
City of North Port Police, (941) 426-3111
Sarasota County Sheriff, (941) 951-5800
Postal Service
U.S. Post Office, (800) 275-8777
Trash Collection
City of Sarasota, (941) 365-7651
Recycling, (941) 953-6559
Transportation
Manatee County: Manatee County Area Transit: 941-749-7116
Sarasota County: Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT): 941-316-1234
Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport: Information 941-359-5200
Amtrak: 800-872-7245
Greyhound: Sarasota: 941-955-5735; Manatee: 941-747-2984
Commercial Cruise Lines/Port Manatee: 941-722-6621
Education
Sarasota County School Board: 941-927-8811
Manatee County School Board: 941-741-7233
Residency
Vehicle Registration
You must register your vehicle within 10 days of gaining employment or enrolling your children in school. You’ll need physical verification of vehicle I.D. number; an application for a Florida license plate; an application for a Florida Title Certificate; a title transfer (if a lien is on the vehicle).
Where: Sarasota: 941-262-9898; Manatee: 941-741-4800
Drivers License
You must obtain a Florida Drivers License within 30 days of becoming a resident.
You’ll need proof of vehicle registration (see above); your out-of-state license; and your social security card. If you have an out-of-state valid license you’ll have to only take a vision test. However, if your license is invalid, or if you are applying for your first license you will have to take a written exam and a drivers test.
Where: Sarasota: 941-361-6222; Manatee: 941-741-3010
Voter Registration
In order to register to vote the requirements are that you must be a U.S. citizen; a legal county resident; 18
years of age or older by the next election date. You’ll need to fill out a form and swear an oath that you live in the county. Where: Sarasota: 941-951-5037; Manatee: 941-749-7181
Homestead Exemption
Florida residents can declare the first $25,000 of your homes assessed value as exempt from taxes.
To qualify you must be a resident by December 31 prior to the year you claim your exemption and you must file during the January or February of the year being claimed. After March 1, an application can be filed for the following year. In order to file for an exemption you’ll need proof of residency. This will include voter registration card, a valid Florida drivers license, etc. Where: Sarasota: 941-951-5650; Manatee: 941-8748-8208
Quick Facts
Location: Sarasota County is located on the Florida Gulf Coast between Tampa and Fort Myers.
Communities in Sarasota County, Casey Key, Englewood, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Manasota Key, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey, Siesta Key, St. Armands, Venice
Geography
573 square miles
35 miles of beachfront
Average Temperature Range
Annual: 61.2 – 83.8° F
January: 49.3 – 73.3° F
July: 71.6 – 91.7° F
Sarasota averages 361 annual days of sunshine
Average Annual Rainfall
52.08 inches
Population
More than 325,900 residents
Median age: 48.9 years
Airport
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is located at the intersection of US 41 & University Parkway. (941) 359-5200
Accommodations
A wide variety of accommodations are available, from campgrounds and cottages to privately owned homes and luxury resort hotels.
