National Preparedness Month each September raises awareness of the importance of preparing your home and community for disasters and emergencies. To stay safe, neighborhoods must both prevent and prepare. This month, please remember to prepare and plan by keeping everybody in mind to ensure your family, pets, property, and community are safe! 

Need to make a plan or prepare a kit?


The Sarasota County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates residents on disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area. CERT members learn to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. 

Learn more: Sarasota County CERT Program

Apply for the Neighborhood Initiative Grant to get more information on how Sarasota County can help your neighborhood get started! 

Apply for the Neighborhood Initiative Grant Program 

Additional resources are available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Ready Campaign. Click to learn more. 

FEMA Ready

With hurricane season officially upon us, Sarasota County offers tips, resources, and guidance for all residents. Learn about your evacuation level, shelters, how to receive important alerts, and more by clicking the link below.

Emergency Services - Hurricane Preparedness


What is the Neighborhood Safety Academy?


The Neighborhood Safety Academy is a four-week program designed to educate citizens on topics and resources which support safe homes, streets, and communities. Participants will engage with representatives of the Sarasota County Fire Department, SSO, the University of South Florida Traffic Operations and Safety Research, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and more. 

Click to Register: Neighborhood Safety Academy

Questions?

Contact neighbor@scgov.net

Agriculture and Your Home

Interested in Improving and Raising Forage for Cattle and Horses?


UF/IFAS Extension is committed in helping small landowners participate in the local food systems in Sarasota County. Join Agriculture Agent Rod Greder at Twin Lakes Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. for an in-depth dive into how to improve the productivity of your pastures. Learn about the challenges of producing healthy pastures, best practices on how to increase forage productivity, and know about the resources available to assess, manage, and restore your pastures.


For questions or further information, please call 941-861-5000 or email sarasota@ifas.ufl.edu. 

Click to Register: Raising Forage for Cattle and Horses

Rental Dwelling Units and your Zone

Thinking about renting a dwelling unit in your home?


Sarasota County allows for the rental of dwelling units but is only allowed in specific zoning districts in Sarasota County per the Unified Development Code (UDC). 

For more information on land-use regulations, terminology, and resources on short and long-term rental uses, click on the links below

Citizens Guide to Rental Dwelling Units
UDC: Rental Dwelling Units


National Public Lands Day Celebration

National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer event focused on enhancing and improving America’s Public Lands. Join Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources to help improve Culverhouse Nature Park and Community Garden! 

Click to Register: Sarasota County National Public Lands Day
Learn More: National Public Lands Day

Sustainable Transportation Discussion 

Looking for ways to reduce fuel costs? Interested in riding the bus, but not sure where to start? Thinking about an electric car, but not sure what questions to ask?


 Join us virtually on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 12 PM EST for an engaging panel discussion about sustainable transportation. Local experts from Sarasota County Area Transit, UF/IFAS, and Sarasota County will discuss a broad range of alternatives to traditional commuting, including bicycling, buses, trails, electric vehicle use, and more. 

Click to Register: Sustainable Transportation

Is Pollution the Attribution?

Concerned about water pollution in your area?


Sarasota County's Air and Water Quality team is committed to preserving our environment and responding to concerns as quickly as possible. Submit an online pollution concern form or call 941-861-5000. Reporting an environmental emergency? Contact the State Watch Office at 800-320-0519.


For more information about Air and Water Quality, visit scgov.net, keyword: AWQ.


Pollution Report Form
Word on the Street

What is an Easement?


An easement is a right to use a portion of an entity’s or a person’s land without having ownership interest in it. Easements are used to gain access to utilities and other properties. Structures, equipment, or natural vegetation such as trees or shrubs cannot be within the easement because it can restrict access rights to services and utilities. Neighbors can create an access easement to gain access to their property if it’s located behind another property that currently has frontage onto a road. Typically, easements are written into a property’s deed to ensure the rights of use can continue with the subject property.  

Projects in Your Area
Interested to know projects in your area? click on the image to explore our Planning Data Explorer! 
Resources & Reminders

Did you know? Rain can wash fertilizer from your yard and into storm drains which harms water quality.  For more info visit scgov.net, keyword: #fertilizer.

Learn More: Nutrient Pollution

Neighborhood Clean Up 

It's time to clean out the garage and gather unwanted household items, appliances, and tree trimmings. Sarasota County will host a free community cleanup in the Laurel Park Community Center from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 17.

 

Not sure how to dispose of waste and household hazardous materials? Click on the Solid Waste How to Guide for more information.

Solid Waste's How to Guide on Waste Disposal

Home Repair Assistance


Does your house need repair? New roof? A/C? Plumbing? Electrical? Do you need grab bars in your shower or a ramp leading up to your door?  


If you own your home and qualify as low-income, you may be eligible for a 0% deferred-payment loan for home repairs.  


Fill out a Registration Form today OR Provide your Contact Information today at 

HomeRehabAssistance@sarasotafl.gov

Learn More: OHCD Assistance Program

September Events

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