Population: 56,994
Type of Requirement: Ordinance

Physical Address:
Public Art Program, Planning Department
1565 1st Street, Room 302A
Sarasota, FL 34236

Main Contact:
David Smith, Manager of Long Range Planning
Email David | 941.356.4175

The Code establishes that all new construction or improvements of multi-family, mixed-use, or commercial development projects that exceed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) in construction value are subject to a mandatory public art requirement. In the Downtown Neighborhood Edge, Downtown Edge, Downtown Core, and Downtown Bayfront neighborhoods, only non-residential portions of mixed-use projects are subject to the requirement. Buildings or portions of buildings that include attainable housing units and individual condominium units are excluded from the requirement.

Projects may satisfy the requirement in the following ways:

• For projects more than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) in construction value but less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00), the developer must contribute half of one percent (0.5%) of the construction value to the Public Art Fund; or
• For projects exceeding one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) in construction value, the developer can either:
• Provide artwork valued at one half of a percent (0.5%) of the construction value (not including cost of maintenance) at the development site, subject to plan approval by the Public Art Committee; or
• Make a contribution to the Public Art Fund equal to or exceeding one half of a percent (0.5%) of the construction value

One of these options must be satisfied prior to the issuance of a building permit.