Sarasota City Board of Rules and Appeals adopts appeals procedures, sets 2026 meeting date

The Sarasota City Board of Rules and Appeals on Oct. 15 unanimously adopted rules of procedure that set a formal process for appeals of decisions by the building official, including an amendment to cite the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure and a clarification that the board will schedule appeal hearings within 60 calendar days unless the parties agree otherwise.

The rules establish a court-like sequence for hearings: opening statements by the appellant and the building official, presentation of evidence and witnesses, rebuttal, closing arguments and then board deliberation and action. The adopted text also allows the board to postpone a decision to request more information and enables the board to reverse, affirm or modify the building official’s decision. The board added language directing appellants to the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure for certain post-decision time frames and specified that appeal scheduling deadlines in the…