Parking enforcement related to safety issues resumes in downtown Sarasota, with full operations to start again on Nov. 4

Public parking is continuing to remain free on St. Armands Circle and Lido Key, “as the two hardest hit areas in Sarasota continue to undergo restoration following back-to-back destructive hurricanes Helene and Milton,” City of Sarasota staff has announced.
However, downtown Sarasota parking enforcement resumed incrementally as of Monday, Oct. 28, a city news release said.
The gates went down at the State Street and Palm Avenue parking garages at 7 a.m. on Oct. 28, the release pointed out. A driver must pull a ticket or use an access badge to enter the facilities, or the driver will have to pay or use an access badge to exit the garages, the release added. To avoid a $23 “lost ticket fee” to exit the garages, the release noted, vehicles stored at either location since Hurricane Milton arrived on Siesta Key on Oct. 9 had to be removed by noon on Oct. 28.
Downtown parking enforcement began on Oct. 28 in regard to safety-related issues, including illegal parking in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) spaces, “double parking, blocking a fire hydrant, parking in a crosswalk, blocking a driveway, impeding traffic and parking in a ‘No Parking’ area,” the release continued.
On Monday, Nov. 4, the release emphasized, regular paid parking enforcement and operations will resume in downtown Sarasota.
“Repairs to the electronic system at the St. Armands Garage are ongoing following severe storm damage,” the release pointed out. Therefore, paid parking “will not be enforced on St. Armands and Lido Key for the time being.”
The release noted, “For status updates, visit www.Sarasotafl.gov/Alerts and follow the City of Sarasota on social media.
Questions about public parking should be addressed to the Parking Operations Division at ParkingInfo@sarsotafl.gov