Are Sarasota deputies required to act on disturbance complaints?
No.
Even if residents believe a noise is too disruptive, deputies need probable cause to enforce a noise ordinance in unincorporated Sarasota County, including Siesta Key Beach.
Sarasota has both sound and noise ordinances. The sound ordinance applies to businesses and property owners and is enforced with a decibel system. The noise ordinance, also known as a “disturbance of peace,” applies to unreasonably loud noises like yelling or using amplifiers intended to disrupt the community’s comfort.
If law enforcement has probable cause that someone is violating the noise ordinance, they must first give that person a warning. After a reasonable amount of time (usually 15 minutes), they are subject to penalties, such as fines up to $500 and/or up to 60 days in jail.
While some noises may cause disruptions, officials determine the intention of that disruption and whether it’s subject to penalties.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Is it legal in Florida to shoot a BB gun in your backyard?
Yes.
Florida law generally allows adults to shoot BB guns on private property, including in their backyards, as long as no one is hurt and no property is damaged.
But there are key restrictions.
Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult when using a BB gun, and reckless use — like firing into a building or vehicle — can lead to serious criminal charges.
BB guns aren’t considered firearms under state law, but their projectiles can still cause harm and be treated as dangerous missiles in certain cases. For example, a Jacksonville man was charged in March with aggravated domestic battery after allegedly shooting a woman with a BB gun.
Some cities may have stricter local rules, particularly in urban neighborhoods or near schools. Local ordinances in Bradenton, Palmetto and Sarasota, however, did not reveal any additional regulations.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
This story was originally published by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom delivering investigative journalism to Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org.
