SPLIT OR COMBINE APPLICATION INFORMATION

Parcel splits or combinations requested by property owners or their authorized representatives are processed by the Sarasota County Property Appraiser (“SCPA”) solely for tax assessment and billing purposes.

To combine parcels, titles must reflect identical ownership and vested interest.

It is important to understand that a split or combination without a recorded deed is administrative in nature and does not:

• Affect ownership, recorded title, or legal descriptions.
• Constitute legal approval of the requested land configuration.
• Authorize or imply the legality of conveying parcels via land title.
• Confirm the suitability of parcels for development.
• Remove or alter existing liens or encumbrances.
• Modify zoning designations or compliance with land use regulations.
• Grant any rights or entitlements regarding current or future property use.

The SCPA office does not determine the legal permissibility of parcel splits or combinations within any jurisdiction or provide guidance on such matters. Property owners are encouraged to contact the appropriate zoning, planning, or community development agencies. In some jurisdictions, prior approval or a Unity of Title document may be required. All prior-year taxes must be paid prior to approval of a Split or Combine application. To verify current tax status, please visit the Sarasota County Tax Collector’s website or call (941) 861-8300.

The SCPA office reserves the right to:

• Require documents to be recorded in the public records for certain splits.
• Require documented jurisdictional approval.
• Conduct a physical inspection of combined condominium units for final approval.
• Deny applications that do not meet applicable criteria.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

• Splitting or combining your parcel may increase your property assessment and could result in higher taxes. For questions, contact our Public Service & Exemptions Department at (941) 861-8200.
• Be aware that splitting or combining parcels can affect capped values. If the process is reversed in the future, the cap cannot be restored to its previous level.
• Applications processed by the SCPA office that modify parcel boundaries may not be searchable on the Sarasota County Clerk’s Official Records website and could make determining the chain of title more difficult in the future.
• A parcel split or combination is most effectively completed by recording a deed with new legal descriptions for each resulting parcel. Recording a deed ensures availability to attorneys, title companies, realtors, and court personnel conducting title searches on the Sarasota County Clerk’s Official Records website.
• Once parcels are combined, they cannot be split if property taxes are delinquent per Florida Statute 197.192. To verify current tax status, visit the Sarasota County Tax Collector’s website or call (941) 861-8300.
• See our Frequently Asked Questions for Splitting and Combining Parcels for additional information.