Sarasota County, FL

Submit an application within 45 days of completion of whatever portion of the project is completed in Sarasota County along with a completed General Production/Postproduction Expenditure Categories/Rebate Form; provide itemized invoices and bills (or statements or other documents showing details of fees/charges or expense amounts) with proof of payment in full; for any labor costs, provide two forms of ID with matching Sarasota County address (e.g. a valid Florida driver’s license and current utility bill or similar document that includes matching name and address showing proof of Sarasota County residency).

Generally, qualified spend consists of most expenditures for costs incurred and paid in Sarasota County or its municipalities for production and postproduction goods, services, labor, or other activities performed by businesses and residents of Sarasota County or its municipalities, excluding alcohol and tobacco in any form. See General Production/Postproduction Expenditure Categories/Rebate Form for qualifying expenditures. Sarasota County government fees and charges eligible for the rebate include: county permits, parking, law enforcement sheriffs, fire, emergency services, marine patrol, road closures, use of County-owned lands, buildings, equipment, or other assets and resources including the use of County staff.

This program is administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Production companies may earn a rebate equal to 100% of Sarasota County government fees/charges and up to 20% of non-county government qualified expenditures and resident labor costs up to the applicable caps. The rebate percentage on total qualified nongovernmental expenditures and total resident labor costs are calculated as follows: $1,000 – $5,999 earns 10%; $6,000 – $10,999 earns 12.5%; $11,000 – $20,999 earns 15%; $21,000 – $30,999 earns 17.5%; and $31,000 or more earns 20%. Sarasota County includes the municipalities of: City of Sarasota; City of Venice; portions of the City of North Port and Town of Longboat Key; the five barrier islands of Longboat, Lido, Siesta, Casey, and Manasota keys; and unincorporated areas of Sarasota County.