Sarasota County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

You can file your mechanics liens at any of the Sarasota County Clerk’s two office locations in person at the following addresses:

Sarasota County Historic Courthouse
2000 Main St.
Sarasota, FL 34237

PHONE: (941) 861-7400

Robert L. Anderson Administration Center
4000 S. Tamiami Trail
Venice, FL 34293

PHONE: (941) 861-7400

Office Hours

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Holiday Schedule and Business Office Closing

The Sarasota County Clerk does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog.

If the project is located in Sarasota county, then yes, you will want to record your lien with the Sarasota County Clerk’s Office.

All documents must comply with the Sarasota County Clerk’s recording requirements. Since changes cannot be made once the instrument has been recorded, make sure to check the following:

1. 3″ by 3″ blank space in upper right corner of the first page
2. 1″ by 3″ blank space on each subsequent page
3. Legible, black print or typing for best reproduction by microfilm or photographing
4. Date the body of the instrument
Grantee’s mailing address, if transfer of interest is real estate. (Example: Deeds, Agreements and Contracts for Deeds)
5. Affix the name and address of person to whom instrument is to be returned on the front of the instrument
6. On instruments by which the title to real estate or any interest therein or lien thereon is conveyed, created, encumbered, assigned or otherwise disposed of, the name and address of the person who prepared the instrument must be printed, typewritten or stamped on the face of the instrument in a legible manner (Instruments executed or acknowledged outside of the State, or before January 1, 1968, are exempt.)
8. Description of real or personal property, if any
9. Signature(s) should agree with name(s) in the body of the instrument and should be legible and correctly spelled
10. Signature(s) to be attested by two witnesses (transfer of any property)
11. Acknowledgment of person(s) executing the instrument
12. Notary public seal and expiration date (For out-of-state notary – if the acknowledgment or proof is made before a notary public who does not affix a seal, it shall be sufficient for the notary public to type, print or write by hand on the instrument, “I am a notary public of the State of _______ and my commission expires on ________________(date).”)
13. Corporate seal, if applicable

All documents must be no larger than 14″ x 8 1/2″. Every document must have a 3″ by 3″ blank space in upper right corner of the first page and a 1″ by 3″ blank space on each subsequent page.

The Sarasota County Clerk’s payment options include: check, money order and credit card. Note that credit card transactions are subject to a 3.5% processing fee, charged by a third-party payment provider, nCourt.

The Sarasota County Clerk’s office recording, indexing and filing fee is $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page.

Additional Recording Fees

For indexing instruments recorded in the Official Records which contain more than four names: $1.00 per additional name

Lien Fees

Transferring Mechanic’s Lien To Security:
Issuing of certificate by clerk: $20.00
Each additional lien: $10.00
Approving surety bond: $8.50

Total cash or amount of bond required as security, must include:
a. Amount of lien
b. Interest: 3 years @ legal rate
c. Court costs $1000 or 25% of the amount of the lien, whichever is greater

Transferring Judgment To Bond:

Issuing of certificate by clerk: $20.00
Each additional lien: $10.00
Recording of certificate transferring lien to security, one page: $10.00
Approving surety bond: $8.50

Total cash or amount of bond required as security, must include:
a. Amount of lien
b. Interest: 3 years @ legal rate
c. Court costs $1000 or 25% of the amount of the lien, whichever is greater

Copy Fees

For Making Copies of any instrument in the public records by photographic process: $1.00 per page

For certifying copies of any instrument in the public records, per instrument: $2.00

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien from any of the Sarasota County Clerk’s two office locations in person at the following addresses:

Sarasota County Historic Courthouse
2000 Main St.
Sarasota, FL 34237

PHONE: (941) 861-7400

Robert L. Anderson Administration Center
4000 S. Tamiami Trail
Venice, FL 34293

PHONE: (941) 861-7400

Office Hours

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Holiday Schedule and Business Office Closing

You can search Official Records (Land Records) Online at
https://secure.sarasotaclerk.com/OfficialRecords.aspx

For older records or certified copies, contact the Clerk and Comptroller’s Public Access Department.

Records prior to 1990 can be ordered through a Record Search Request or viewed on microfilm in the Public Access Department.

Records Search Requests are accepted by:

– Mail, Public Access Department, P.O. Box 3079, Sarasota, FL, with a check or money order (made payable to the Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller)

– Phone, 941-861-7400, when payment is made by credit card; or

– Fax, 941-861-7738, when payment is made by credit card.

Make sur to include the name, years to search, case number (if applicable), document needed, and any additional information available to you that will assist the Clerk and Comptroller’s office in fulfilling your request. Also, specify if you require a plain or certified copy of the document. Copy requests are completed in approximately three business days from the date received, provided all required information and fees are included.

Records and Search Fees
Search Fees – $2.00 per name per year to search the Official Records
Copies – $1.00 per page
Certification – $2.00 per document

Paying by Credit Card

When making a request using a credit card, customers should include the card number, expiration date, name on the credit card, the billing address including zip code, and the three or four digit CVV code on the back of the card, for added security. Note that credit card transactions are subject to a 3.5% processing fee, charged by a third-party payment provider, nCourt.

You can get the property’s legal description from any of the Sarasota County Clerk’s office two locations in person.

You can search the County Clerk’s Official Records (Land Records) Online at:
https://secure.sarasotaclerk.com/OfficialRecords.aspx

You can also search for property legal descriptions online with the Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser at:
https://www.sc-pa.com/

You can also access legal descriptions in Sarasota County here.

Determining whether you have the right to file a mechanics lien in Sarasota, FL depends on your situation. Generally speaking, every state gives those who have furnished labor and/or materials to a construction project the right to file a mechanics lien if unpaid for the furnishing. The same is true in Florida. However, there are some state-specific limitations as to who is qualified to file a mechanics lien that is important when considering whether you have the right to file a mechanics lien in Sarasota County, FL.

You can read more about lien rights and if you have the right to file a lien on our Florida Mechanics Lien Resources page.

The fee to file a Florida Preliminary Notice in Sarasota is $10.