Fence or deck costs in Sarasota

Hurricane Milton came ashore on Siesta Key in October 2024 as a Category 3 storm. The National Hurricane Center's report says it did major damage around Sarasota, and the storm also set off 45 known tornadoes on land across the peninsula. For fence and deck owners here, the useful part is what the paperwork looks like afterward.

Take unincorporated Manatee County, the Bradenton side of the metro. Its post-storm permitting plan lists fence replacement, and replacing a wood deck or dock, among the repairs that still need a permit after a declared disaster. The county promises fast-track review for like-for-like roofs, electrical reconnections, plumbing, HVAC, doors and windows. Fences and decks aren't on that fast list. They're also named among the permit applications whose fees won't be waived.

So in unincorporated Manatee, a fence knocked flat by a storm isn't a skip-the-paperwork fix. Manatee's standard permit list says a fence or deck application always needs building plans and a site plan or survey, the same as any other day.

If you're rebuilding a deck anyway, it's a fair moment to rethink it. Sun and salt air are hard on wood boards, and a smaller deck, or composite boards on a sound frame, can mean less upkeep.