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Longboat Key | News

Longboat Key’s most recent beach renourishment project occurred in 2021, with the next round of sand-placing scheduled in 2028.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 4, 2026
Town manager-recommended budget includes property tax rate hike

The Longboat Key Town Commission needs to approve the property tax millage unanimously in September.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Water pools at the intersection in front of Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant in the Longboat Key Village neighborhood July 30.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 3, 2026
Street resiliency design work kicks off in Village neighborhood

The work has begun with an initial survey effort on the north end of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Waves lap against the weathered Bayfront Park seawall, which was installed before the town acquired the land to expand the park in 2011.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 1, 2026
Longboat aims to shore up Bayfront Park seawall with stopgap fix

Repair work using a polyurethane injection is scheduled to begin soon on the seawall fronting Sarasota Bay.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
This waterfall at Patton Park in Lakewood Ranch was being fed by heavy rainfall July 29.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • July 29, 2026
Drought runs deep in Manatee, Sarasota

Although storms have popped up, below-normal rain will take months from which to recover.

  • East County
  • News
Several beachfront properties on Longboat were severely damaged from Hurricane Helene's storm surge.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 29, 2026
FEMA delays highlight need for town reserves

Longboat Key is awaiting more than $29.7 million from FEMA for recovery costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The purple line on this map shows the location of the existing wastewater pipeline that connects Longboat Key to Manatee County’s wastewater treatment facility. The new pipeline will be installed just next to it.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 29, 2026
Subaqueous pipeline project cost, timeline still unknown

The town of Longboat Key still needs to obtain permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FDEP.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A pontoon boat passes a privately-installed navigation marker as it heads out to Sarasota Bay on July 22.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 28, 2026
Channel marker replacement a resident-led effort off Longboat Key

Buttonwood Harbor Channel System has reorganized as a nonprofit as it works to raise money for buoy replacement.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Water pooled around outdoor seating in front of Cha Cha Coconuts on the night of Thursday, July 23.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 27, 2026
Downpour floods St. Armands, frays merchants' nerves again

A slow-moving storm poured rain on the region.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Longboat Key got its high-water vehicle from the Florida Forest Service. The town can keep it on loan for as long as it wants, but agreed to repaint the truck, which formerly had a camo livery.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 26, 2026
Longboat Key's oldest vehicle reserved for drastic floods

The 2.5-ton truck was loaned to the town by the state of Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A Flock camera takes pictures of vehicles that drive on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 22, 2026
Flock cameras photograph every car that enters Longboat Key

The automatic license plate readers are a vital tool for the police department and have helped solve crimes, but privacy concerns have led to nationwide backlash.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A firefighter sprays the roof of a Dock on the Bay condo building Wednesday morning, July 15.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 15, 2026
Fire engulfs Dock on the Bay condo units

Longboat Key firefighters were dispatched a little after 3 a.m. July 15.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
From left to right: Avery Mathis, Charlie Mathis, Michael Mathis and Jessica Mathis grin at a badge pinning ceremony where Michael Mathis was promoted to sergeant of the Longboat Key Police Department.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 17, 2026
Longboat police officer promoted to sergeant

Michael Mathis has been with the Longboat Key Police Department since 2023.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
White sand beaches, boating and preserved nature are a few of the draws the barrier island of Longboat Key has to offer visitors.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 16, 2026
Longboat Key named No. 9 island in U.S.

Travel + Leisure included Longboat Key on its annual World’s Best Awards list.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
At 15 stories, the Islands West condominium building constructed in 1972 is one of the tallest buildings on Longboat Key. Driving north on the island, it’s the last taller condo building, as the north end features more single family homes and shorter hotel buildings like Four Winds Beach Resort pictured to the right.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 15, 2026
The great freeze of 1985 still impacts Longboat Key today

Surging development on Longboat Key was stopped in its tracks when voters approved a charter amendment that required resident approval for density increases. Now, the charter is being looked at again.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Whitney’s Restaurant on the north end of Longboat Key is planning to expand to the office building next door, pictured to the right.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 15, 2026
Whitney's restaurant plans expansion

The Longboat Key restaurant owners paid $1.2 million for the property next door last October.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Longboat Key’s most recent beach renourishment project occurred in 2021, with the next round of sand-placing scheduled in 2028.
  • August 4, 2026
Town manager-recommended budget includes property tax rate hike
2
Longboat Key author Wilma Davidson, president of the local Pen Women chapter, is celebrating the publication of 'Super Cat Chit Chat,' the follow-up story to the 'Super Cat! Splat! Splat!' children's book.
  • August 4, 2026
Local author's 'Super Cat' returns with sequel children's book
3
Longboat police encountered late-night beachgoers
  • August 4, 2026
Longboat police encountered late-night beachgoers
4
Water pools at the intersection in front of Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant in the Longboat Key Village neighborhood July 30.
  • August 3, 2026
Street resiliency design work kicks off in Village neighborhood
5
Waves lap against the weathered Bayfront Park seawall, which was installed before the town acquired the land to expand the park in 2011.
  • August 1, 2026
Longboat aims to shore up Bayfront Park seawall with stopgap fix

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