Firm hired to study the 'soundscape of Sarasota'

As Sarasota continues to grapple with a reasonable and enforceable sound ordinance that balances the vibrancy the city needs with the rights of enjoyment of residents in their homes, the city has solicited the assistance of Gainesville-based Siebein Acoustic.

The firm is tasked to provide a technical evaluation that includes field measurements and analysis of sound conditions in a variety of locations throughout the city, provide a review of the current code and offer suggestions for enforcement, comparisons with standards in other jurisdictions and make technical recommendations to support “clear, measurable and evidence-based regulatory standards,” according to city documents.

In December 2025, the City Commission voted to adopt a noise ordinance similar to that of the city of Miami Beach, which prohibits sources of sound plainly audible from a distance of 100 feet between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. A second motion was approved to direct staff to recommend a consultant to conduct a sound study to help further refine the ordinance crafted by former City Attorney Robert Fournier. 

The cost of the study is between $175,000 and $250,000, depending on the scope of services, which will include weeks of monitoring noise levels throughout the city, not only at ground level but also high above the downtown streets inside condos and on balconies where volume can actually exceed that at lower altitudes.

The sound ordinance may be tweaked based on results of the study.

“We're scientists at heart, obtaining qualitative and quantitative data with evidence-based conclusions driven by data and analysis,” company co-founder Gary Siebein told commissioners at their March 23 meeting. “We like to engage stakeholders at every level in forums such as this, with large numbers of people, but then in smaller groups to the point where we actually walk through the community daytime, night-time, and late night with people to put our ears in their places so that we understand what the issues are.”

The new sound ordinance was adopted after years of complaints by residents of downtown condo towers and nearby neighborhoods. Meanwhile, police and code enforcement officers had been frustrated as the prior decibel-based ordinance proved difficult to enforce as noise that didn't exceed the minimum threshold remained clearly audible.

For the project, Siebein will partner with University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning Professor Martin Gold on what they are calling “Soundscape of Sarasota.” They will deploy noise meters throughout the city to cull millions of data points to create a map of sound origins and receptors.

“We understand that you're really seeking to achieve a balance between citizens living in city, businesses and code enforcement to deal effectively with a mix of activities in the urban context that makes Sarasota such a wonderful place to live,” Siebein said.