Here is what to know before you buy or sell.
- JurisdictionUnincorporated Sarasota County
- AccessBlackburn Point Swing Bridge (north, to Osprey) and Albee Road Bridge (south, to Nokomis)
- Public beachesNokomis Beach and North Jetty Park, both at the south end
- Home typesMostly single-family homes and estates, plus a small number of older multifamily and motel properties
Casey Key runs roughly seven miles along the Gulf, from Midnight Pass in the north to the Venice Inlet in the south. It is part of unincorporated Sarasota County. A local Realtor quoted by Your Observer in 2025 put the island at 400-plus homes.
North Casey Key and South Casey Key
Casey Key is often described by its roads. Blackburn Point Road crosses onto the island near its north end. From there, North Casey Key Road runs north toward Midnight Pass, and Casey Key Road runs south toward Albee Road and Nokomis Beach. South of Nokomis Beach, South Casey Key Road continues to North Jetty Park at the Venice Inlet. The drive between the bridges is about 4.4 miles.
The north end
The National Register nomination for the Blackburn Point Bridge describes development on the north end as private single-family residences, generally one to two stories. North Casey Key Road runs close to the Gulf, which is why it has been the island’s most storm-exposed stretch (see below). Repairs on the north road are funded half by the North Casey Key Special Tax District and half by Sarasota County, according to the project’s inspection engineer.
Just beyond the north tip, Midnight Pass separates Casey Key from Siesta Key. The 2024 hurricanes reopened the pass and the county is now monitoring and managing it.
Mid-key and the south end
Casey Key Road runs down the middle of the island, with homes on both the Gulf and bay sides. The Herald-Tribune described a quarter-mile commercial stretch on the key, with small motels and inns. The south end has the island’s two public beach parks and the Albee Road Bridge to Nokomis.
The Bridges: Blackburn Point and Albee Road
The Blackburn Point Swing Bridge
Built in 1925–26 by the Champion Bridge Company of Wilmington, Ohio, the Blackburn Point Bridge is a 142-foot steel truss swing bridge that pivots sideways to let boats pass. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Sarasota County Register of Historic Places. It carries one lane of traffic at a time, about 16 feet wide with no shoulders, sidewalks or bike lanes.
Sarasota County is running a Project Development and Environment study on its future. The options are:
- No-build: keep the existing bridge and continue repairs. The county estimates more than $20 million in repairs over 20 years.
- A new swing bridge, in a one-lane or two-lane version.
- A new single-leaf bascule (drawbridge).
Study and design are funded; construction is not. As of September 2026, the County Commission was tentatively expected to discuss the bridge in December 2026. Preservation advocates working with the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation are campaigning to keep and restore the existing bridge, which they call one of 11 swing bridges still operating in Florida. Follow updates on the county’s Blackburn Point Bridge Project site and the Casey Key Association’s project summary.
The Albee Road Bridge
The south bridge is not a swing bridge. The Albee Road Bridge is a two-lane, double-leaf bascule drawbridge about 310 feet long, built in 1963 to replace an earlier swing bridge. It connects Casey Key to Albee Road in Nokomis and opens for boat traffic. A public boat launch sits just north of it. If Blackburn Point closes, the county’s plan is to detour traffic to Albee Road. The study’s consultant puts that detour at 10.5 miles.
Casey Key is often described by its roads.
Estates, Privacy and Zoning
Casey Key’s character comes largely from its zoning. Sarasota County’s Comprehensive Plan caps barrier-island residential density at the zoning in place on March 13, 1989. In 2016, the County Commission unanimously denied a request to rezone a Casey Key parcel from RE-2 (Residential Estate, 1 unit per acre) so it could be split, after the Casey Key Association opposed it.
What buyers will find, in practice:
- Gulf-front and Gulf-to-bay estates on larger lots.
- Bayfront homes on Little Sarasota Bay, Dryman Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway.
- Older cottages and 1950s bungalows, many ground-level, alongside newer elevated homes. After 2024, some older cottages were torn down rather than repaired.
- A small number of motels, inns and multifamily-zoned properties.
Vacation-Rental Rules
Under Sarasota County’s rental-of-dwelling-units guide:
- Single-family, estate and most other residential zoning: every lease must be at least 30 days.
- Residential Multifamily (RMF) zoning on the barrier islands (Siesta, Casey and Manasota keys): leases may be shorter than 30 days.
- Bed and breakfasts are prohibited in the Casey Key Conservation District.
In April 2026, the County Commission directed staff to develop a short-term rental registration program for unincorporated areas, so check whether one has been adopted. Rental owners also need a state vacation-rental license and must collect sales tax and the county’s 6% tourist development tax.
Beaches: Nokomis Beach and North Jetty Park
Nokomis Beach
Nokomis Beach, at 100 Casey Key Road, is Sarasota County’s oldest public beach, according to Visit Sarasota County. Its Nokomis Beach Plaza was designed in the 1950s by Jack West of the Sarasota School of Architecture and renovated in 2008. The county lists lifeguards, a boardwalk, a bayside boat ramp and kayak launch, a fishing pier, picnic shelters, a playground, sand volleyball and restrooms. In 2025, part of the lot was closed for road-project staging.
North Jetty Park
North Jetty Park, at 1000 South Casey Key Road, sits at the Venice Inlet. The county lists lifeguards, a concession, fishing, a kayak launch, picnic pavilions and a playground. The 2024 storms destroyed the park’s eatery and damaged the Venice Inlet jetties, according to the state’s storm report. The county partially reopened the park on March 1, 2025, with the north and east lots, lifeguards and a concession. Check the county park status page for the jetty itself and the south lot before you go.
Historic Spanish Point and the Mainland
Just across Blackburn Point on the mainland, Historic Spanish Point is a 30-acre archaeological, historical and environmental museum on Little Sarasota Bay at 401 North Tamiami Trail in Osprey. It is now a campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The site preserves prehistoric shell middens that span roughly 5,000 years, the Webb family’s pioneer homestead and Bertha Palmer’s gardens. See Selby Gardens’ Historic Spanish Point visitor page for hours and admission.
On Blackburn Point Road, Casey Key Fish House, open since 2000, reopened in December 2024 after Milton.
Drive Times from Casey Key
| Destination | From | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Spanish Point | North end | 2.7 miles | 6–12 minutes |
| Downtown Venice (Venice Avenue) | Nokomis Beach | 4 miles | 10–18 minutes |
| Sarasota Memorial Hospital–Venice | Nokomis Beach | 4.7 miles | 11–20 minutes |
| I‑75 at Laurel Road (Exit 195) | Nokomis Beach | 6.4 miles | 15–25 minutes |
| Siesta Key Village | North end | 11.3 miles | 23–35 minutes |
| Downtown Sarasota (Five Points Park) | North end | 13.6 miles | 26–40 minutes |
| Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) | North end | 18 miles | 35–50 minutes |
| Lakewood Ranch Main Street | Nokomis Beach | 21 miles | 30–45 minutes |
| Tampa International Airport (TPA) | North end | 76 miles | 90–125 minutes |
“North end” means Blackburn Point Road at North Casey Key Road. Distances are approximate routed driving distances from OpenStreetMap data. Typical ranges add an allowance for seasonal traffic and bridge openings.
After Helene and Milton: Erosion, Road Washouts and Rebuilding
North Casey Key Road has a long erosion history. A June 2024 storm collapsed part of its southbound lane, and Tropical Storm Debby damaged it again in August. Then Helene, passing offshore on September 26, 2024, washed out several sections between the 200 and 900 blocks, and Sarasota County said residents there temporarily had no direct emergency access by road. Milton made landfall on nearby Siesta Key on October 9.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s March 2025 report on the two storms found:
- Major beach and dune erosion along all of Sarasota County’s beaches, including Casey Key.
- Generally 2 to 6 feet of sand on top of the dunes, particularly on Casey Key and Manasota Key.
- About 2,772 feet of major road damage on Casey Key.
- About 3.7 miles of major seawall and revetment damage along Casey Key, the Venice Inlet and Manasota Key.
In spring 2025, the county approved permanent repairs to two segments of North Casey Key Road, about 0.53 miles in total, under a $44.59 million contract. The work adds a new seawall and granite rock armor. County officials expected completion in March 2027.
The FEMA 50% rule in Sarasota County
Under the county’s floodplain rules, a building in a flood zone is substantially damaged or substantially improved when repair or improvement costs equal or exceed 50% of the structure’s market value, excluding land. It must then meet flood rules for new construction, which usually means elevating the lowest floor, generally at least 1 foot above base flood elevation. See the county’s substantial improvement notice. A local Realtor told Your Observer the rule makes rebuilding some older homes impractical.
The Gulf Beach Setback Line
Sarasota County set its Gulf Beach Setback Line in 1979, as part of its Coastal Setback Code, to protect dunes and beach habitat. Building seaward of the line requires a Coastal Setback Variance from the County Commission. In January 2023, the commission approved a new Casey Key Road home extending up to 68 feet seaward of the line, after denying a 2019 petition on the same parcel. Ask where the line falls on any Gulf-front lot.
Flood due diligence
- Check the flood zone on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and request an elevation certificate.
- Ask what flooded in 2024, what was repaired and permitted, and whether the county issued a substantial damage determination.
- Read the seller’s flood disclosure. Since October 1, 2025, Florida law has required residential sellers to disclose known flood damage, flood insurance claims and any federal assistance they received for flood damage.
Insurance
Get wind and flood quotes during your inspection period. If a home may be insured through Citizens Property Insurance, note that Citizens requires most personal residential policies with wind coverage to also carry flood insurance on new and renewal policies effective on or after January 1, 2027. Older multifamily buildings three or more stories tall may also fall under Florida’s milestone inspection law, section 553.899.
Schools Serving Casey Key
Casey Key is in the Sarasota County Schools district. We checked seven addresses, from North Casey Key Road to North Jetty Park, on the district’s official zone map. All are zoned for Laurel Nokomis School (kindergarten through grade 8) and Venice High School. In the Florida Department of Education’s 2025-26 school grades, both earned an A. The district noted a recent Venice High zone boundary change, so confirm any address with Sarasota County Schools’ student assignment page and zone locator.
Casey Key Real Estate Market Snapshot
- Property types price very differently: estates, bayfront homes and older cottages.
- Elevation and storm history matter, since older ground-level homes may face the 50% rule.
- Some older homes have been torn down since 2024, and a local Realtor expects more land to come to market.
Thinking about selling on Casey Key?
Value depends on frontage, lot size, elevation, setback-line position, zoning and storm history.
Casey Key FAQ
Is Casey Key its own town?
No. Casey Key is in unincorporated Sarasota County, so the county handles zoning, permits, flood rules and roads. Mailing addresses on the north end generally use Osprey (34229), and addresses farther south generally use Nokomis (34275).
How do you get on and off Casey Key?
Two bridges cross the Intracoastal Waterway. The one-lane Blackburn Point Swing Bridge connects the north part of the key to U.S. 41 in Osprey. The Albee Road Bridge, a two-lane drawbridge built in 1963, connects the south part to Nokomis near Nokomis Beach.
Is the Blackburn Point Swing Bridge being replaced?
No decision has been made. Sarasota County is studying a no-build repair option, a new swing bridge or a new bascule drawbridge. The County Commission was expected to take up the bridge in December 2026. Construction is not yet funded, and preservation advocates are campaigning to keep the historic bridge.
Can I rent my Casey Key home short-term?
Usually not. Sarasota County requires leases of at least 30 days in single-family and estate zoning. Only property zoned Residential Multifamily (RMF) on the barrier islands, including Casey Key, may be rented for less than 30 days. The county also prohibits bed-and-breakfast use in the Casey Key Conservation District. Check each parcel’s zoning before you buy.
How did Hurricanes Helene and Milton affect Casey Key?
Helene’s surge in September 2024 washed out parts of North Casey Key Road, and Milton followed in October. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reported 2 to 6 feet of sand on top of the dunes in many places, and about 2,772 feet of major road damage on Casey Key. A $44.59 million county project is rebuilding about half a mile of North Casey Key Road.
What is the FEMA 50% rule on Casey Key?
Under Sarasota County’s floodplain rules, if repairs or improvements cost 50% or more of a building’s market value, the whole building must meet current flood standards. That usually means elevating it. Market value excludes the land. Ask about any damage determination before you buy.
What schools serve Casey Key?
According to the Sarasota County Schools zone map, the Casey Key addresses we checked are zoned for Laurel Nokomis School (kindergarten through grade 8) and Venice High School. Both earned an A in the state’s 2025-26 school grades. Confirm any address with the district.
How far is Casey Key from Venice, Sarasota and the airport?
From Nokomis Beach, downtown Venice is about 4 miles, usually 10 to 18 minutes. From the north end at Blackburn Point Road, downtown Sarasota is about 13.6 miles, usually 26 to 40 minutes. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is about 18 miles, usually 35 to 50 minutes.
Ready to Make Your Casey Key Move?
Clear, local, no-pressure advice for buyers.
- John Brink, “Broker Brink”
- The SRQ Premier Team | Bright Realty
- Phone: (941) 928-5555
- Email: info@brokerbrink.com
- www.brokerbrink.com
Information in this guide is believed accurate as of November 2026 and is provided for general information only. It is not legal, insurance or financial advice. School zones, flood maps, floodplain, zoning, setback and rental rules, laws, bridge and road projects, and park facilities change. Verify all details independently before you buy or sell. Distances and drive times are approximate. Association, museum and news details are as reported by the cited organizations. Listing information is provided through the MLS and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.