South Venice Beach Community

Updated January 2020

Don’t like Homeowners Associations and their rules and regulations? Have a closer look at the South Venice Beach Community.

With 7,000+ homes, South Venice is the largest subdivision in Sarasota County. The none deed restricted community is unique in several ways: no homeowner is forced to be a member of the homeowners association, but if he decides to become one, the $60 annual fee will grant him  access to the community center and to many community events.  Of course, you can keep your boat or your RV on your property and spend the storage fee for other things.

As mentioned before, South Venice is non-deed restricted, and you can do on your property whatever you like (almost). Now, what if you want to go out on a thrilling boat ride and do not know where to launch your boat? Easy enough, the community has its own boat launch, and the boat goes right into the Intracoastal Waterway. From there the boater has easy access to the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A small contribution  per year opens the chain which blocks the boat ramp for non-paying  members of the community. You will have unlimited access to the boat ramp for an entire year.. By the way, you can conveniently park the truck and trailer right next to the boat ramp for free. Fees change, therefore check here for updated and news. 

Now, it gets even better: South Venice has its own deeded 1,300 foot beachfront property on the Gulf of Mexico. A community-owned  ferry takes the sun seekers to the other side – across the Intracoastal Waterway.  The ferry will cross the Intracoastal every day except on Wednesdays. This is the only day when the ferryman gets a well-earned  rest, and volunteers keep up the boat. A monthly contribution or an annual fee will get you over to the other side. If you like the ride you can go back and forth every 30 minutes – until the sun sets and the captain goes to bed.

“Is that all the community has to offer?” You may now ask, dear reader. Well, don’t be surprised, there is even more than a boat ramp, a private beach, a beach ferry, and interesting community activities. Shamrock Park, situated at the north end of the community, offers tennis and basketball courts and a playground for the little ones; a Club House/Community Center, and miles and miles of biking/hiking trails along the Intracoastal Waterway, and Alligator Creek round out the picture.

However, when driving through the community you will notice easily that South Venice is different from other communities. South Venice is one of the few communities in Florida with this “old Florida” charm. If you are looking for a sleek and stylish community with upscale homes, manicured lawns and neatly trimmed flower beds – South Venice is not really the place for you.’

We write the year 2020 and prices have changed. The starting prices are in the mid $100’s most price tags are in the $180 k – $250 k range. Now many homes have a price greater than $300 k. The size of most homes have a moderate size. 1,400 to 1,600 sq ft plus a one-car garage is a very common size in South Venice. 2,000+ sq ft homes are a more “recent phenomenon” and can most likely be found in newer developments than in “old Florida” communities.

To make a long story short: South Venice is not for everyone, but if you do not like the rules and regulations of  a deed restricted community, or if you try to avoid paying high monthly fees for maintenance or amenities you will never use – you might consider moving to this charming “Old Florida” beach community. If you want to look into other areas in Venice, click here for more information.

Click here to view all current homes for sale. The listings are updated every 15 minutes. You may sign up to get new listings when they hit the market. Don’t worry we won’t bug you.

South Venice, Florida