Sarasota, FL rainwater: 38,985 gallons off a roof
Rainwater from a roof in Sarasota, FL
38,985gallons a year
That is a 1,500 sq ft asphalt roof under Sarasota, FL's normal 49.1 inches of rain, about 795 gallons for every inch that falls.
In Sarasota, FL a single barrel does most of the work. Storms come often enough that a small tank refills before it runs dry, and a bigger one would mostly sit full.
Rainfall: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, the Sarasota Bradenton Ap station (4.5 mi away). Sarasota, FL ranks 169th wettest of the 173 cities covered in Florida.
Month by month in Sarasota
| Month | Rain (in) | Off the roof (gal) | Garden shortfall (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.79 | 2,218 | |
| Feb | 1.92 | 1,526 | |
| Mar | 2.85 | 2,265 | |
| Apr | 2.46 | 1,955 | 236 |
| May | 2.58 | 2,051 | 221 |
| Jun | 7.05 | 5,603 | |
| Jul | 7.39 | 5,874 | |
| Aug | 9.11 | 7,241 | |
| Sep | 6.00 | 4,769 | |
| Oct | 2.76 | 2,194 | 198 |
| Nov | 1.81 | 1,439 | |
| Dec | 2.33 | 1,852 |
Aug is the wettest month (9.11 in, 7,241 gal off the roof); Nov the driest (1.81 in). Garden shortfall is what a 200 sq ft vegetable bed needs beyond the rain that lands on it, April to October.
What size rain barrel for Sarasota
Best fit: one 55-gallon barrel, which delivers about 546 gallons to the garden in a normal year (83.4% of its need).
Before you buy, a 55-gallon barrel with a downspout diverter is the whole job. Check that the overflow points away from your foundation, because most of Sarasota's roof water will pass straight through it.
| Tank | Water used (gal/yr) | Spills over (gal/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 gal | 546 | 37,420 |
| 110 gal | 577 | 37,388 |
| 165 gal | 577 | 37,388 |
| 275 gal | 577 | 37,388 |
| 550 gal | 577 | 37,388 |
| 1,000 gal | 577 | 37,388 |
| 1,500 gal | 577 | 37,388 |
| 2,500 gal | 577 | 37,388 |
| 5,000 gal | 577 | 37,388 |
Simulated storm by storm through a normal year using the station's count of days with 0.1 in or more of rain each month.
Is rainwater collection legal in Florida?
Legal. Florida approves onsite non-potable use of rainwater for landscape irrigation, vehicle washing, filling pools and fountains and, in some local jurisdictions, toilet/urinal flushing (Florida Plumbing Code). No state storage cap or registration for non-potable collection.
Checked against the current source on 2026-11-06. Source