Concrete slabs and pads for Sarasota County, sized for the load
Shed, AC, generator, hot-tub, boat-lift and dumpster pads poured thick enough for what sits on them and high enough to stay dry.
- Uses
- Shed, AC, generator, hot tub, boat-lift motor, dumpster, dock approach
- Spec
- 4 in. standard; 5 to 6 in. for hot tubs, RVs and dumpsters; #4 bar where loaded
- Time on site
- 1 to 3 working days
- Planning range
- $9 to $15 per sq ft small pads; $8 to $12 large
What does a concrete pad cost in Sarasota?
Small pads cost more per square foot than driveways because mobilization is the same for 40 square feet as for 600. Published Sarasota-area pricing on September 10, 2026 supports a planning range of $9 to $15 per square foot for pads under 150 square feet and $8 to $12 for larger slabs; an AC pad runs about $350 to $700 and a 10-by-12 shed pad about $1,200 to $2,000.
Published Sarasota-area pricing read on September 10, 2026 (see data and methods). Planning ranges, not quotes.
How long does a pad take?
One to three working days. Base and forms in the morning, pour the same day for small pads, joints if the slab is over 10 feet in either direction, then cure. A shed can go on after 7 days, a hot tub after 28 because of the concentrated water weight.
Pads sized for the load
| Pad | Thickness | Reinforcement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC condenser | 4 in. | Fiber | 3 in. margin each side, raised 2 to 4 in. above grade |
| Standby generator | 4 to 5 in. | Fiber + #3 bar | Anchor bolts to the manufacturer's template; conduit sleeved |
| Shed (up to 12×16) | 4 in. | Fiber | Thickened edge if the shed has no floor |
| Hot tub / swim spa | 6 in. | #4 bar at 12 in. | A filled 8-ft spa can exceed 5,000 lb |
| Boat-trailer / RV pad | 6 in. | #4 bar at 18 in. | Tongue jack point on a plate, not bare concrete |
| Dumpster / equipment pad | 6 in. | #4 bar at 12 in. | Turning wheels and drop loads |
| Dock approach (upland) | 4 in. | Fiber + #3 bar | Salt-resistant mix; marine work beyond the seawall excluded |
The base matters more on a pad than anywhere
A pad is small enough that one soft spot tilts the whole thing, and on Myakka fine sand with a shallow water table that soft spot is common. The subgrade is dug to firm material, compacted, and topped with 4 inches of crushed base compacted in two lifts. Pads for equipment are set 2 to 4 inches above finished grade so irrigation and rain don't sit against the unit.
Permits
Unincorporated Sarasota County generally exempts a detached shed of 100 square feet or less; the pad follows the shed. Generator and AC pads are usually reviewed with the electrical or mechanical permit for the equipment, not as slabs. Charlotte County permits every slab, structural or not, and requires a Notice of Commencement over $5,000. See permits.
What goes wrong
- Precast AC pads sinking into sand and tilting the condenser.
- Generator pads poured without the anchor template, so the bolts miss.
- Shed pads level with the lawn that hold water at the door.
- Hot tub pads at 4 inches that crack under a filled spa.
- Pads poured at the seawall as if they were marine work.
Comparisons
Three pads and what each one needed
- A generator pad in South Venice after the 2024 outages. Poured to the manufacturer's template with the anchor bolts set in the wet concrete and a conduit sleeved through; the electrician's permit covered the pad.
- A boat-trailer pad on an acre off Lorraine Road. Six inches, #4 bar at 18 inches, a steel plate cast in at the tongue-jack point, raised 3 inches and sloped to the swale.
- An AC pad in Gulf Gate that had sunk on a precast block. Twenty minutes of demolition, a compacted subgrade, a 4-inch poured pad 3 inches above grade. The condenser stopped rattling.
Day by day
- Morning: subgrade dug and compacted, base placed, forms and anchor template set.
- Same day: pour and finish; small pads are one-day jobs.
- Day 7: shed or equipment on; day 28 for a spa.
Questions we get about this
Is a permit required for a shed pad under 100 square feet in Sarasota County?
A detached, single-story shed of 100 square feet or less with no electricity or plumbing is generally exempt from a building permit in unincorporated Sarasota County, and the pad follows the shed. Anything larger, or any pad in Charlotte County, is permitted. Confirm with the office on the permit page.
How thick should a generator pad be?
Four inches is enough for a residential standby generator; the manufacturer's footprint plus 6 inches of margin, level within 1/8 inch, with anchor bolts set to the unit's template. Whole-house units over 20 kW get 5 inches.
What does an AC pad need?
A 4-inch pad 3 inches wider than the condenser on each side, elevated above the finished grade to stay dry, on compacted base. Precast pads sink on sand; poured pads don't.
Can you pour a pad for a boat lift or a dock approach?
Dock approaches and lift-motor pads on the upland side, yes. Anything over the water or tied to the seawall is marine construction and needs its own contractor and permit.
What does a hot tub pad cost?
A 6-inch reinforced pad of about 80 square feet lands around $1,200 to $2,200 as a planning range, depending on access and whether an electrical conduit is sleeved in.
City pages for this service: Fruitville & Bee Ridge, South Venice & Venice Gardens, North Port.
Tell us what's going on the pad and where the lot drains.
How this work fails here, and what a warranty should cover
A contractor who can name the ways their own work fails is usually the one whose work does not. This is that list for this service in Sarasota County.
| Failure | Cause | What prevents it | Workmanship warranty? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A tilted equipment pad | A small pad on uncompacted sand, or precast blocks instead of a poured pad | Dig to firm material, compact, 4 inches of base, pour to the equipment template | Yes |
| A hot tub pad cracking | 4 inches under a filled spa that can exceed 5,000 pounds | 6 inches with #4 bar at 12 inches | Yes where the thickness was specified by the contractor |
| A pad that holds water at the door | A shed pad poured level with the lawn | Pad set 2 to 4 inches above finished grade and pitched | Yes |
Read the right-hand column as a specification rather than as a disclaimer. Everything in it is something a scope of work can commit to in one sentence. The general terms are on the warranty page.
Last reviewed September 10, 2026 by the Sarasota Concrete editorial team (author name pending owner input).