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Sarasota Bay and the John Ringling Causeway seen from Bird Key
Bird Key

Islands & Beaches · Waterfront · New construction

Bird Key in Islands & Beaches

Bird Key is the boater's island between downtown Sarasota and St. Armands: about 500 single-family homes, most on deep-water canals or the bay with no bridges to the Gulf, minutes from both downtown and the beach.

At a glance

Bird Key at a glance

An island neighborhood of 511 single family homes in Sarasota Bay, many on canals or the open bay, with its own yacht club, St. Armands Circle two minutes away, and downtown Sarasota about five minutes over the Ringling Bridge.

Median asking price
$6.37M
Lifestyle
Waterfront, New construction

The area

Living in Bird Key

Overview of Bird Key

Median list price
$6,370,000; range $1,325,000 to $11,900,000 (September 2026)
Home types
511 single family homes on canal, bayfront, and interior garden lots
Built
Developed by Arvida starting in 1959; fully built out
HOA
Bird Key Homeowners Association; permits required for all exterior work
Building rules
Two stories and 37 feet maximum; tile or metal roofs on new homes
Security
24 hour security through the homeowners association
School district
Sarasota County Schools
Beach
Lido Beach, about a 5 min drive

About Bird Key

  • Bird Key Yacht Club: 42 slip marina, dining, and tennis, with a $25 million clubhouse and campus rebuild underway
  • Protected Sarasota Bay waters with boating access to the Intracoastal Waterway, Longboat Pass, and the Gulf
  • Bird Key Park at the causeway has pavilions, a paddle launch, fishing, and a waterfront path
  • St. Armands Circle shops and restaurants are a 2 min drive; Lido Beach is 5 minutes
  • Downtown Sarasota, The Bay park, and the Van Wezel are within about 6 minutes

On Bird Key the lot is the asset. Canal width, water depth, seawall condition, and the dock and lift decide what a boater will pay, and a bayfront lot with a western view commands a premium over an interior canal. Many buyers purchase an original home for the lot and build new, so recent sales include both finished new homes and teardowns, and prices reflect that. The neighborhood is deed-restricted and single-family only, with a voluntary association and the yacht club as its social center. Janelle Mertins knows which streets have the deepest water and what new construction has sold for, and can help you weigh a remodel against building new.

Thinking about a move to Bird Key? Janelle can tell you which neighborhoods fit the way you live. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Schools near Bird Key

Assigned schools depend on the address; confirm with the school district. Florida school grades from the Department of Education (opens in a new tab)

Comparing school zones in Bird Key? Janelle can match them to the homes for sale. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Restaurants near Bird Key

Want to live near the best of Bird Key? Janelle knows which streets put it at your door. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Things to do near Bird Key

Curious what life in Bird Key is like week to week? Janelle can tell you, and introduce you to it. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Parks and outdoors near Bird Key

Looking for a home close to the parks and water in Bird Key? Ask Janelle where to look. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Shopping near Bird Key

Want everyday errands close by in Bird Key? Janelle can point you to the right neighborhoods. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Health care near Bird Key

Need to be near care in Bird Key? Janelle can keep that in mind when she picks homes to show you. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Getting around near Bird Key

Commuting from Bird Key? Janelle can tell you what the drive is like from each neighborhood. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Bird Key homes for sale: the market in September 2026

On September 25, 2026, 16 homes were listed for sale in Bird Key (16 single-family homes). They ranged from $1,325,000 to $11,900,000, with a median list price of $6,370,000, about $1,448 per square foot. 5 were already pending or under contract.

Wondering what homes in Bird Key are really selling for? Janelle will tell you straight. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

What to know before you buy in Bird Key

  • What the HOA and any CDD fees are, what they cover, and whether a transfer fee applies at closing
  • The flood zone and elevation of the home, and a flood insurance quote before your inspection period ends
  • Call or text Janelle before you visit a model home or register on a builder's website, so she can represent you
  • Rental and lease rules, if you may rent the home out
  • Drive times at the hours you would really travel, to work, to SRQ, and to the beaches

Buying in Bird Key? Janelle can walk you through it before you make an offer. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Bird Key FAQ

Where is Bird Key?

Bird Key is an island in Sarasota Bay on the John Ringling Causeway, between downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle. It has one entrance from the causeway and is about five minutes from downtown and five from Lido Beach.

Can you keep a boat at a Bird Key home?

Yes. Most homes are on canals or the bay with a private dock, and the water is deep enough for sailboats, with no bridges between the canals and the Gulf through Big Pass.

What kinds of homes are on Bird Key?

Single-family homes only: original 1960s ranch houses, remodeled homes, and a growing number of new two-story residences on the same lots. Waterfront lots make up most of the island.

Is Bird Key gated?

No. Bird Key has a single entrance from the causeway and a residents' association, but no gate. The Bird Key Yacht Club is a private club with dining, tennis, a pool, and docks.

Have a question about Bird Key that is not answered here? Ask Janelle. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Keep reading

Ready to see Bird Key? Janelle can show you the neighborhoods and the homes in one visit. Email Janelle or call (813) 394-3313.

Bird Key

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Climate

Weather, month by month

Average high and low in °F, and rain in inches, for each month.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)

  1. Janhigh 72.5°low 52.3°2.8 in
  2. Febhigh 74.9°low 54.6°1.9 in
  3. Marhigh 78.2°low 58.1°2.9 in
  4. Aprhigh 82.5°low 62.7°2.5 in
  5. Mayhigh 87.5°low 68.2°2.6 in
  6. Junhigh 90.0°low 73.6°7.1 in
  7. Julhigh 91.1°low 75.2°7.4 in
  8. Aughigh 91.5°low 75.3°9.1 in
  9. Sephigh 90.2°low 74.1°6.0 in
  10. Octhigh 86.3°low 68.3°2.8 in
  11. Novhigh 80.0°low 60.1°1.8 in
  12. Dechigh 75.2°low 55.2°2.3 in

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 (NOAA National Hurricane Center, https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/); June through September is the rainy season, with most afternoons bringing a short thunderstorm.

NOAA climate normals, 1991 to 2020, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals), as reproduced in the Sarasota, Florida climate table (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasota,_Florida); read 2026-10-04.

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For sale now

Bird Key homes for sale

Janelle can send you new Bird Key listings as soon as they list, often before they reach the big portals. Ask Janelle

Updated October 2, 2026

Market now, as of October 2, 2026

Homes for sale
14
Median asking price
$6.37M

For owners

Own a home in Bird Key?

I have sold homes in Bird Key, most recently in 2016. Before you talk to anyone else, let me show you what yours would bring today.

Janelle Mertins

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Guides from Janelle

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New listings

Get new Bird Key listings first

New Bird Key listings often sell within days. Tell Janelle what you are looking for, and she will send new and coming-soon homes as soon as they list, often before they reach the big portals. Prefer to talk? Call or text (813) 394-3313.

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Reviews

What clients say

Read all 39 reviews

5.0 from 40 reviews on Google, Zillow, Realtor.com, RateMyAgent, and HomeLight

  • Janelle is fantastic. We recently were able to sell our home in one week at 1% over asking price. I believe that the professional photos and staging coupled with Janelle helping us price competitively led to this success. We closed in one month and are so very grateful for Janelle and her help with the sale of our property.

    Bob Conner Google, October 7, 2026

    Sold a home

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  • I highly recommend Janelle Mertins She is extremely knowledgeable, honest, and incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. She is also very responsive and even made herself available after hours when needed. After working with several agents in the Sarasota area, Janelle truly stood out. Her professionalism and dedication made all the difference.

    Pools by Jeff Google, April 7, 2026

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  • Janelle did a great job selling our house. We have worked with 4 realtors over the past 19 years in FL, and she was by far the best. She is very knowledgeable about the real estate market, and was great at communicating with us throughout the sales process. Her responses to our emails and texts were very detailed and timely. She was also very proactive with recommendations on how to get our house ready for sale, and she went above and beyond to make sure our house was sparkling clean and staged appropriately to make sure our house stood out compared to others. The video she created for our...

    Seller RateMyAgent, July 20, 2025

    Sold a home in Bradenton

    Read on RateMyAgent (opens in a new tab)

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Janelle Mertins

Janelle Mertins · Compass

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Janelle Mertins

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