RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

Board of County Commissioners · 2026-06-02 · ordinance

Miami-Dade County is creating Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, to regulate overnight anchoring of vessels in Biscayne Bay and other waters. The ordinance prohibits vessels from anchoring for 1 hour or more between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise for more than 30 days in any 6-month period. Exemptions include governmental vessels, construction/dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Enforcement will be through civil penalties, with fines ranging from $500 for a first offense to $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense within five years. The ordinance was adopted on first reading by the Board of County Commissioners on 6/2/2026 and was scheduled for a public hearing before the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on 7/14/2026. The Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee later withdrew the item on 7/14/2026, referencing Substitute Agenda Item 1G1, Legislative File No. 261278. The stated purpose is to promote public safety, prevent adverse impacts on navigation and quality of life, and address environmental concerns like harm to seagrasses.