RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee · 2026-07-14 · ordinance

Miami-Dade County is enacting new regulations for overnight anchoring of vessels in both incorporated and unincorporated areas. The ordinance creates Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, to restrict vessels from anchoring for more than 30 days in any 6-month period between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, with specific exemptions. These exemptions include governmental vessels on official duty, construction or dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels actively engaged in fishing. Enforcement will be through civil penalties, with escalating fines for repeat offenses, and potential remedies including vessel removal or destruction. Municipalities can adopt their own stricter regulations. The ordinance also amends Section 8CC-10 to update the schedule of civil penalties for violations of the new anchoring regulations. The matter was introduced on 7/9/2026 and is scheduled for a second reading and potential final action on 10/20/2026. The Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee forwarded the item to the BCC with a favorable recommendation following a public hearing on 7/14/2026.