RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

This legislative matter, File Number 260878, proposed an ordinance to create Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, establishing overnight anchoring regulations for boats in Biscayne Bay and other waters. The ordinance aimed to restrict vessels from anchoring for more than 30 days in any 6-month period between sunset and sunrise, with specific exemptions for governmental vessels, construction/dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Enforcement was to be by civil penalty, with fines ranging from $500 for a first offense to $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense within five years. The ordinance was introduced on 5/14/2026 and adopted on first reading by the Board of County Commissioners on 6/2/2026. It was scheduled for a public hearing before the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on 7/14/2026. However, the matter was ultimately withdrawn by the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on 7/14/2026, referencing Substitute 261278. The stated purpose was to address navigational hazards, environmental impacts, and quality of life concerns arising from prolonged anchoring.