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 vessels in Biscayne Bay and other county waters. The ordinance aimed to restrict vessels from anchoring for more than 1 hour between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise for over 30 days in any 6-month period. Exemptions were provided for governmental vessels, construction or dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Enforcement was to be by civil penalty under Chapter 8CC, with penalties ranging from $500 for a first offense to $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense within five years. The ordinance also amended Section 8CC-10 to update the schedule of civil penalties. The matter was introduced on 5/14/2026, adopted on first reading by the Board of County Commissioners on 6/2/2026, and subsequently withdrawn by the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on 7/14/2026. The reason for withdrawal is noted as 'SEE SUB. 261278; 4-6 WEEKS REQUIRED'.