RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

This is a legislative matter, an ordinance relating to boats and waterways in Miami-Dade County, creating Section 7-40.1 of the Code to adopt overnight anchoring regulations. The ordinance was introduced on 7/9/2026, and on 7/14/2026 the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee forwarded it to the BCC with a favorable recommendation following a public hearing. The agenda date is 10/20/2026. The ordinance restricts anchoring a vessel 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, with exemptions for government vessels, construction/dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Civil penalties are set at $500 for first offense, $1,000 for second offense within five years, and $2,500 for third or subsequent offense within five years. The ordinance applies to both incorporated and unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County. No specific street address, parcel, acreage, or project size is stated. The applicant/developer/owner is not stated; the prime sponsor is Vicki L. Lopez. The case/file number is 261278. The decision is a favorable recommendation from the committee, with a final action pending at the BCC. Key dates include introduction on 7/9/2026, committee action on 7/14/2026, and agenda date of 10/20/2026. The business opportunity is for contractors and trades involved in marine construction, installation, or maintenance work, as vessels anchored overnight for such permitted work are exempt from the new restriction. The grounding note is that the document is a legislative item, not a development project application.