RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

The document is a legislative item for an ordinance relating to boats and waterways in Miami-Dade County, Florida, creating Section 7-40.1 of the Code to adopt overnight anchoring regulations. The ordinance would make it unlawful for any vessel to be anchored 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 in the incorporated and unincorporated areas, with exemptions for governmental vessels, construction/dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels actively engaged in commercial fishing. It also amends Section 8CC-10 to update the schedule of civil penalties, with penalties of $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for a second offense within five years, and $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense within five years. The item was introduced on 7/9/2026, and on 7/14/2026 the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee forwarded it to the Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation following a public hearing, with a request that it be placed on the agenda of the October 20, 2026 Board meeting. The file number is 261278, and the prime sponsor is Vicki L. Lopez. The document does not state a specific street address, parcel, acreage, or number of units for a project, as it is a countywide ordinance. Public comment included opposition from individuals such as Danielle Chandler, who stated the 30-day/six-month cap amounted to a ban, and Captain Bert Korpela, who said the true issue was derelict vessels. Support came from Mayor Rachel Streitfeld of North Bay Village and Mayor Seth Salver of Bal Harbour, who emphasized the need for a countywide ordinance. Commissioner Regalado remained unsupportive and requested her district, including Coconut Grove, be exempted, and Commissioner Bastien voiced concerns about potential homelessness. Commissioner McGhee expressed concern about the perception of directing enforcement against individuals who live aboard vessels. The committee voted to forward the item to the Board with a request for the October 20, 2026 meeting.