RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

This is a legislative item for an ordinance relating to boats and waterways in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The ordinance creates Section 7-40.1 of the Code, adopting overnight anchoring regulations. It makes 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, excluding time within a marked mooring field or for permitted marine construction. Exemptions include vessels owned or operated by a governmental entity, construction or dredging vessels on an active job site, and commercial fishing vessels actively engaged in commercial fishing. The ordinance provides for enforcement by civil penalty, with penalties of $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second offense within five years, and $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense within five years. It applies to both incorporated and unincorporated areas. The item was introduced on 7/9/2026, and was forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation following a public hearing on 7/14/2026. The agenda date is 10/20/2026. The prime sponsor is Vicki L. Lopez. The file number is 261278. The ordinance is a substitute to file number 260878. The document does not state a specific address, parcel, acreage, or number of units.