RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

Miami-Dade County is creating Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, to adopt overnight anchoring regulations for boats and waterways in both incorporated and unincorporated areas. This ordinance, File Number 260878, prohibits vessels from anchoring for 1 hour or more between sunset and sunrise for more than 30 days in any 6-month period, with specific exemptions for governmental entities, construction/dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Enforcement will be through civil penalties, with fines ranging from $500 for a first offense to $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense within five years. The ordinance was adopted on first reading by the Board of County Commissioners on June 2, 2026, and was tentatively scheduled for a public hearing before the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on July 14, 2026. The ordinance aims to address issues of navigation, public safety, and environmental impact caused by prolonged anchoring in Biscayne Bay and other county waters. Municipalities can adopt their own stricter regulations.