RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

Miami-Dade County is enacting new regulations for overnight anchoring of vessels in both incorporated and unincorporated areas. The ordinance creates Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, to restrict vessels from anchoring for one 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. Exemptions are provided for governmental vessels, construction or dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Enforcement will be through civil penalties 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 amends Section 8CC-10 to update the schedule of civil penalties. Municipalities can adopt their own stricter regulations. The ordinance was adopted on first reading by the Board of County Commissioners on June 2, 2026, and was referred to the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee.