RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

This ordinance, File Number 260878, proposed new regulations for overnight anchoring of vessels in Miami-Dade County's incorporated and unincorporated areas, specifically creating Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County. The proposed regulations would prohibit vessels from anchoring for more than 30 days in any 6-month period between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, with specific exemptions for governmental entities, construction/dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Enforcement would 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. Municipalities could adopt their own stricter regulations. The ordinance was adopted on first reading by the Board of County Commissioners on June 2, 2026, and was scheduled for a public hearing before the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on July 14, 2026. However, the matter was ultimately withdrawn by the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on July 14, 2026. The legislative history indicates a substitute was considered (Legislative File No. 261278) and that 4-6 weeks were required for processing.