RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

Miami-Dade County is enacting new regulations for overnight anchoring of vessels in Biscayne Bay and other county waters. The ordinance creates Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, prohibiting vessels from anchoring for more than 30 days in any 6-month period between sunset and sunrise, with specific exemptions for governmental entities, construction/dredging vessels on active sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Enforcement will be through civil penalties, with escalating fines for repeat offenses, and potential remedies including vessel removal. The ordinance amends Section 8CC-10 to update the schedule of civil penalties. This action is a response to increased vessel anchoring impacting navigation, safety, and the environment. The Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee forwarded this ordinance to the Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation.