RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

This legislative matter, File Number 260878, proposed an ordinance to create Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, establishing overnight anchoring regulations for boats in Biscayne Bay and other waters. The ordinance aimed to restrict vessels from anchoring for more than 30 days in any 6-month period between sunset and sunrise, with specific exemptions for governmental vessels, construction/dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels. Enforcement was to be by civil penalty, 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 6/2/2026. However, the matter was subsequently withdrawn by the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on 7/14/2026. The stated purpose was to address navigational hazards, environmental impacts, and quality of life concerns arising from proliferation of anchored vessels. Municipalities were allowed to adopt their own stricter regulations. The legislative text notes that the ordinance was enacted under authority expanded by Florida House Bill 481.