RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

Miami-Dade County File Number 260878, an ordinance relating to boats and waterways, proposed the creation of Section 7-40.1 of the Code of Miami-Dade County to adopt overnight anchoring regulations. 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 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 was adopted on first reading by the Board of County Commissioners on 6/2/2026. However, the matter was withdrawn by the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on 7/14/2026. The legislative text notes that municipalities can establish and enforce their own, potentially stricter, anchoring regulations. The stated purpose was to address issues of impeded navigation, navigational hazards, and environmental impacts from prolonged anchoring in Biscayne Bay and other county waters.