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 county 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 entities, 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 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 However, the matter was ultimately withdrawn by the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on July 14, 2026.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 ordinance was sponsored by Vicki L. Lopez and co-sponsored by Sen. Rene Garcia. The legislative text indicates that municipalities could adopt their own stricter regulations. The stated purpose was to address issues of navigation, public safety, and environmental impact caused by prolonged anchoring.