RELATING TO BOATS AND WATERWAYS

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

Ordinance relating to boats and waterways in incorporated and unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County, creating Section 7-40.1 to adopt overnight anchoring regulations, providing exemptions, and amending Section 8CC-10 to update civil penalties. The ordinance was adopted on first reading on 6/2/2026, scheduled for a public hearing before the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on 7/14/2026, and was withdrawn on 7/14/2026, with a substitute in Legislative File No. 261278. The ordinance restricts vessels from anchoring for 1 hour or more between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise for more than 30 days in any 6-month period, with exemptions for governmental vessels, construction or dredging vessels on active job sites, and commercial fishing vessels actively engaged in commercial fishing. Civil penalties are $500 for first offense, $1,000 for second offense within five years, and $2,500 for third or subsequent offense within five years. The ordinance applies to both incorporated and unincorporated areas and is based on state law section 327.60(2)(f)3, which applies to counties with a population of 1.5 million or more; the document states Miami-Dade County's population was 2,838,461 as of July 1, 2024. The effective date is ten days after enactment unless vetoed by the County Mayor. No specific street address, parcel, acreage, or project size is stated. No public comment or stakeholder sentiment is stated.