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CS/CS/HB 481 — Anchoring Limitation Areas
by State Affairs Committee; Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee; and Reps. Lopez, V. and others (SB 866 by Senator Martin)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Environment and Natural Resources Committee (EN)
The bill creates an exception to allow local governments to regulate vessels that anchor for one hour or more overnight for more than 30 days in any six-month period within the jurisdiction of a county with a population of 1.5 million or more. This excludes any time vessels are anchored overnight in a mooring field or for marine construction, installation, or maintenance work.
The bill adds five additional anchoring limitation areas in Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County, within which a person may not anchor a vessel at any time overnight. The additional anchoring limitation areas lie between:
- Palm Island and Star Island,
- Palm Island and Hibiscus Island,
- Palm Island and Watson Island,
- The Sunset Islands, and
- Sunset Island I and State Road 112.
The bill prevents the owner or operator of a vessel or floating structure from anchoring or mooring within 300 feet outward from the marked boundary of a public mooring field. The bill extends the prohibition from 100 to 300 feet.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect upon becoming a law.
Vote: Senate 29-8; House 115-0