Vessel size and requirements

A boat is described as any vessel such as a watercraft, jet ski, swamp buggy or airboat normally used to glide or float on water.

• Boats less than 30 feet in length, not more than eight feet six inches in width and 13 feet six inches in height
• Personal watercraft less than five feet in width by 12 feet in length

All boats stored on the property must be registered to the property owner or tenant. Boats and storage areas must be kept clean and presentable.

Property guidelines

• Property lots less than a half-acre in size can store one boat or two personal watercrafts
• Property lots more than a half-acre in size can store up to two boats or four personal watercrafts
• Property lots more than five acres in size can store up to three boats or six personal watercrafts

They must be stored or parked in the rear or side yard behind a line established by the front building line farthest from the street.

If the boat storage area is located between the residence and a side street property line, the vessel must be visually buffered by a six-foot-high privacy fence, shrubs or masonry wall.

Where two or more boats or four or more personal watercrafts are located on a property, the storage area must meet the rear and side setback requirements for the principle structure and be visually buffered from the adjacent property and right-of-way by a six-foot-high privacy fence, shrubs or masonry wall.

When loading and unloading equipment and supplies, the temporary parking of a boat in front of the front building line can last for no more than two hours in a 24-hour period.

The boat must be hitched to an operable motor vehicle with a valid permanent license tag.

Prohibitions

• Boats cannot be parked in the public right-of-way or the swale area of a right-of-way
• No major repairs or overhaul work can be performed on the premises
• Boats cannot be used for living or sleeping quarters, and must be placed on and secured to a transporting trailer
• Commercial boat parking is prohibited

Enforcement

Improper parking or storage of boats and personal watercraft may result in the issuance of a Courtesy Warning Notice.

Both the tenant and property owner may receive notices in connection with enforcement. However, the property owner is ultimately responsible for compliance.

Failure to comply will result in a ticket to the property owner and tenant, in accordance with Chapter 8CC of the Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances.

Penalties accrue and a lien may be placed on the property if the fines, enforcement costs and administrative costs are not paid or the violation not corrected.

Additional time for compliance may be granted on Courtesy Warning Notices. Call the Neighborhood Regulations office at 786-315-2552 to request an extension.

Ticket Amounts:

• $210: first offense
• $410: second offense
• $810: subsequent offenses

Resources

• Section 33-20(e) of the Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances
• Read the brochure in Spanish
• Read the brochure in Creole