House Bill # CS/HB 481 Anchoring Limitation Areas

This bill allows some Counties to Regulate boater anchoring in Florida.

It particularly affects boaters in South Florida that want to anchor for longer stays, where they can anchor. Digging into the Bill provides a lot of information, it would be worthy of having a social meeting to discuss the Bill.

The bill creates a new exception from the general prohibition against local governments enacting or enforcing regulations related to the anchoring of vessels outside the marked boundaries of mooring fields. Specifically, in counties with populations of 1.5 million or greater, the bill allows the regulation of any vessel that is anchored for a period of at least four hours any time between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise within the jurisdiction of the county for more than 30 days in a 6-month period.

The bill also expands the areas within Biscayne Bay that are designated anchoring limitation areas.

Lastly, the bill increases the distance from a public mooring field that a vessel is authorized to anchor

For the full analysis please visit:  https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/481/Analyses/h0481a.NRD.PDF

For the Bill History, please visit: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/481/?Tab=BillHistory

Our club member, Peggy, has been watching the progress of this Bill and is tracking it. Anyone can create an account on the Florida Senate website and opt in to track the progress of the bill.