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Boats to observe health and sanitation rules of
city; disorderly conduct, etc. on boats
All boats or vessels docked, moored or tied to land, docks, piers or wharves abutting the
public waterways in the city shall observe all the health and sanitary regulations of the city and all ordinances of the city relating to the
conduct of persons and prohibiting acts contrary to public health, morals, safety or public peace, including ordinances prohibiting disorderly
conduct and loud boisterous noises which disturb the peace of the neighborhood.
Careful and prudent operation; speed of boats.
Every person operating or navigating any boat or watercraft in, on or
under any waters within the city shall do so in a careful and prudent manner, taking into consideration the weather conditions and range of
visibility, water turbulence, proximity to bathers, water skiers and other boats and watercraft, and all other attendant circumstances, so as
not to endanger the life, limb or property of any person. Failure to operate a boat or other watercraft in such a careful and prudent manner
shall constitute careless boating and a violation of the city Code.
No person shall operate a boat or watercraft in any creek, canal, arm of the
harbor, boat harbor, anchorage of docking area of marina in a careless manner or any manner such as to produce a wake capable of causing damage
to other boats, docks, seawalls, shorelines or other property by wash or erosion.
No person shall operate a boat or watercraft of any kind which is propelled by a
motor or engine in any area designated by the city council as an official "no wake, idle speed only" area and so posted, or in any
platted canal, at greater than idle speed. "Idle speed" shall be interpreted as the lowest speed at which a boat or watercraft can
operate and maintain steerage control, but in no case more than five (5) knots.
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to authorize or approve any
speed greater than is reasonable and proper in consideration of local conditions, other water traffic, persons swimming or fishing in the area,
or other hazards.
Depositing effluvia, refuse, etc., in waters
No person shall throw, place or deposit or cause to be thrown, placed or deposited, any
effluvia, refuse, or byproducts of decaying animal or vegetable matter in any of the canals, waterways, ditches or water reservoirs in the city so
as to be a nuisance or injurious or detrimental to the health or comfort of any residents of the city.
Obstructions in waterways.
Permit required. It shall be unlawful to place any dock, pier, post,
piling, bulkhead, Seoul, boat lift, or any other structure of any nature, or to dredge in any canal or waterway, without first obtaining a
permit therefor from the city engineer. All such construction shall be in conformance with the City of Punta Gorda Subdivision Regulations
Construction Specifications, as amended from time to time by the city council. . . .
Maintenance of seawalls and appurtenances.
Responsibilities of canal maintenance districts. Where the cost and
expense of maintenance are borne by a canal maintenance district, the city council, in its capacity as the governing body of all current and
future canal maintenance districts, shall have responsibility to:
Issue permits for the construction of all appurtenances or
structures within twenty-five (25) feet waterward of seawalls, provided the construction complies with all city and other governmental
ordinances and codes covering such construction.
Mooring on private docks without permission.
No vessel or watercraft of any kind whatsoever shall moor to or tie up to a private seawall or
dock or be beached upon private property within the city limits without the permission of the owner thereof.
Living aboard boats and other watercraft.
(a) Within the City of Punta Gorda, living aboard boats and other watercraft shall be permitted only in
marinas approved for such purpose by the Zoning and Land Development provisions of this code (see section 26-7). Boats and other water craft
used for living purposes shall be in the water and shall meet the requirements of all state regulatory agencies.
(b) Toilet facilities on boats, houseboats or other watercraft used for living aboard shall be either portable devices, which can be carried on
or off the vessel, or U.S. Coast Guard Type III, no discharge systems.
Interference with navigation prohibited;
exception.
Except in the case of an emergency declared by the mayor or city council, or city manager, or
as required for maintenance dredging; no person shall anchor, moor, raft-up or permit to be anchored, moored or rafted-up or operate any vessel or
carry on any activity, including but not limited to placing of crab traps, anchor lines, anchors, mooring buoys, pilings or similar objects, in a
manner which shall unreasonably or unnecessarily constitute a hazard to navigation or interfere with another vessel. Making fast to a navigational
aid is prohibited. Anchoring, mooring, or rafting up o a vessel to environmentally protected and/or sensitive vegetation is prohibited. Anchoring
under or mooring to bridges or in or adjacent to heavily traveled channels shall constitute interferences.
David LaCroix, Punta Gorda City Attorney
326 W. Marion Ave.
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 575-3307
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