The Clearwater Beach municipal marina, Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
A new ordinance in Clearwater has established penalties for commercial boat operators who either try to pass their vessels off as recreational in nature, or use city marine facilities without a permit.
The problem with over-use of the marina has proliferated in recent years as the region has seen rapid growth and the tourism sector of Clearwater Beach has become more densely developed. Officials estimate there are about 30 commercial operators who use the city marina at Clearwater Beach – as well as, to a lesser extent, other city-owned docks – to conduct business. There has also been significant growth in the use of websites that allow for digitally-booked charter services, often described as “VRBO Boats,” that are operated for a profit but are registered as pleasure boats and pick up and drop off passengers at the municipal dock.
“They don’t hae a license agreement, so the city does not know if they have insurance or other protections,” said Marine and Aviation Operations Manager Michael MacDonald. “[The ordinance] protects the tourists.”
The city council unanimously adopted an ordinance barring such activities and setting a civil penalty for violators. The city, likewise, is cracking down on those who do not pay their dockage fees or abandon vessels on or around city property.
The ordinance more tightly defines a commercial vessel as one that is “used as a place of business or for-profit enterprise to include but not limited to: charters, bareboat charters, sight-seeing tours, dinner cruises, AirBnB and the like.” Additionally, “any vessel that takes passengers for hire, fee, or consideration, including commercial fishing vessels engaged in the taking or landing of saltwater fish or saltwater products” is deemed commercial in nature.
Operators of commercial vessels – including recreational vessels that are being used for a commercial purpose – using the public docks can now be cited by police or code officials and subject to a $180 fine.
The ordinance also cracks down on those who have not paid dockage fees. After the fifth day of each month, a late fee will be assessed, and may be impounded 10 days after the owner is sent a written notice of failure to pay.
The Clearwater Beach municipal marina, Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
The Clearwater Beach municipal marina, Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
Finally, the ordinance places a blanket ban on diving or jumping from city-owned docks, piers, bridges. The practice has always been prohibited, however the ordinance previously allowed exceptions to be made by the harbormaster. The exception clause was removed.
“This will definitely help stop some of the ‘VRBO boats’ stopping at the dock,” said Councilman David Allbritton.
While a great deal of language was added to the ordinance, which was last updated in 2010 – before smartphone-based boating apps become commonplace – many of the policies have been in place for years, but there was no corresponding fine or enforcement mechanism, officials said. The new ordinance empowers police officers to issue citations to violators and grants more power to the harbormaster to enforce the fee structure.
City officials said 51 commercial operators had outstanding late fees on their accounts, while about 30 unpermitted commercial vessels were operating regularly from the marina. Estimating the number of illegal charters booked digitally, using the dock to serve tourists without being berthed there, is more difficult to calculate.
Police, Fire & Courts
Clearwater Man Charged With Exposure After Multiple Incidents in Parking Lot
