Chapter 146 - WaterwaysChapter 146
WATERWAYS*
Article I. In General
Secs. 146-1—146-20. Reserved.
Article II. Collier County Consolidated Waterways and Beaches
Ordinance
Division 1. General
Sec. 146-21. Title and Citation.
Sec. 146-22. Applicability.
Sec. 146-23. Intent and purpose.
Sec. 146-24. Definitions.
Sec. 146-25. Penalties.
Sec. 146-26. Enforcement.
Secs. 146-27—146-40. Reserved.
Division 2. Vessel Control
Sec. 146-41. Vessel registration fee.
Sec. 146-42. Vessel regulation.
Secs. 146-43—146-50. Reserved.
Division 3. Beach and Water Safety
Sec. 146-51. Regulation of use and conduct on the beach.
Sec. 146-52. Concession operations, equipment rentals and vendors on the
beach and adjoining waters.
Secs. 146-53—146-60. Reserved.
Article III. Public Beach Access
Sec. 146-61. Short title.
Sec. 146-62. Definitions.
Sec. 146-63. Penalties for violation; resort to other remedies.
Sec. 146-64. Intent.
Sec. 146-65. Approval of development plans; issuance of building permits.
Secs. 146-66—146-90. Reserved.
*Editor’s note—Ord. No. 2024-32, §§ 1, 2, adopted Sept. 10, 2024, repealed the former Art. I, §§ 146-1—146-3 and Art. II,
§§ 146-31—146-60.8, and enacted new provisions codified herein as Art. II, §§ 146-21—146-52 as set out herein. The former Arts.
I and II pertained to similar subject matter and derived from: Ord. No. 79-8, §§ 1—8, 2-13-79; Ord. No. 89-11, §§ 1—9; Ord. No.
89-86, § 1; Ord. No. 91-19, §§ 1—4; Ord. No. 91-112, §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 92-35, §§ 1—4; Ord. No. 94-57, §§ 1—3; Ord. No. 96-16,
§§ 1—7; Ord. No. 96-28, §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 96-75, § 1; Ord. No. 97-10, §§ 1—7; Ord. No. 97-12, §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 98-88, § 1; Ord.
No. 99-54, § 1; Ord. No. 2007-38, §§ 1, 2; and Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1.
Cross references—Public possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages, § 6-3; possession, sale or release of certain fish
prohibited, § 14-2; animals prohibited on beaches, § 14-36; coastal zone protection, § 22-286 et seq.; seawalls and revetments,
§ 22-321 et seq.; floods, ch. 62; natural resources, ch. 90; parks and recreation, ch. 98.
Land development code reference—Private boathouses and docks, § 2.6.21.
State law references—Authority to provide navigation programs, F.S. § 125.01(1)(j); authority to act in the common interest
of the people of the county and exercise all powers and privileges not specifically prohibited (all in a manner not inconsistent with
law), F.S. § 125.01(1)(w).
CD146:1Supp. No. 117
Article IV. Vanderbilt Beach Customary Use
Sec. 146-91. Title.
Sec. 146-92. Purpose and Intent.
Sec. 146-93. Definition.
Sec. 146-94. Right to Recreate.
Sec. 146-95. Buffer Zone.
Sec. 146-96. Obstruction of Vanderbilt Beach.
Sec. 146-97. Posting of Beach.
Sec. 146-98. Penalty for Violations.
Secs. 146-99—146-120. Reserved.
COLLIER COUNTY CODE
CD146:2Supp. No. 117
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
Secs. 146-1—146-20. Reserved.
ARTICLE II. COLLIER COUNTY
CONSOLIDATED WATERWAYS AND
BEACHES ORDINANCE*
DIVISION 1. GENERAL
Sec. 146-21. Title and Citation.
This Ordinance shall be known and may be
cited as the "Collier County Consolidated
Waterways and Beaches Ordinance."
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Sec. 146-22. Applicability.
The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply
to and be enforced upon all waterways, creeks,
streams, lakes, ponds, bayous, canals, and chan-
nels, whether natural or manmade, and their
adjacent shores/beaches as applicable, located
within the unincorporated area of the County,
including, but not limited to, Caxambas Pass,
Chokoloskee Bay, Chokoloskee Island, Clam Bay
System, Clam Pass, Cocohatchee River, Delnor-
Wiggins Pass, Doctors Pass, Dollar Bay, Everglades
City, Goodland, Gordon Pass, Gordon River, Hell's
Gate, Henderson Creek, Hurricane Pass, Isles of
Capri, Key Island (also known as Keewaydin
Island), Little Hickory Bay, Little Hickory Island,
Little Marco Pass, Marco Island (where
applicable), Naples Bay (where applicable), Port
of the Islands, Vanderbilt Lagoon, and Wiggins
Bay, or subject to the jurisdiction of the County
by any other law or interlocal agreement.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Sec. 146-23. Intent and purpose.
It is the intent and purpose of this Ordinance
to protect and promote the health, safety and
welfare of the public at large, including residents
and visitors to the County by providing reason-
able regulation of the public's use and conduct on
the beach and adjoining waters of the County,
including the designation of specific areas within
which the operation of aircraft and vessels may
be regulated or prohibited. It is further intended
that this Ordinance shall be liberally construed
to effect such intent and purpose.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Sec. 146-24. Definitions.
For the purposes of this Ordinance, terms and
definitions are as defined in F.S. chs. 327 and
328, unless specifically stated otherwise. When
not inconsistent with the context, words used in
the present tense include the future, words in
the plural number include the singular number,
and the words in the singular number include
the plural number. The word "shall" is always
mandatory and not merely directory. The follow-
ing words, terms and phrases, when used in this
Ordinance, shall have the meanings ascribed to
them, except where the context clearly indicates
a different meaning:
Aircraft means any motor vehicle or contriv-
ance now known or hereinafter invented, which
is used or designed for navigation of or flight in
the air, except a parachute or other contrivance
designed for such navigation but used primarily
as safety equipment. The term "aircraft" shall
include ultralight aircraft and seaplanes.
Bather means any person who is in the same
water as a vessel, whether said person is swim-
ming, wading or engaged in any other activity in
the water.
Bathing area means any area of the beach and
adjoining waters in which bathers are located or
may be located, whether or not designated by
signs or other form of notification.
Beach or shore means the zone of
unconsolidated material that extends landward
from the mean low water line to the place where
there is marked change in material or
physiographic form.
Bloodbaiting means the use of blood or bloody
fish parts to attract sharks.
Camping means the erection of shelter or
similar structures for the purpose of sleeping or
*State law references—Watercraft and water safety,
F.S. ch. 327; restrictions on local water safety regulations,
F.S. § 327.60.
§ 146-24WATERWAYS
CD146:3Supp. No. 117
lying upon the beach either under or outside of
any shelter, vehicle, bedroll, blanket, or other
protective garb.
Chumming means the throwing of bait or fish
parts into the water to attract fish.
Contiguous land means any land abutting
land conveyed to the county as required in this
article or any land which is located within
one-half mile (2,640 feet) of the land conveyed to
the County.
County means the body politic Collier County,
Florida, including the Board of County Commis-
sioners, and/or the unincorporated area of Col-
lier County, Florida.
Decibel (dBA) means a unit for describing the
amplitude of sound, as further defined by Collier
County's Noise Control Ordinance No. 90-17, as
amended.
Gulf means the Gulf of Mexico.
Idle Speed No Wake means, as defined by Rule
68D-24.002(2), F.A.C., as may be amended, a
boating-restricted area which has been established
to protect the safety of the public where a vessel
cannot proceed at a speed greater than that
speed which is necessary to maintain steerageway.
License or licensed means a county occupational
license or having such license.
Operate or operation means to be in charge of,
in command of, or in actual physical control of a
vessel upon the waters of this state, to exercise
control over or to have responsibility for a ves-
sel's navigation or safety while the vessel is
underway upon the waters of this state, or to
control or steer a vessel being towed by another
vessel upon the waters of the state.
Permit means a beach vendor's permit issued
by the county.
Person means any individual, partnership,
firm, corporation, association or other entity.
Personal watercraft means, as defined by F.S.
§ 327.02(36), as may be amended, a vessel less
than 16 feet in length which uses an inboard
motor powering a water pump as its primary
source of motive power and which is designed to
be operated by a person sitting, standing, or
kneeling on the vessel, rather than in the
conventional manner of sitting or standing inside
the vessel. The term personal watercraft for
purposes of this Ordinance shall include "jet
skis" "sea sleds," "dolphin boats," "wave run-
ners," or other such product name meeting the
description herein provided.
Rafts, floats and flotation devices means any
device, whether of canvas, vinyl, rubber, Styrofoam
or other substance, intended or capable of assist-
ing in the flotation of a person on or in the water
of the Gulf of Mexico. The term shall not include
vessels or sailcraft, but shall include body boards
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Sailcraft means a vessel whose sole source of
propulsion is the wind, including sailboats, sail-
boards, kiteboards, and wind surfboards.
Seaplane means any aircraft that is capable of
landing and/or lifting off from a water surface.
Slow Speed Minimum Wake and Slow Down
Minimum Wake means, as defined by section
68D-24.002(1), F.A.C., as may be amended, that
a vessel must be fully off plane and completely
settled into the water. Such vessels may not
proceed at a speed greater than that speed which
is reasonable and prudent to avoid the creation
of an excessive wake or other hazardous condi-
tion under the existing circumstances.
Solicit or canvass means any act, delivery, or
exchange not initiated by the prospective customer
or which directs attention to any business,
mercantile or commercial establishment, or any
other commercial activity, for the purpose of
directly or indirectly promoting commercial
interests through sales, rentals, or any exchange
of value.
Ultralight aircraft or ultralight means any
heavier-than-air, motorized aircraft which meets
the criteria for maximum weight, fuel capacity
and airspeed established for such aircraft by the
Federal Aviation Administration under part 103
of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
Vessel shall have the same definition as found
in F.S. § 327.02(46), as may be amended, and is
synonymous with boat and includes every descrip-
§ 146-24 COLLIER COUNTY CODE
CD146:4Supp. No. 117
tion of watercraft, barge, and airboat, other than
a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being
used as a means of transportation on water.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Cross reference—Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 146-25. Penalties.
(a) Any owner, operator, or person in com-
mand of any vessel or aircraft or any other
person who violates any provision of this
Ordinance or fails to comply with the require-
ments of this Ordinance shall be treated in the
same manner as a misdemeanor of the second
degree punishable by a fine not exceeding $500.00
or by imprisonment not to exceed 60 days, or by
both such fine and imprisonment and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be fined or imprisoned,
or both, as provided by law, and in addition shall
pay all costs and expenses incurred in the prosecu-
tion of such violation.
(b) All violations of this Ordinance may be
processed according to the Collier County
Consolidated Code Enforcement Ordinance (Ord.
No. 2010-04, as amended) and per provisions of
F.S. ch. 162, pts. I or II, as may be applicable.
(c) Civil violation and infraction penalty and
fine amounts shall be in accordance with those
set or published by the Collier County Clerk of
Courts.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
State law reference—Penalty for ordinance violations,
F.S. § 125.69.
Sec. 146-26. Enforcement.
(a) The provisions of this Ordinance shall be
enforced by any member of any duly authorized
law enforcement agency or officers having enforce-
ment jurisdiction in Collier County, Florida,
including code enforcement officers. Civil cita-
tions may be used to notify the defendant of
allegations of violations of this Ordinance.
(b) Area of enforcement. The area of enforce-
ment of the provisions of this section shall be all
waters, creeks, bayous, canals and channels
whether natural or manmade located within
unincorporated Collier County.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Secs. 146-27—146-40. Reserved.
DIVISION 2. VESSEL CONTROL
Sec. 146-41. Vessel registration fee.
(a) Imposition. Those vessels stored or oper-
ated within the jurisdiction of the county which
are required by law to be registered with the
state shall be subject to a county vessel registra-
tion fee which shall be in the amount of 50
percent of the currently applicable state registra-
tion certificate fee, and will be added to the
current state fee. The county vessel registration
fees shall be and reflect 50 percent of the state
vessel registration fees as set forth in F.S.
§ 328.72(1), Vessel Registration Fee, and as it
may be amended hereafter.
(b) Collection of fees. The county vessel registra-
tion fee shall be collected by the tax collector at
the time of state vessel registration.
(c) Payment/schedule. The tax collector shall
be paid a collection fee, in accordance with, F.S.
§ 192.091, Commissions of Property Appraisers
and Tax Collectors, and as it may be amended
hereafter.
(d) Distribution of fees. Dollar amounts
required by F.S. § 328.72(15), of every vessel
registration fee shall be remitted to the state for
deposit. All other funds (after payment to the tax
collector and the motor boat revolving trust
fund) shall be expended for the patrol, regula-
tion, and maintenance of the lakes, rivers, or
waters and for other boating-related activities in
the County.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Sec. 146-42. Vessel regulation.
(a) Idle Speed, No Wake Boating-Restricted
Areas. The County may enact Boating-Restricted
Areas by Ordinance to establish Idle Speed, No
Wake Boating-Restricted Areas, in accordance
with F.S. § 327.46, as may be amended.
(1) The operation of any vessel in excess of
Idle Speed, No Wake, as defined herein,
in or on any waters specified as an Idle
Speed, No Wake Boating-Restricted Area
is hereby prohibited and is a violation of
§ 146-42WATERWAYS
CD146:5Supp. No. 117
this Ordinance. Said prohibition is effec-
tive and enforceable provided the Idle
Speed, No Wake Boating-Restricted Area
is designated by regulatory marker, sig-
nage, buoy, or any other notice. The
locations of any and all such notices
(including informational signage) shall
be placed at the discretion of County
staff and shall not be subject to the Land
Development Code. All such notices posted
by the County are official notices of the
County. Provided the restricted area is
posted as an Idle Speed, No Wake Boating-
Restricted Area, it is no defense to a
violation of this Ordinance to allege that
the person issued a notice of violation of
this Ordinance did not observe posted
notice.
(2) No person shall operate a vessel in any
area designated and posted as an Idle
Speed, No Wake Boating-Restricted Area
at a speed greater than Idle Speed, No
Wake. Any vessel operating in an Idle
Speed, No Wake Boating-Restricted Area
must operate at the minimum speed that
allows the vessel to maintain headway
and steerageway.
(3) The following areas are designated as
Idle Speed, No Wake Boating-Restricted
Areas:
a. Within 500 feet of any boat ramp,
hoist, marine railway, or other
launching or landing facility avail-
able for use by the general boating
public on waterways more than 300
feet in width or within 300 feet of
any boat ramp, hoist, marine railway,
or other launching or landing facil-
ity available for use by the general
boating public on waterways not
exceeding 300 feet in width.
b. Within 500 feet of fuel pumps or
dispensers at any marine fueling
facility that sells motor fuel to the
general boating public on waterways
more than 300 feet in width or
within 300 feet of the fuel pumps or
dispensers at any licensed terminal
facility that sells motor fuel to the
general boating public on waterways
not exceeding 300 feet in width.
c. Inside or within 300 feet of any lock
structure.
(4) Idle Speed, No Wake Boating-Restricted
Areas. The County hereby adopts and
designates the respective areas depicted
on Exhibit "A" as Idle Speed, No Wake
Boating-Restricted Areas.
(b) Slow Speed, Minimum Wake Boating-
Restricted Areas. The County may enact Boating-
Restricted Areas by Ordinance to establish Slow
Speed, Minimum Wake Boating-Restricted Areas,
in accordance with F.S. § 327.46, as may be
amended.
(1) No person shall operate a vessel in any
area designated and posted as a Slow
Speed, Minimum Wake Boating-Restricted
Area at a speed greater than Slow Speed,
Minimum Wake. Any vessel operating in
a Slow Speed, Minimum Wake Boating-
Restricted Area must operate fully off
plane and completely settled in the water.
The vessel's wake must not be excessive
nor create a hazard to other vessels.
(2) The following are designated as Slow
Speed, Minimum Wake Boating-Restricted
Areas:
a. Within 300 feet of any bridge fender
system.
b. Within 300 feet of any bridge span
presenting a vertical clearance of
less than 25 feet or a horizontal
clearance of less than 100 feet.
c. On a creek, stream, canal, or similar
linear waterway if the waterway is
less than 75 feet in width from
shoreline to shoreline.
d. On a lake or pond of less than 10
acres in total surface area.
(3) Slow Speed, Minimum Wake Boating-
Restricted Areas. The County hereby
adopts and designates the respective areas
depicted on Exhibit "B" as Slow Speed,
Minimum Wake Boating-Restricted Areas.
§ 146-42 COLLIER COUNTY CODE
CD146:6Supp. No. 117
(c) Vessel-Exclusion Zones. The County may
enact Vessel-Exclusion Zones by Ordinance where
the area is designated as a public bathing beach
or swim area, or a canoe trail or area otherwise
limited to non-motorized vessels, in accordance
with F.S. § 327.46, as may be amended.
(1) No person shall operate a motorized vessel
or sailcraft within a Vessel-Exclusion
Zone, provided that this subsection shall
not apply in the case of an emergency or
to a patrol or rescue craft.
(2) Vessel-Exclusion Zones. The County
hereby adopts and designates the respec-
tive areas depicted on Exhibit "C" as
Vessel-Exclusion Zones.
(d) Personal watercraft regulation. No person
shall operate personal watercraft:
(1) Within Vessel-Exclusion Zones; in excess
of Idle Speed, No Wake in Idle Speed, No
Wake Boating-Restricted Areas; or in
excess of Slow Speed, Minimum Wake in
Slow Speed, Minimum Wake Boating-
Restricted Areas.
(2) In an unsafe, reckless or careless manner
endangering the life, limb, or property of
any person.
(e) Careful and prudent operation required.
Every person operating or navigating any vessel
in, on or under any waters within the
unincorporated areas of Collier County shall do
so in a careful and prudent manner, taking into
consideration the environmental conditions, 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 in such a careful and
prudent manner shall constitute careless boat-
ing and a violation of this Ordinance.
(f) Official government business. Except during
an emergency or operation by an official of the
government while engaged in official business,
the operation of any vessel shall conform to this
Ordinance, as well as federal, state, and local
law.
(g) Speed not to be greater than what is
reasonable under the conditions. Nothing
contained in this Ordinance shall be construed to
authorize or approve any speed greater than is
reasonable and proper in consideration of local
conditions, other water traffic, persons swim-
ming or fishing in the area, or other hazards.
(h) Exemptions. The following shall be
exempted from the provisions of this section:
(1) The provisions of this section shall not be
construed to prohibit the operation, racing
or exhibition of vessels or sailcraft during
a publicly announced, properly authorized,
supervised and adequately patrolled
regatta, speed trial, or exhibition.
(2) The operators of law enforcement or rescue
vessels or vessels operating under
emergency conditions shall be exempted
while conducting official duties or operat-
ing under emergency conditions.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Editor’s note—Exhibits A through C referenced above
are not set out herein, but on file and available for inspection
in the offices of the county.
Secs. 146-43—146-50. Reserved.
DIVISION 3. BEACH AND WATER SAFETY
Sec. 146-51. Regulation of use and
conduct on the beach.
(a) Possession of glass containers prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person while on the
beach or beach access areas to possess or utilize
any glass bottle or container.
(b) Restrictions on animals on beach. It shall
be unlawful for any person owning or have under
his control any animal, to permit such animal
upon the beach, except guide dogs accompanying
visually impaired persons or hearing ear dogs
accompanying hearing impaired persons shall be
allowed on the beach at all times.
(c) Open fires prohibited; heated objects to be
disposed of properly. It shall be unlawful for any
person to have an open fire on the beach. Said
prohibition shall not include a stove or grill
where so designated and posted by the County
§ 146-51WATERWAYS
CD146:7Supp. No. 117
Parks and Recreation Department. It shall be
unlawful for any person to dispose of any coals,
briquets, embers or other heated object from any
stove or grill at the beach in other than a county
designated receptacle.
(d) Overnight camping prohibited. It shall be
unlawful to camp overnight on the beach, except
for recreational purposes on property designated
for such purposes.
(e) Fishing. It shall be unlawful for any person
while on the beach or within 1,000 feet from
shore to intentionally fish for sharks or to fish by
those methods commonly known as "chumming"
or "bloodbaiting." Nothing herein shall be
construed to create a duty of any sort on the part
of any law enforcement officer or county employee
to prevent fishing or to warn of the presence of
sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.
(f) Throwing of balls, frisbees, or other objects.
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw any
ball, frisbee, or other object through any bathing
area after having been warned by any law
enforcement officer that such activity interferes
with or endangers the movement of pedestrian
traffic or public safety.
(g) Swimming. No person, except a person
actually engaged in a rescue attempt, shall:
(1) Swim or bathe within 150 feet measured
in any direction from a pier or jetty; or
(2) Swim or bathe in any area posted
exclusively for vessel and/or sailcraft use.
(h) Use of rafts, floats, and other flotation
devices. No person shall use any raft, float, body
board, or other flotation device of any descrip-
tion, except for a vessel or sailcraft, more than
500 feet from the water's edge.
(i) Operation of vessel or sailcraft while
intoxicated. No person shall operate a vessel or
sailcraft of any description, whether motorized
or not, surf or otherwise use any other equip-
ment in the Gulf of Mexico when under the
influence of any alcoholic beverage, or any chemi-
cal substance as set forth in F.S. § 877.111 or any
substance controlled under F.S. ch. 893, to the
extent that the person's normal faculties are
impaired.
(j) Use of aircraft on beach or from or over
specified saltwater area prohibited. No person
shall operate an aircraft, including seaplanes or
ultralights, ultralight trainers, or "ultralight
vehicles" as defined in Chapter 14 of Code of
Federal Regulations, paragraph 103.1, on or
from the beach or adjoining water within 500
feet of the water's edge. In the area west of a
southerly projection of a north/south line that
bisects the intersection of County Road 92 (San
Marco Road) and U.S. Highway 41 (Tamiami
Trail), no person shall operate any ultralight
(including ultralight trainers and ultralight
vehicles) from, on or over any saltwater except at
a horizontal distance greater than 500 feet
seaward from the nearest shoreline of the
mainland or nearest shoreline of the nearest
island, whichever is the most restrictive refer-
ence point.
(k) Soliciting and canvassing prohibited. There
shall be no solicitation or canvassing of the
public on the beach:
(1) By other than licensed concessionaires of
goods and services for use or consump-
tion on the beach. No person other than a
licensed concessionaire shall solicit or
canvass for the sale or rental of
merchandise, services, goods, or property
of any kind or character intended for use
or consumption on the beach.
(2) By licensed concessionaires. No licensed
concessionaire shall solicit or canvass for
the sale or rental of any merchandise,
services, goods or property of any kind or
character except from within or within
ten feet of his licensed premises or vehicle.
(3) By any person of goods and services for
use or consumption off the beach. No
person shall solicit or canvass for the
sale or rental of any merchandise, services,
goods or property of any kind or character
to be delivered or performed off the beach.
(l) Sound amplification. No audio device, such
as loudspeakers, television, radio, compact disc,
tape, or record player, or musical instrument,
§ 146-51 COLLIER COUNTY CODE
CD146:8Supp. No. 117
except equipment used by law enforcement, rescue
or beach safety personnel, shall be used on the
beach in a manner that:
(1) Exceeds a noise level of 60 decibels (dBA)
in compliance with the Collier County
Noise Control Ordinance No. 90-17, as
amended; or
(2) Otherwise violates the Collier County
Noise Control Ordinance No. 90-17, as
amended.
(m) Breach of the peace; disorderly conduct.
No person shall commit such acts as are of a
nature to corrupt the public morals, or outrage
the sense of public decency, or affect the peace
and quiet of persons who may witness them, or
engage in brawling or fighting, or engage in such
conduct as to constitute a breach of the peace or
disorderly conduct.
(n) Removal of beach sand. No beach sand
may be removed from the beach.
(o) Litter. It shall be unlawful for any person
to discard or otherwise dispose of or abandon any
trash, garbage, bottles, containers, cans, dead
fish or parts thereof, charcoal briquets or ashes,
or any other litter, except in designated contain-
ers for that purpose. It is further unlawful to
dispose of any household garbage on the beach.
(p) Trespass: construction, restoration, and/or
renourishment projects or construction sites.
(1) It shall be a separate violation of this
article for any individual to refuse to
immediately and completely obey an oral
order (instruction) to leave a beach area
undergoing construction, restoration,
and/or renourishment, or to move his/her
person to some other area of the beach, if
the order (instruction) is personally com-
municated to the individual by any
employee, contractor, vendor, or other
official who at such time and place has
authority to issue such an instruction.
(2) It is a separate violation of this article for
any individual to commit a trespass into
(or within) any secure area of a beach
area undergoing construction, restora-
tion, and/or renourishment, provided signs
are posted in conspicuous areas and such
signs give notice that unauthorized entry
into the respective secured area
constitutes a trespass, and the signs
specify the means that are available for
gaining authorized access to the respec-
tive secure area. Collier County Parks
and Recreation Division or Coastal
Management Program Division are each
hereby authorized to designate such secure
area(s) as it deems appropriate by post-
ing appropriate signs. Each such trespass
in any secured area of an airport is an
independent violation of this article
irrespective of application of any County
rule or regulation.
(q) Key Island (also known as Keewaydin
Island).
(1) Prohibited Activities:
a. Hunting, harassing, possessing or
trapping wildlife.
b. Use of animal trapping or conceal-
ment devices.
c. Admission of unleashed domestic
animals, except those ADA Service
Animals.
d. Transplantation or removal of any
plant or animal, or parts of plants
or animals (living or dead), except
as provided herein.
e. Removal, disturbance, pollution or
destruction of property, or natural
or cultural resources.
f. Solicitation or distribution of com-
mercial materials and advertising
of any commercial event, other than
Department materials or announce-
ments of Department-sponsored or
sanctioned events and gatherings.
g. Possession of glass containers
prohibited. It shall be unlawful for
any person while on the beach or
beach access areas to possess or
utilize any glass bottle or container.
§ 146-51WATERWAYS
CD146:9Supp. No. 117
(2) Limited Activities:
a. Hiking, horseback riding, and bicycle
riding shall be restricted to trails or
roads specifically designated for
those activities.
b. Recreational camping may be
conducted only on property
designated for such purposes.
c. Fires are allowed only in designated
areas.
d. Visitors shall be responsible for the
proper disposal of all wastewater,
refuse and trash, by placing it in
designated containers, if provided,
or removed to an off-site disposal
facility or receptacle.
e. Vehicles are allowed only in areas
designated as public access roads.
f. Motor vehicle or vessel operation in
water bodies, wetlands, or low lying
areas located inside the boundaries
of the Buffer Preserves is allowed
only where designated for such use
with signs.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Sec. 146-52. Concession operations, equip-
ment rentals and vendors on
the beach and adjoining
waters.
The safety and welfare of the persons that
reside nearby the County's beach areas and of
the public that recreate on the beach and adjoin-
ing waters makes necessary and appropriate the
following regulations:
(a) Beach vendor permit requirement. Any
person or entity to be engaged in the sale
of goods, services, rental, leasing, bail-
ment, or otherwise providing recreational
equipment for remuneration, including
any motorized or wind-driven vessel for
use by the public on the beach or adjoin-
ing waters of the County shall be required
to obtain a beach vendor permit/license
from the County. A beach vendor permit/
license shall issue and be maintained
upon the applicant paying such applica-
tion fee therefor as established from time-
to-time by the County by Resolution. The
applicant must meet the following require-
ments:
(1) The applicant must have an opera-
tions office or headquarters located
at a land-based location in an area
immediately adjacent to where the
permitted/licensed activities are to
be provided for public use. The office/
headquarters must be located only
on land that is immediately seaward
of the upland owner's main building
adjacent to that adjoining beach.
The land-based operations/activi-
ties must be conducted wholly within
the geographic confines of the two
seaward projections of the north/
south property lines of the upland
parcel, and the office/headquarters
must have direct physical access to
the beach and salt water. In the
event the permittee/licensee has its
authorization to occupy the upland
headquarters area terminated or
otherwise cancelled by the upland
landowner or from whatever other
person or entity authorized that
permittee/licensee to occupy that
upland area, loss of right of that
upland occupancy shall thereby
automatically void the then existing
Collier County beach vendor's
permit/license for that area.
(2) The applicant must have and
maintain a telephone and marine
radio at its land-based operations
office.
(3) If the applicant is engaged in the
rental of motorized or windblown
equipment, or other vessel rentals,
the applicant must have a motor-
ized chase boat with operational
marine radio in good running condi-
tion that meets all U.S. Coast Guard
safety requirements. That boat must
be kept at the vessel rental site
during all hours of applicant's rental
operations.
§ 146-51 COLLIER COUNTY CODE
CD146:10Supp. No. 117
(4) The applicant must have and
maintain comprehensive general
liability insurance with coverage not
less than the amount of $500,000.00
combined single limits or the amount
specified in the County contract,
whichever is greater.
(5) The applicant shall provide a list
describing and indicating the state
vessel registration number of each
motorized vessel applicant places in
service. Each motorized vessel placed
in service for public use under a
Collier County beach vendor's
permit/license shall have a state
vessel registration number affixed
thereon at all times.
(6) The applicant shall provide at least
one operational life vest for each
occupant space on each of the ves-
sels to be offered for public use
under this section.
(7) The applicant must provide a site
plan for the beach operation that
includes the operation's boundaries
on the beach and the ingress and
egress points to that operation. No
operation boundary shall extend into
any pedestrian pathway.
(8) The applicant is required to obtain
a County occupational license for its
operations office required under this
section. To obtain an occupational
license, the applicant must provide
proof of having a current, valid beach
vendor's permit. Revocation of the
occupational license shall automati-
cally void the respective beach vendor
permit/license.
(9) If a permit/license holder violates
any condition of the beach vendor
permit/license during any permit/
license year and is notified by the
County in writing of the violation,
the director of parks and recreation
is authorized to impose conditions
on the subsequent annual beach
vendor's permit/license (a probation-
ary permit/license), including issu-
ing a month-to-month permit/license
that shall be summarily voidable
for any similar or dissimilar viola-
tion of any of the permit/license
condition(s).
(b) Beach vendor permittee, vessel user regula-
tions/general regulations.
(1) Operator age restrictions applicable
to operation of all vessels with ten
horsepower or greater. As required
by F.S. § 327.395, the rental to or
operation of a motorized vessel
powered by a motor of ten
horsepower or greater is prohibited
to anyone born after January 1,
1988, unless that person has in
his/her possession aboard the vessel
photographic identification and a
boater safety identification card
issued pursuant to F.S. § 327.395. A
person is exempt from this provi-
sion if they are accompanied in the
vessel by a person who holds an
identification card in compliance
with this section, is 18 years of age
or older, and is attending to the
operation of the vessel and
responsible for the sage operation of
the vessel and for any violation that
occurs during operation of the vessel.
(2) The renter, user, passenger of or on
any vessel described in this section
shall have on board an operational
life vest while using or having such
vessel in the water; and it is a
violation of this section for any such
person using such vessel not to have
a life vest on board.
(3) Pre-ride safety instructions. Each
livery must also provide pre-ride
boater safety instruction and safety
information to each person who rents
a vessel powered by a motor rated
at ten horsepower or greater.
(4) Display of rental personal watercraft
speed limit information. Each rental
personal watercraft must conspicu-
§ 146-52WATERWAYS
CD146:11Supp. No. 117
ously display the special speed limit
instructions that apply within all
the respective distances from the
shore. The speed instructions must
be easily visible to the operator of
the rental jet ski when the operator
is in the operating position on the
personal watercraft.
(5) Mufflers on rental personal
watercraft. Each rental personal
watercraft must always operate with
stock mufflers or with mufflers that
are quieter than stock mufflers.
(6) Each renter of a personal watercraft
must read and initial that he/she
understands the speed and opera-
tion restrictions placed upon opera-
tion of personal watercraft by this
section and/or by F.S. ch. 327.
(7) Rental personal watercraft identifica-
tion markings. Each rental personal
watercraft must display identifying
letters and/or numbers that identify
the specific personal watercraft.
Each identification number and/or
letter, trademark, logo, and/or
company name must be at least four
inches in height and must contrast
with its background color so as to be
easily visible at a distance of 250
feet by a person with 20/20 vision.
(8) No person shall operate personal
watercraft within a Vessel-Exclu-
sion Zone, in excess of Idle Speed,
No Wake in Idle Speed, No Wake
Boating-Restricted Areas, or in
excess of Slow Speed, Minimum
Wake in Slow Speed, Minimum Wake
Boating-Restricted Areas.
(9) Safe operation of personal watercraft.
All personal watercraft must be oper-
ated in a reasonable and prudent
manner at all times. Maneuvers
which unreasonably or unnecessar-
ily endanger life, limb, or property,
including weaving through congested
vessel traffic, jumping the wake of
another vessel unreasonably or
unnecessarily close to such vessel or
when visibility around such vessel
is obstructed, or the vessel is oper-
ated in a manner that required
intentional swerving at the last
moment to avoid collision, constitute
reckless operation. Personal
watercraft are not limited to vessels
that have one or two occupants.
(Ord. No. 2024-32, § 2)
Secs. 146-53—146-60. Reserved.
ARTICLE III. PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS*
Sec. 146-61. Short title.
This article shall be known as and may be
cited as the "Public Beach Access Ordinance."
(Ord. No. 76-20, § 1)
Sec. 146-62. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when
used in this article, shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Blocked public access means the development
of land with structures and/or improvements or
any other barrier which denies public access to
public beaches at intervals of 2,640 feet as
prescribed in this article.
Blocked support facilities means the develop-
ment of land with structures and/or improve-
ments or any other barrier which denies the
public of the required support facilities which
are necessary for the use and enjoyment of the
public beaches.
Contiguous land means any land abutting
land conveyed to the county as required in this
article or any land which is located within
one-half mile (2,640 feet) of the land conveyed to
the county as permitted in subsection 146-65(g).
*Cross references—Public accessways to beaches, § 22-
296; camping near Gulf of Mexico, § 94-1; planning, ch. 106.
State law references—Beach and shore preservation,
F.S. ch. 161; public access to beaches, F.S. § 161.55(4).
§ 146-52 COLLIER COUNTY CODE
CD146:12Supp. No. 117
Intervening land means any land which is
located between a public beach and a landward
point of public access through which land an
existing or potential public access passes.
Public access means existing access to a public
beach from any road, street, easement, or any
other way which the public has a right to use.
Public access, potential, means any access to a
public beach which is not existent at the time of
passage of this article but which is required
under section 146-65 and designated on Exhibit
1 to Ordinance No. 76-20.
Public beach means any water area along the
Gulf of Mexico along with its upland lands which
have been dedicated to the public or in which the
public has a right to their use by easement,
prescriptive right, customary use, state or federal
ownership, or as a result of any other act, law or
instrument through which the public has a
prescribed or implied right to their use.
Support facilities means but not be limited to
shelters, toilets, off-street parking or any other
required facility which is complementary to the
public access and which is necessary for the use
and enjoyment of the public beach it serves.
(Ord. No. 76-20, § 3)
Cross reference—Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 146-63. Penalties for violation; resort
to other remedies.
Violation of the provisions of this article or
failure to comply with any of its requirements
shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person who
violates this article or fails to comply with any of
its requirements shall upon conviction thereof be
fined, or imprisoned, or both, as provided by law.
Each day such violation continues shall be
considered a separate offense. Any other person
who commits, participates in, assists in, or
maintains such violation may each be found
guilty of a separate offense and suffer the penal-
ties herein provided. Nothing herein contained
shall prevent the county from taking such other
lawful action, including, but not limited to, resort
to equitable action as is necessary to prevent or
remedy any violation.
(Ord. No. 76-20, § 5)
State law reference—Penalty for ordinance violations,
F.S. § 125.69.
Sec. 146-64. Intent.
In order to maintain peace and order, provide
for emergency ingress and egress, and provide
the public with access to the use, enjoyment and
appreciation of the natural resource amenities of
the beaches of the county, and to develop and use
the beach resources to the greatest benefit of the
health and welfare of the citizens of the county, it
is hereby declared to be the legislative intent of
this article to provide a means and procedure for
insuring that adequate public access is provided
and maintained, that access is maintained in
such a manner as to preserve or enhance exist-
ing natural features. It is further the intent of
the board of county commissioners to provide
and implement funds and funding programs to
insure the development, maintenance and upkeep
of areas acquired pursuant to this article. The
preface and provisions of this article, being
remedial of nature, are to be liberally construed
to effectuate its purpose in the interest of the
public health, safety and welfare of the citizens
of the county and the state.
(Ord. No. 76-20, § 2)
Sec. 146-65. Approval of development
plans; issuance of building
permits.
(a) Required compliance. Prior to the grant-
ing of the final approval for a subdivision, planned
unit development (PUD), or the issuance of a
building permit for any lands which are adjacent
to or contiguous with public beaches and which
lands have the potential of blocking public access
and/or potential public access and support facili-
ties, the subdivider or applicant, as owner or
agent of subject property, shall arrange with the
county to provide land for public access and
support facilities as determined and required in
this article.
(b) Physical requirements of public access.
(1) Maximum separation. The maximum
separation from one point of public access
to the next point of public access shall
not be greater than one-half mile (2,640
feet).
(2) Minimum width. The minimum width of
any public access shall be 100 feet.
§ 146-65WATERWAYS
CD146:13Supp. No. 117
(3) Minimum yard requirements. The
minimum depth of yards which abut an
existing or potential public access shall
be the same distance as required in the
zoning district regulations, depending on
whether such yard is a front, side, rear or
corner lot.
(c) Method of providing land for public access
and support facilities. Land for public access and
support facilities may be provided by deed, public
easement, dedication or any other method which
guarantees such public access in perpetuity and
approved by the county.
(d) Procedure upon failure to convey lands. In
the event the owner of lands required for public
access and support facilities as required by this
article refuses to convey them to the county, and
it becomes necessary to condemn said lands, no
county permit shall be issued for the improve-
ment or development of the subject land until
the later of the conclusion, including expiration
of all appeal and/or re-hearing periods, of said
condemnation proceedings, or the conveyance or
transfer of said lands to the county pursuant to
negotiations for lease, purchase or dedication.
(e) Location of each public access and support
facility. The location of each public access and
support facility will be predicated on the growth
needs as well as the location and utilization of all
existing points of public access and support
facilities in a manner which will not duplicate or
conflict with an existing public access and sup-
port facility while permitting a comprehensive
coverage of the county with adequately located
public access to the public beaches.
(f) Adoption of public access comprehensive
map. In order to establish a comprehensive plan
for the eventual acquisition or development of
adequate public access and support facilities, the
board of county commissioners hereby adopts
Exhibit 1, sheets 1 through 22 and Exhibit 2,
pages 1 and 2 as part of this article. The location,
acquisition and development of all public access
and support facilities shall be guided by Exhibit
1 and Exhibit 2, and the only deviation from said
exhibits shall be as provided in this section.
(g) Waiver from requirements of this article.
(1) Even though the board of county commis-
sioners have determined that public access
and support facilities shall be provided
at maximum intervals of one-half mile
(2,640 feet) as indicated in Exhibit 1 and
Exhibit 2, such distance may be shortened
or lengthened by the board of county
commissioners in order to take into
account the availability of suitable land
for such need, the physical geography of
the land, the location of waters, roads,
railroads, or other barrier features which
may require the extension or contraction
of the distance between points of public
access, the representation relative to beach
access on Exhibit 1, pages 1 through 22,
notwithstanding.
(2) In the event that more than one public
access and support facility is required of
any one developer or owner, the board of
county commissioners is hereby
empowered to waive the one-half mile
(2,640 feet) maximum distance require-
ment of said public access and facility
and require in lieu thereof that such
public access and support facilities be
provided in the aggregate in a specified
location rather than in separate loca-
tions as required in this article.
(3) In order to carry out the intent and
objectives of this article, the board of
county commissioners are hereby
empowered to waive the requirements of
this article to the extent that the literal
enforcement of this article will create an
unduly severe hardship on the applicant
for a final approval of a subdivision plat,
PUD, or building permit to the extent
that the intent and objectives of this
article will be fulfilled.
(h) Transfer of development rights. Where the
developer has voluntarily conveyed beach access
lands to the county, the board of county commis-
sioners may authorize the transfer of develop-
ment rights for lands which are conveyed to the
county for public access and support facilities to
lands contiguous to lands so conveyed. Said
§ 146-65 COLLIER COUNTY CODE
CD146:14Supp. No. 117
transfer may be made on the basis of whichever
of the following three options, as expressed by
the following formulae, permits the greater
number of dwelling units:
(1) The number of dwelling units which may
be transferred equals the number of dwell-
ing units per acre on contiguous land
under the existing zoning classification,
divided by the number of acres conveyed.
(2) The number of dwelling units which may
be transferred equals the number of dwell-
ing units per acre as established by the
official land use guide, divided by the
number of acres conveyed.
Note. Where the number of dwelling units
which may be transferred equals a
fractional number, if the fraction equals
more than five-tenths, the number of
dwelling units to be transferred will be
increased to the next higher whole
number. If number of dwelling units
which may be transferred equals five-
tenths or less, the number of dwelling
units which may be transferred will be
decreased to the next lower whole number.
(3) A transfer of one dwelling unit per acre
or portion of an acre conveyed.
Notwithstanding the above, the board of county
commissioners shall have the authority to
authorize the transfer of a lesser number of
development rights, where it finds that the
transfer of a greater number would be contrary
to the public interest.
(Ord. No. 76-20, § 4)
Secs. 146-66—146-90. Reserved.
ARTICLE IV. VANDERBILT BEACH
CUSTOMARY USE
Sec. 146-91. Title.
This Ordinance shall be known and may be
cited as the "Collier County Vanderbilt Beach
Customary Use Ordinance."
(Ord. No. 2018-31, § 1)
Sec. 146-92. Purpose and Intent.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the
public's long-standing customary use of Vander-
bilt Beach, including the dry sand portion thereof,
while at the same time protecting the private
property rights of those owners with lands
adjacent to Vanderbilt Beach. This Ordinance
shall not be construed to affect in any way the
title of any owner of land adjacent to Vanderbilt
Beach, and is to be read as a supplement to
Ordinance 76-20, known as the Public Beach
Access Ordinance.
(Ord. No. 2018-31, § 2)
Sec. 146-93. Definition.
As utilized herein, Vanderbilt Beach shall
mean the entire beach commencing at the
southern terminus of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State
Park, thence running southerly past Vanderbilt
Beach Road until FDEP Monument R-31.5. Van-
derbilt Beach shall include not only that part of
the beach seaward of the mean high water line,
but shall also include the dry sandy area adjacent
to the mean high water line up to the vegetative
line.
(Ord. No. 2018-31, § 3)
Sec. 146-94. Right to Recreate.
Except as provided below, the public shall
have the right to recreate along all of Vanderbilt
Beach. Recreation shall include walking, jog-
ging, sunbathing with or without a beach
umbrella, picnicking, fishing, building sand-
castles, and other similar recreational beach
activities.
(Ord. No. 2018-31, § 5)
Sec. 146-95. Buffer Zone.
The public at large, including the residents
and visitors of the County, shall not utilize a
15-foot buffer zone located seaward of any
permanent habitable structure owned by a private
entity that is located on, or adjacent to, the dry
sand areas of the beach, whichever is more
seaward, except as is necessary to utilize an
existing or future public beach access point for
ingress and egress to the beach.
(Ord. No. 2018-31, § 6)
§ 146-95WATERWAYS
CD146:15Supp. No. 117
Sec. 146-96. Obstruction of Vanderbilt
Beach.
It shall be unlawful for any person to create,
erect or construct any fence, structure, barrier or
restraint within Vanderbilt Beach. Sand fences,
which have received all necessary permits from
state and federal agencies, and turtle fences are
exempt from the prohibition contained in this
section.
(Ord. No. 2018-31, § 7)
Sec. 146-97. Posting of Beach.
Except for buffer zones, it shall be unlawful
for any person to display or cause to be displayed
anywhere along Vanderbilt Beach any sign,
marker or warning stating that any part of
Vanderbilt Beach is private, that the public does
not have the right to access or recreate upon any
part of Vanderbilt Beach, or to in any way
interfere with any person who is lawfully using
Vanderbilt Beach. Buffer zones may be marked
as such.
(Ord. No. 2018-31, § 8)
Sec. 146-98. Penalty for Violations.
Violation of any provision of this Ordinance
shall be treated in the same manner as a
misdemeanor of the second degree punishable by
a fine not exceeding $500.00 or by imprisonment
not to exceed 60 days, or by both such fine and
imprisonment. All violations of this Ordinance
may be processed according to the Collier County
Consolidated Code Enforcement Ordinance (Ord.
No. 2010-04, as amended) and per provisions of
F.S. ch. 162, pts. I or II, as may be applicable. A
law enforcement official or code enforcement
officer is specifically authorized to issue a cita-
tion for each violation of this Ordinance.
(Ord. No. 2018-31, § 9)
Secs. 146-99—146-120. Reserved.
§ 146-96 COLLIER COUNTY CODE
CD146:16Supp. No. 117
Ordinance
Number Subject Section
Section
this Code
2024-25 Medial transportation services;
updated uniform standards
1—14 50-51—50-64
15 Added 50-65
16—26 Rnbd 50-65—50-75
as 50-66—50-76
2024-26 Authority of the director of
domestic animal services
1 14-28—14-31
14-32.3—10
14-33.1.I
14-36.12
14-37.3
14-38.1.B, E, F
14-39
14-40.1, 3, 4
14-41.4—6
14-41.6B(3)
14-41.7.A, 7.C
14-41.8.C, 8.G
14-44.2, 2.C
2024-27 Lighting District addition 1 122-81(102)
Added 122-81(103),
(104)
2024-32 Collier County Consolidated
Waterways and Beaches
Ordinance
1 Rpld 146-1—146-60.8
Added 146-1—146-52
2024-39 Excavation review procedures 1 22-110(a)(2), (3)
2024-40 Florida Building Code amend-
ments
1 22-26
CODE COMPARATIVE TABLE—ORDINANCE DISPOSITION
CCT:159Supp. No. 117
Chapters 147-200
RESERVED
CD147:1