Take a look down any of our Seven Isles canals and one can easily see that at least half of our Seven Isles residents enjoy boating. In fact, one of the many desirable aspects of a Seven Isles home is the ability to park luxury vehicles in the front, and a yacht in the back of any residential property here.
With an accelerated marine market and the manufacturing of boats that seem to be getting bigger and more elaborate each year, now is a good time to review City ordinances that restrict what we can and cannot do with boats moored in our Seven Isles canals.
The City of Fort Lauderdale has very specific ordinances intended to promote the safety and welfare of its citizens in residential areas. For example, a yacht that encroaches more than 30% of the width of our canals (as measured from the recorded property line) is a code violation — and not just because it blocks your view. Such an encroachment creates a significant emergency hazard should the city or county’s rescue fireboats need to access the canal to fight a boat fire or your back yard fire. (Source: Section 8-91, Article IV, Chapter 8.)
Likewise, a boat (and all watercraft) cannot be docked at a Seven Isles residential property in such a position that causes it to extend beyond the side setback lines that are required for single-family home construction. While many lots in Seven Isles are at or exceed 100’, there are also many lots that are only 75’-80’ in width. One can easily surmise that these lots cannot accommodate yachts as small as 60’, as they could extend beyond the side setback lines.
A property owner having too large a boat would need to apply for an exception to the setback requirements through the City, which would require a public hearing in front of the Planning and Zoning Board, followed, if successful, by a public hearing at a City Commission regular meeting. This ordinance is intended to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of citizens of the city. City officials, in considering an exception to the setbacks, would need to weigh to what extent the exception would impact the surrounding property as well as the ability of adjacent property owners to enjoy abutting waterways.
Have you ever considered renting your dock space to anyone? Don’t do it! The City has a specific ordinance that prohibits the renting of docks, dock space, or moorings, and the rental of boats or any portion thereof, for any purpose whatsoever. This ordinance prohibits renting if you reside in any residential area zoned RS-8 and RS-4.4. Seven Isles is zoned RS-4.4. If you are aware of anyone who is renting dock space in Seven Isles, you can report them to the City’s Code Compliance division at 954-828-5207.
In addition to the above ordinance, there is an ordinance under Section 47-39.A.1.b, subsection 9, which identifies that the parking of boats must be limited to boats and vehicles owned by the occupants of the property or their guests. This ordinance also contains many other provisions dealing with the legal storage or parking of boats on trailers, as well as specific criteria for recreational vehicles (RVs).
Another concern among Seven Isles residents are live-aboards. You may not be aware that a City ordinance strictly forbids the disposal of garbage, papers, bottles, cans, refuse, petroleum products, solvents or other inflammable liquids, or other debris into our waterways. All watercraft moored or docked in the waterways within the city limits other than at municipal docks must provide garbage cans of sufficient capacity (not larger than thirty (30) gallons with tight-fitting tops) to hold garbage or refuse to be collected by the city.
There are specific provisions against the dumping of marine toilets into our waterways, and this is particularly a concern if there are live-aboards. Section 8-156 of City ordinances specifically addresses marine sanitation systems as follows:
All property owners of property located in any R-3, R-3-A, R-3-B, R-3-C, R-4 or R-4-C zoning district shall require that all vessels docked or moored at such a property, where habitation aboard is occurring, be connected at all times to a marine sanitation system or have an alternative marine sanitation system or incineration device. Habitable vessel means a vessel that is equipped with an on-board toilet which is connected to a fitting that allows for the overboard discharge of wastewater. Even a one-night stay by your guests on your boat at your dock constitutes as a habitable vessel.
Take a look outside your rear windows. Do you see any boats or other watercraft that can be in violation of City ordinances? Remember that these ordinances are in place to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all of us. Reporting a code concern is easy and confidential. Code Officers are available seven days a week. According to the City’s website, a Code Officer assigned to our area will conduct an inspection of the property after a valid complaint is received, and if it is determined that a violation exists, they will enforce accordingly. You can contact Code Compliance as follows:
- Call the Community Enhancement and Compliance customer service line at 954-828-5207 Monday – Friday 8 am to 4 pm. If calling after hours, please dial 954-828-8000.
- Email CEnhancement@fortlauderdale.gov. This is not confidential — note that Florida state law considers emails to and from public employees public records subject to public records requests.
To understand how the code compliance inspection process works, view the algorithm I provided in a May 2021 Seven Isles digital newsletter article on our website’s home page in the newsletter archives at: www.sevenisleshoa.com.