Florida HB 1173: Boating-restricted Areas

Bill Text

CS/HB 1173 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1173-01-c1
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to boating-restricted areas; amending 2
s. 327.46, F.S.; authorizing municipalities and 3
counties to adopt ordinances to extend boating-4
restricted areas under certain conditions; requiring 5
the boundaries of such areas to be clearly marked with 6
specified markers; providing an effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 11
327.46, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 12
327.46 Boating-restricted areas.— 13
(1) Boating-restricted areas, including, but not limited 14
to, restrictions of vessel speeds and vessel traffic, may be 15
established on the waters of this state for any purpose 16
necessary to protect the safety of the public if such 17
restrictions are necessary based on boating accidents, 18
visibility, hazardous currents or water levels, vessel traffic 19
congestion, or other navigational hazards or to protect 20
seagrasses on privately owned submerged lands. 21
(c) Municipalities and counties may adopt have the 22
authority to establish by ordinance the following ordinances for 23
other boating-restricted areas: 24

CS/HB 1173 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

1. An ordinance regulating vessel speed and operation 25
within 300 feet of a confluence of water bodies presenting a 26
blind corner, up to a distance of 1,000 feet if such extended 27
area is necessary to ensure safe navigation and visibility for 28
approaching vessels. The boundaries of such areas must be 29
clearly marked by uniform waterway regulatory markers consistent 30
with commission rules. 31
2.1. An ordinance establishing an idle speed, no wake 32
boating-restricted area, if the area is within 300 feet of a 33
confluence of water bodies presenting a blind corner, a bend in 34
a narrow channel or fairway, or such other area if an 35
intervening obstruction to visibility may obscure other vessels 36
or other users of the waterway. 37
3.2. An ordinance establishing a slow speed, minimum wake, 38
or numerical speed limit boating-restricted area if the area is: 39
a. Within 300 feet of a confluence of water bodies 40
presenting a blind corner, a bend in a narrow channel or 41
fairway, or such other area if an intervening obstruction to 42
visibility may obscure other vessels or other users of the 43
waterway. 44
b. Subject to unsafe levels of vessel traffic congestion. 45
c. Subject to hazardous water levels or currents, or 46
containing other navigational hazards. 47
d. An area that accident reports, uniform boating 48
citations, vessel traffic studies, or other creditable data 49

CS/HB 1173 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

demonstrate to present a significant risk of collision or a 50
significant threat to boating safety. 51
4.3. An ordinance establishing a vessel-exclusion zone if 52
the area is reserved exclusively: 53
a. As a canoe trail or otherwise limited to vessels under 54
oars or under sail. 55
b. For a particular activity and user group separation 56
must be imposed to protect the safety of those participating in 57
such activity. 58
59
Any of the ordinances adopted pursuant to this paragraph may 60
shall not take effect until the commission has reviewed the 61
ordinance and determined by substantial competent evidence that 62
the ordinance is necessary to protect public safety pursuant to 63
this paragraph. Any application for approval of an ordinance 64
shall be reviewed and acted upon within 90 days after receipt of 65
a completed application. Within 30 days after a municipality or 66
county submits an application for approval to the commission, 67
the commission shall advise the municipality or county as to 68
what information, if any, is needed to deem the application 69
complete. An application shall be considered complete upon 70
receipt of all requested information and correction of any error 71
or omission for which the applicant was timely notified or when 72
the time for such notification has expired. The commission's 73
action on the application shall be subject to review under 74

CS/HB 1173 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

chapter 120. The commission shall initiate rulemaking no later 75
than January 1, 2010, to provide criteria and procedures for 76
reviewing applications and procedures for providing for public 77
notice and participation pursuant to this paragraph. 78
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 79