Committee trims cabana wristband rules, keeps alcohol limits tied to permits

St. Pete Beach — Committee members reviewed proposed regulations governing cabana service areas at transient lodging facilities and signaled agreement to soften some access controls while retaining permitting, restroom and boundary requirements.

What changed and why: Staff presented consolidated cabana rules brought into the draft Chapter 95. Members said the previously proposed requirement that cabanas issue wristbands to identify patrons would be removed because it could exclude residents or non‑registered patrons and because disposable wristbands create litter. Staff said the remainder of the cabana rules — including requirements for boundary markers, a permitted alcohol service area and restrooms in accord with the Florida Building Code — will remain.

Alcohol rules: Alcohol service in cabana service areas would remain allowed only inside a defined boundary and under a cabana alcohol service permit for private sand areas or under a special‑event permit for public beach land. Staff said signs marking the perimeter must be visible to people entering from parking or walkovers and should contrast with the sand.

Permitting and public safety: Staff asked hotels and vendors to maintain required insurance and accept that code enforcement may inspect boundaries and restrooms. Members asked staff to change the term “water closets” to “restrooms” to match more commonly used building‑code language.

Next steps: Staff said it will edit language to remove the wristband requirement, clarify boundary marker standards, change terminology to “restrooms” if consistent with building code, and return the updated language to the committee.