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Council suspends enforcement of driveway boat rules while it reconsiders ordinance
Summary
Facing resident complaints and uneven enforcement, the Vero Beach City Council voted 5-0 to stay enforcement of ordinance language governing boats and recreational vehicles on private property for up to six months while staff drafts clearer code revisions.
The Vero Beach City Council voted unanimously to place a temporary stay on enforcement of the city ordinance governing boats and recreational vehicles on private property while staff and council refine the code.
Council member Dingle brought the item after constituents raised concerns about uneven enforcement and about whether the code’s definitions and setbacks were workable for older, smaller lots. Numerous residents spoke during public comment describing the practical burden of complying with existing setbacks and explaining the cost of off‑site storage. One resident, Buddy Brown of 925 Shore Drive, said his 14‑foot skiff—kept in his driveway and largely screened by vegetation—was cited and that complying would require removing landscaping or fencing.
Planning Director Jason Jeffries and code staff told council the ordinance dates to 1982 with multiple amendments (most recently in 2013) and that comparable coastal communities often have stricter rules. Staff reviewed enforcement procedures: officers generally issue a written warning with a correction date (commonly about a week) before issuing a citation; the code enforcement board can grant additional time (30–90 days) for compliance. Staff also noted distinctions between the city’s general ordinances and the land development code.
In response, the council passed a motion to "stay enforcement on city ordinance chapter 74 traffic and vehicles, article 2, municipal driving and parking regulations, specifically that refer to boats in driveways and on side yards until we can fine tune the wording of these codes." The motion includes these limits: the stay not exceed six months and it should not apply in emergency situations. The motion passed on a 5-0 roll call.
Council directed staff to draft proposed modifications to definitions and setbacks, to consider practical exemptions for unusual lot shapes and fenced yards, and to return the revisions to the council for formal action. Staff also agreed to clarify the complaint process and to propose standard time frames for warnings and compliance to reduce perceived selective enforcement.
