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Commission approves shopping-cart retention ordinance; retailers to submit prevention plans
Summary
On second reading the commission adopted Ordinance 2025-10 requiring retailers to submit shopping-cart retention plans and establishing penalties for noncompliance; commissioners noted state limits on fining carts found in the public right of way but said the city can require retention plans.
The City Commission adopted Ordinance 2025-10 on second and final reading, amending city code to require businesses to submit shopping-cart retention plans and to hold businesses accountable to approved plans.
The ordinance, sponsored by Commissioner Smuckler, responds to complaints about shopping carts in rights of way and directs the Department of Public Works to approve retention plans and monitor compliance. City staff noted state law limits municipal fines in certain public-right-of-way situations but said it remains lawful to require retention plans and hold businesses to those plans.
During debate staff highlighted examples from other municipalities and discussed enforcement mechanisms and penalties for failure to implement an approved prevention plan. “The city of Miami fines $500. The city of North Miami fines $250,” a staff official said while explaining penalty levels used by nearby jurisdictions. The commission completed a roll-call vote and the ordinance passed unanimously, 7-0.
The ordinance directs Public Works to establish plan-review procedures and enforcement processes; staff said implementation details will be part of administrative rules promulgated under the code change.
