Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: August 11, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: N/A
FROM: Tanya Wilson, AICP, Director, Planning, Environmental, and Development Services Department
CONTACT: Renée H. Parker, LEP, Manager, Environmental Protection Officer
PHONE: (407) 836-1420
DIVISION: Environmental Protection Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Proposed Revisions to Boats and Water Safety, Chapter 8, Orange County Code. All Districts. (Environmental Protection Division)
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PROJECT: Chapter 8 Boats and Water Safety Code Work Session
PURPOSE: The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is presenting proposed revisions to Chapter 8 (“Boats and Water Safety”) of the Orange County Code. Chapter 8 outlines enforceable boating rules and regulations to protect the health, safety and general welfare of users of waterways of Orange County (County) including minimum boating safety equipment and general vessel operation restrictions. Chapter 8 was updated in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1995, and 2022.
During the October 13, 2026 work session, staff will:
• Provide an overview and status update on the two-phase Chapter 8 ordinance revision process
• Review the project timeline and remaining milestones
• Summarize stakeholder comments received during Phase II
• Present the proposed next steps for completing the ordinance update
The purpose of the work session is to obtain the Board’s feedback and recommendations on the proposed Chapter 8 Boats and Safety code revisions, including modifications to some of the existing boating restricted areas and the establishment of new or additional boating restricted areas. Staff will use the feedback received to refine the proposed ordinance before returning to the Board for the Phase II adoption public hearing, which is currently scheduled for the December 1, 2026 BCC meeting.
Background:
In 2022, Orange County initiated Phase I of the Chapter 8 Boats and Water Safety Ordinance (Chapter 8, Article II) revisions, and the Board adopted changes that authorized the establishment of a Swim Area/Vessel Exclusion Zone (SAVE) at Egret (Bird) Island on Lake Butler of the Butler Chain of Lakes. Phase I addressed safety, natural resource and wildlife issues at Egret (Bird) Island by creating a boundary of a boating-restricted area along the shallow portion of the island and is designed to protect public safety by preventing interactions between vessels and swimmers.
On June 20, 2023, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued Florida Uniform Waterway Marker Permit 23-012 which authorized the installation of the markers. Phase I of this effort was completed on August 25, 2023.
Since that time, Phase II, a more comprehensive update has been underway. Phase II consists of Idle or Slow Speed Zones and does not include additional SAVE zones. EPD and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) identified the need for modifications to some existing boating restricted areas and to establish additional boating restricted areas. Additionally, much of the statutory language in the code has been superseded by state statute and is no longer enforceable by law enforcement, which occasionally leads to confusion for the boating public. These efforts will bring Chapter 8 in compliance with FS 327.46 requirements for existing and proposed boating restricted areas throughout the County (Butler Chain of Lakes, Conway Chain of Lakes, Lake Jessamine, Big Sand Lake, Lake Pickett, Johns Lake, Lake Mary Jane, and Lake Hart).
EPD originally presented an update on the ordinance revisions to the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) at a public hearing on March 29, 2023. After discussion, the EPC made a motion to support the proposed Phase II ordinance revisions. Since that date, the permit application process has gone through an iterative process until FWC was satisfied with EPD’s application package. On April 21, 2026, FWC provided preliminary approval of the final draft of the proposed and revised Chapter 8 Ordinance.
Two additional stakeholder meetings were held on June 18, 2026, to present the additional revisions from the stakeholder meetings held in 2022 and 2023: inclusion of additional proposed boating restricted areas on Lakes Hart and Mary Jane. In general, the feedback provided was continued public support of the Phase I SAVE at Egret Island, requests for increased law enforcement presence and extra navigation marker signage to regulate speeding in established zones, overall support for aligning Chapter 8 Ordinance to support Florida Statute, clarification of specific language preempted by State Statute that are no longer enforceable by State Statute, and a request to evaluate an additional area on Johns Lake for an additional boating safety zone.
EPD presented an update on the ordinance revisions to EPC at a work session on July 29, 2026. Feedback received were inquiries about the estimated cost of project and how many pilings and signs are proposed, and whether additional boating restricted areas can be established at private boat ramps and for the purpose of shoreline erosion control.
This item is for informational purposes only; no action is required.
BUDGET: N/A