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Mooring Requirements in City Waters
For the purpose of clarifying that moorings may not be installed within 75 feet of another mooring or a structure rather than applying the 75 foot measurement from the moored vessel and clarifying that all transient mooring balls are owned by the City and are not private; allowing the Harbormaster to adopt rules and regulations consistent with Title 15 of the Code of the City of Annapolis as to the types and lengths of vessels that may use any mooring in City waters; updating the definition of "mooring(s)"; and generally related to mooring requirements in City waters.
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City Council of the
City of Annapolis
Ordinance 2-26
Introduced by: Mayor Littmann (by request of the Harbormaster)
Co-sponsored by:
Referred to: Environmental Matters Committee, Port Wardens
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Mooring Requirements in City Waters
FOR the purpose of clarifying that moorings may not be installed within 75 feet of another mooring or a structure rather than applying the 75 foot measurement from the moored vessel and clarifying that all transient mooring balls are owned by the City and are not private; allowing the Harbormaster to adopt rules and regulations consistent with Title 15 of the Code of the City of Annapolis as to the types and lengths of vessels that may use any mooring in City waters; updating the definition of "mooring(s)"; and generally related to mooring requirements in City waters.
BY repealing and reenacting with amendments the following portions of the Code of the City of Annapolis, 2026 Edition: 15.02.030, 15.10.110
SECTION I: BE IT ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Code of the City of Annapolis shall be amended to read as follows:
City Code Title 15 - HARBORS AND WATERFRONT AREAS
Division I - Generally
Chapter 15.02 General Provisions
Section 15.02.030 Definitions.
For purposes of this title, the following words and phrases have the meanings indicated:
U. "Mooring" includes, but is not limited to:
1. A place where vessels are secured, other than a pier;
2. A chain, line or other device by which a vessel is secured in place and which is not carried aboard the vessel as regular equipment when underway; or
3. The process of securing a vessel by means of chains, lines or other devices described in subsection (2) above.
Mooring(s).
1. "Mooring" means, but is not limited to:
a. A place where vessels are secured, other than a pier; or
b. A chain, line or other device by which a vessel is secured in place and which is not carried aboard the vessel as regular equipment when underway; or
c. The process of securing a vessel by means of chains, lines or other devices described in subsection (b) above.
2. "Annual Mooring" means a type of public mooring where a permanently installed mooring buoy serves as a secure anchoring point for a vessel under a fixed annual lease arrangement between an individual (the lessee) and the City of Annapolis (the owner).
3. "Transient Mooring" means a type of public mooring where a permanently installed mooring buoy serves as a secure anchoring point for a vessel for a temporary stay lasting from one hour to one week, which may be renewed.
City Code Title 15 - HARBORS AND WATERFRONT AREAS
Division II - City Waters
Chapter 15.10 Operation, Anchoring, and Mooring of Vessels in City Waters
Section 15.10.110 Moorings.
A. Private moorings shall only be utilized by vessels for which valid private mooring permits have been obtained as provided by the City Code.
B. A vessel may not be moored in City waters within seventy-five feet of any structure, shore or private mooring or in a position which obstructs navigation.
C. Only one vessel may be moored on a mooring, except that a dingy less than thirteen feet in length may be attached to a larger vessel on a mooring.
D. A vessel may not moor at a public mooring in City waters for more than ten days in any period of thirty consecutive days, unless the owner or operator of the vessel has:
1. Registered the vessel and all persons aboard the vessel with the Harbormaster upon a form provided by the Harbormaster;
2. Paid any fees which may be required under Section 15.10.020; and
3. Affixed aboard the vessel in plain view any placard or sticker furnished by the Harbormaster.
A. Annual Moorings.
1. Annual moorings shall be utilized only by vessels for which valid annual mooring permits have been obtained as provided by the City Code.
2. An annual mooring may not be installed in City waters within 75 feet of any structure, shore, or in a position that obstructs navigation as determined by the Harbormaster.
3. Only one vessel may be moored on an annual mooring, except that a dinghy less than 13 feet in length may be attached to a larger vessel on an annual mooring.
4. The Harbormaster shall adopt rules and regulations to govern and control the use and storage of all vessels on annual moorings within City waters.
B. Transient Moorings.
1. A vessel may not moor at a transient mooring in City waters for more than ten days in any period of 30 consecutive days, unless the owner or operator of the vessel has:
a. Registered the vessel and all persons aboard the vessel with the Harbormaster upon a form provided by the Harbormaster;
b. Paid any fees which may be required under § 15.10.020.
2. Only one vessel may be moored on a transient mooring, except that a dinghy less than 13 feet in length may be attached to a larger vessel on a transient mooring.
3. A transient mooring may not be installed in City waters within 75 feet of any structure, shore, or in a position that obstructs navigation as determined by the Harbormaster.
4. The Harbormaster shall adopt rules and regulations to govern and control the use and storage of all vessels on transient moorings within City waters.
C. Private Moorings.
Private moorings are not permitted in City waters.
SECTION II: AND BE IT FINALLY ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this ordinance shall take effect upon passage.