§ 5-13. Watercraft restrictions.

(a)

General . It shall be unlawful to leave any sailboat, boat, jet-ski, or other watercraft on the public beach after sunset and before sunrise each day. Additionally, it shall be unlawful to leave any sailboat, boat, jet-ski, or other watercraft unattended.

Exceptions. Appropriate governing councils may develop a permitting process and associated regulations enabling watercraft to be stored overnight on a temporary or permanent basis.

(b)

Motorboats . It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or pilot a motor-driven boat, except for vessels commonly known as jet-skis or similar type vessels, in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within four hundred (400) yards of the point where the Atlantic Ocean adjoins the public beach or elsewhere along the public beach in any manner as to create a hazard to the public within the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Emergency vessels operating under official guidelines are exempt from the ordinance from which this section was derived.

(c)

Jet-skis . It shall be unlawful to operate any jet-ski in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within one hundred (100) yards of the point where the Atlantic Ocean adjoins the public beach during the period from May 1 up to and including Labor Day of any year, except that jet skis may be launched from and returned to the beach on a course approximately perpendicular to the beach. When launching or returning as described above, the jet-ski shall be operated as slowly as surf conditions shall permit and in such a manner as to avoid all swimmers or other persons in the water. For the purposes of this chapter, the term jet-ski shall include wave riders and any other similar vehicles by whatever name. Emergency vessels operating under official guidelines are exempt from the ordinance from which this section was derived.

(d)

Sailboats, sail boards, kite surfing boards, and like devices. It shall be unlawful to operate any sailboat, sail board, kite surfing boards and like devices in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within one hundred (100) yards of the point where the Atlantic Ocean adjoins the public beach during the period from May 1 up to and including Labor Day of any year, except that such devices listed above may be launched from and returned to the beach on a course approximately perpendicular to the beach. When launching or returning as described above, such devices listed above shall be operated as slowly as surf conditions shall permit and in such a manner as to avoid all swimmers or other persons in the water.

Exceptions. Appropriate governing councils may issue special permits allowing the temporary suspension of the ordinance from which this section was derived with the consent of council for each occurrence, or by methodology established by such council for such occurrences. Appropriate governing councils may develop "zones" allowing or restricting any of these activities with stated regulations with the consent of council.

(Ord. No. 27-11, § 1, 5-7-11)