COMMISSIONERS DIRECT STAFF TO UPDATE CODES TO ALLOW FOR PARKING AND BOAT RAMP FEES FOR NON-RESIDENTS

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners directed staff to begin preparing updates to Chapter 18 of the Monroe County Code to allow fees to be charged to non-residents for vehicle parking, boat trailer parking, and boat ramp launch and retrieval at all county parks and beaches, where allowed, including updating the fee structure for non-residents at Harry Harris Park, and to begin charging non-residents at Higgs Beach in Key West, Pine Channel Nature Park on Big Pine Key, and Rowell’s Waterfront Park and Mike Forster Memorial Park on Key Largo, and also areas like the Gato Building in Key West and Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo, among others.
 
Parks and Beaches Director John Allen advised commissioners that implementing a fee structure for non-residents will provide a sustainable funding source while maintaining free access for residents.
 
“The intent is not to restrict public access, but to ensure that the financial burden of maintaining these popular amenities is shared by those who don’t pay property taxes in Monroe County,” said Allen. “The potential code amendment is intended to help offset the rising costs of maintaining and improving public facilities' ongoing upkeep.”
 
Currently, Monroe County charges non-resident admission fees only at Harry Harris Park. That fee is $15 per non-resident vehicle, plus boat ramp fees of $40 on non-holiday weekends and $60 on holidays. Park admission is waived for active-duty military, disabled veterans, and qualifying individuals under Florida law, provided they present proper identification. The direction given today would expand the county’s ability to charge parking and ramp fees at additional locations and would allow those fees to be set and adjusted by board resolution rather than through repeated ordinance amendments.
 
Staff will prepare the proposed ordinance updates for board consideration at a future meeting.

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