B.S. from Volusia County, Florida writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
We have more docks than our community needs, and as a result, association members rent or “sell” slips to people outside of the community. This is in violation of City ordinances. The Board would like to have proof that the owner of a boat using a slip at the COA marina is either an owner or renter.
1. Can Florida COA require that unit owners who are assigned boat slips provide copies of a boat registration and title showing their name in order to dock their boat in their assigned slip or that owners provide a copy of a unit lease and boat registration and title, all showing the same renter’s name in order for a renter to use an assigned boat slip? (By the way – Condo docs allow renters to rent a slip from a different owner than the owner who is renting them a slip.)
2. In order to avoid being accused of trespassing and touching owner’s property when trying to take a photo of a boat’s registration number, can the Board require that boat registration numbers be visible from the boardwalk?
Mister Condo replies:
B.S., to put it quite simple, as the owners of the boat dock, the condo association, managed by the Board, can make up any rules they wish for use of their dock. They cannot supersede federal, state, county, or local municipality rules but from what you have stated, they are not doing so. Knowing exactly who is using the boat dock is good business practice for the association who has liability for what happens on that dock. Requiring registration and/or proof of insurance is certainly well within their purview and a best practice. Requiring visible boat registration numbers is also a reasonable request. All the best!