Cocoa Beach Ordinance 1719: City Commission First Reading on Boat, RV, and Trailer Parking Rules, October 15

Summary

The Cocoa Beach City Commission will consider Ordinance 1719 on first reading on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. at Cocoa Beach City Hall. The ordinance would amend Section 3-03 of the City Code. That section sets the rules for parking vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles, utility trailers, and special purpose vehicles. The ordinance would raise the maximum length of a vehicle allowed on a residential lot from 26 feet to 35 feet. It would also let a vehicle that cannot meet the rules stay at the owner's property for up to two days, or 48 hours, per week. Staff recommends adoption on first reading.

When and Where

Ordinance 1719 is item K.5 under New Business on the Commission's regular meeting agenda. The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026. It will be held at Cocoa Beach City Hall, 2 S Orlando Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

Why the City Proposed It

The agenda item summary from Development Services says the update will clarify and revise the city's rules for parking and storing vehicles on residential properties. It says the changes address vehicle length, where and under what conditions larger vehicles may be parked, and temporary parking. The stated goal is clearer and more consistent standards for property owners.

The ordinance says the rules will continue to protect pedestrian and bicycle facilities, property owners, neighborhood character, and the safe operation of city streets.

The Main Change: 26 Feet to 35 Feet

Under the current code, vehicles under 26 feet long may be parked on any private residential lot that has a permitted principal structure, unless another rule prohibits it. Ordinance 1719 would change that limit to 35 feet.

The code counts all accessories as part of a vehicle's length. It lists hitches, masts, outboard motors, trailers, and any vehicle attached to the vehicle.

Rules for Vehicles Over 35 Feet

The code has a separate set of rules for larger vehicles. It covers any recreational vehicle, whether wheeled, motorized, or unassembled. That includes trailers, boats, and boat trailers, alone or in combination. Today those rules apply to vehicles over 26 feet. The ordinance would apply them to vehicles over 35 feet.

Under the draft, a vehicle over 35 feet may not be parked, stored, or located on private property in a residential zoning district unless it is in an enclosed garage or meets these conditions.

• The surface under or above the vehicle must be paved or kept the same as the rest of the lot. Weeds, undergrowth, or lawn on that surface may not grow over 12 inches.

• It may be parked in a side or rear yard if it is set back at least 2 feet from any abutting property line. If it is within 10 feet of an adjacent property, a six-foot high opaque fence or wall must be provided along that property line.

• It may not block the sight visibility triangle at intersections described in Section 3-07.

• It may not be used as a home, connected to public utilities, used for storage, or used as a business office.

• It must be operable with a current license tag and registration.

• Only one vehicle over 35 feet may be parked on a property at a time.

The current code says these vehicles may not be "permanently" parked. The draft removes the word "permanently." It also removes the current line that the vehicle be parked on a driveway or other prepared surface, preferably a pervious surface. The paved or maintained surface rule above takes its place.

Front Yard Parking

The redlined draft in the agenda packet shows the current front yard conditions struck through. Those conditions allow a vehicle over the length limit in the front yard if it is at least 8 feet from the front face of the curb or edge of the travel lane and does not extend over a pedestrian sidewalk or bike path.

One of the opening "whereas" clauses of the ordinance still describes front yard standards with the same curb setback and sidewalk rule. The packet does not explain the difference between the two.

Temporary Parking

The current code lets a vehicle that cannot meet these rules stay at the owner's property for one day per week. The allowed purposes are maintenance, loading, unloading, and trip preparation. Ordinance 1719 would raise that to two days, or 48 hours, per week.

New General Rules

The draft adds four rules to the General part of Section 3-03. That part comes before the separate rules for commercial and residential districts.

• No more than one utility trailer may be parked in the front yard of a residential property at a time.

• Boats, utility trailers, recreational vehicles, and special purpose vehicles may not be parked in the right of way for more than one hour.

• These vehicles must have a currently valid license tag registered to the vehicle, be kept with wheels and tires mounted, and be kept in movable condition.

• The surface where a vehicle is parked must be paved or kept the same as the rest of the lot, with no weeds, undergrowth, or lawn over 12 inches.

Commercial and Semi-Truck Rules

For commercial properties, the draft adds a sentence that minimum off-street parking requirements must be kept at all times. The existing rules for where semi-trucks and tractor trailers are parked and stored on commercial properties stay the same.

On residential properties, semi-trucks and tractor trailers stay limited to loading and unloading between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. No overnight parking is allowed.

Who It May Affect

The ordinance says the update covers the parking and storage of vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats, utility trailers, and special purpose vehicles on residential and commercial properties in Cocoa Beach.

What Happens Next

This is the first reading. The agenda lists the staff recommendation as "Adopt on First Reading." The ordinance states that it takes effect immediately upon adoption. The October 15 agenda does not list a date for a second reading.

How to Take Part

The agenda says the Commission accepts relevant comments, with a limit of three minutes per speaker. A person speaking for a group may be given three more minutes. Speaker cards are required for each item. They are available at the entrance of the Commission Room and in the City Clerk's office. Cards go to the City Clerk before the item is introduced.

The agenda also states that anyone who plans to appeal a Commission decision must make sure a verbatim record and transcript of the proceeding is made, at their own expense. Anyone who needs a special accommodation to take part should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (321) 868-3286 at least 48 hours before the meeting. Florida Relay Service is available at 711.

Residents who want to speak on Ordinance 1719 can turn in a speaker card to the City Clerk before item K.5 is introduced on October 15.

Official Sources

City Commission Regular Meeting Agenda, October 15, 2026

City Commission Agenda Packet, October 15, 2026 (item K.5 agenda item summary and draft Ordinance 1719, packet pages 114 to 118)

Meeting page on the city's CivicClerk portal

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice.