A. 
It is hereby declared that the need for a consistent, reasonable and comprehensive policy toward the creation of moorings, docks, piers, floats and the dockage of vessels is of paramount importance for the orderly administration of the waterways of the Town of Oyster Bay.
B. 
The Town Board has found that water sports, the dockage of vessels, and the operation of vessels in the waters or waterways of the Town are matters affecting the public interest and consequently should be subject to the supervision and administrative control of Town authority for the purpose of safeguarding the public.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter, except when prohibited by the laws of the United States or the State of New York, apply to all waters or waterways under control of the Town, and such other municipalities as have delegated their authority to control waterways to the Town, and shall apply to: all docks, piers, floats, bulkheads and moorings which exist and are proposed in said waters or waterways.
B. 
These provisions shall not apply to any state, federal or municipal mooring, dock, or other facility.
A. 
The terms of this chapter shall be construed to conform with the provisions of all federal and state statutes, rules and regulations so as to resolve any apparent discrepancies between the federal and state provisions and the terms of this chapter.
B. 
All boats or vessels operating within the waters of the Town shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the state and federal governments.
No motor vessel shall be attached to any mooring, pier, float or dock or operated in waters of the Town of Oyster Bay except if it has currently in effect a registration issued by the State of New York, or in the case of a nonresident owner, by a bureau in the state of his or her residency.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them:
ANCHOR or ANCHORING
The attachment of or to attach a vessel to the ground by means of tackle so designed that when such attachment is terminated, the tackle in its entirety is removed from the ground and taken under the control of the vessel.
APPLICATION
A written request, verified by any person desiring to establish a mooring, dock, pier, bulkhead or float, setting forth the structure they desire to construct or maintain together with plans and specifications. Copies of all papers, plans and specifications, and applications submitted to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall be included as well as a radius map depicting all structures, docks, moorings, floats, piers, beaches (both public and private) located on, and the boundary lines of, the two properties on both sides of the premises for which the permit is sought (four properties in total), and any properties which have any frontage on a waterway and are directly opposite from the subject premises, and a chart showing the mean low tide of all areas within 300 feet of such proposed structure.
BOAT or VESSEL
Includes every description of watercraft or other contrivance used on or capable of being used as a means of transportation in water and in air, and shall be deemed to include any airplane capable of landing on water.
BULKHEAD
Any wall constructed of any type of material adjacent to a watercourse, and shall include all footings, shorings, pilings, deadmen, tiebacks and whalers, or associated devices installed in connection with the construction of said wall.
CHANNEL
Main channels and cross channels connecting with them as delineated by navigation aids placed by the United States Coast Guard or by the Town.
COURTESY PERMIT
A permit issued to a shipyard, yacht club or yacht service organization or a municipality for a mooring anchor buoy for transient vessels, vessels permanently moored or docked elsewhere and requiring mooring facilities in Oyster Bay Harbor for not more than a two-week period.
DOCK
Any mooring constructed which is attached to the land, whether underwater or otherwise, by means of pilings or some other system.
FLOAT
Any mooring constructed of materials which float in water, including but not limited to plastic, wood or foam, which may either be attached to the underwater land or to a dock, pier or bulkhead to which a vessel may moor, or may be stored upon.
HOUSEBOAT
Any vessel at any mooring location, including attached to any mooring, dock, pier or float, which is inhabited on a daily basis.
MOOR or MOORING (when used as a verb)
A. 
The attachment of or to attach a vessel to a pier or dock or other structure; or the attachment of or to attach a vessel to the ground by means of tackle so designed that, when such attachment is terminated, some portion of the tackle remains attached to the ground and is not taken under the control of the vessel.
B. 
The fastening of a boat to any part of the highway and leaving the boat unattended by a person capable of operating it, for a period longer than necessary to load or unload passengers or freight.
MOORING (when used as a noun)
Includes all docks, piers and floats to which a boat, ship, barge, raft or any similar device may be attached or any mooring maintained or operated by the Town of Oyster Bay, the United States of America, the State of New York, the County of Nassau or any other town or village, or any department or agency of any such government.
MOORING ANCHOR BUOY
Any float, together with an anchor and connecting lines of any material used to moor a vessel.
MOORING PERMIT
A permit issued to a person for a mooring anchor buoy for a specific vessel.
MOORING PLACEMENT PERMIT
A permit issued to a person for placing a mooring anchor buoy or buoys on behalf of another person or persons into the Town waters of Oyster Bay Harbor.
NAVIGABLE WATERS
Any area where at the mean low tide there is in excess of three feet between the surface of the water and underwater lands.
OWNER
Includes the person under whose name a vessel was last registered with the United States Coast Guard or with the Commissioner, Parks and Recreation, State of New York or documented or, in the case of a nonresident, by a bureau in the state of his or her residency, and in any other case the last known owner or the person who claims lawful possession of such vessel by virtue of legal title or equitable interest therein which entitles him/her to such possession.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association or organization.
PIER
Any mooring constructed of permanent materials, including but not limited to brick, stone, concrete, steel, timber, composite or similar substances and materials, which is permanently attached to the land, whether underwater or otherwise.
SKIN DIVING
Swimming with the intent to explore or photograph in local waters or to hunt fish therein, including using any self-contained underwater breathing apparatus commonly known as an "aqualung," but shall not include bona fide salvage or other commercial operations displaying proper signals.
TOWN
The Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York.
TOWN BOARD
The Town Board of the Town of Oyster Bay.
WATERS OF OYSTER BAY HARBOR
The waters in Oyster Bay Harbor, Nassau County, New York, within the jurisdictional limits of the Town of Oyster Bay or any waters over which the Town has any jurisdiction by agreement, operation of law or otherwise.
YACHT SERVICE
Any boat yard, yacht club or yacht service organization engaged in such service or fraternity within the limits of the Town of Oyster Bay.
A. 
The Town Board is hereby granted the power to promulgate reasonable rules and regulations, from time to time, as it may determine for the administration and enforcement of this chapter, such regulations to be made public by posting in a conspicuous place in or about the boating and bathing areas and filed with the Town Clerk, the Department of Environmental Resources and the Department of Public Safety for inspection by users or interested persons during regular business hours.
B. 
The Town Board is hereby authorized to adopt rules and regulations governing the operation of boats and vessels in the waterways under the control of the Town, subject to obtaining the approval of the Commissioner, Parks and Recreation, State of New York or its successor agency, where applicable.
C. 
Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit the Town Board from issuing special permits through the Department of Parks for aquatic events, boat races or otherwise render proper supervision and in limited areas for limited periods, after prior approval by the United States Coast Guard or the State of New York, as required, and notification to the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Environmental Resources and the Town Clerk.