The Waterfront Director shall take custody of all property found
within the Harbor district not in the lawful possession or control
of any person. The lawful owners may claim such property by showing
proof of ownership and paying all expenses incurred by the Waterfront
Director in connection therewith, including charges for raising, keeping
and storing the same. If any property is not claimed, and all charges
are not paid, within 60 days after the Waterfront Director has taken
custody of it, the Waterfront Director is authorized to sell the same
as abandoned property in accordance with the terms of existing law.
(Prior code §24.4; Ord. 4757, 1992)
Prior to departure from the Harbor, all boat owners or operators
shall report to the Waterfront Director if a slip is to be released,
vacated or unoccupied for five or more days.
(Prior code §24.6; Ord. 4757, 1992; Ord. 5386, 2006)
Vessel launching or removal from the Harbor is unlawful, except
at public or commercial locations designated for such purpose, without
first obtaining permission from the Waterfront Director.
(Prior code §24.7; Ord. 2882 §1, 1962; Ord. 2915 §1, 1963; Ord. 2973 §1,
1964; Ord. 4200, 1983; Ord. 4757, 1992)
Fees for the privilege to enter and use the public launching
ramp for launching a boat shall be established by City Council resolution.
(Prior code §24.7(a); Ord. 2973, 1964; Ord. 3333, 1968; Ord. 3932 §1, 1977; Ord. 4757, 1992)
After December 1, 2015, only operable vessels as defined in Section
17.04.010, and as required in Section 17.20.005.K, shall be berthed, moored or anchored in the Harbor District. Man-made floating objects that were existing and were berthed, moored or anchored in the Harbor District as of December 1, 2015, and were not "operable vessels," as set forth in Section
17.04.010, shall be allowed to continue to be berthed, moored or anchored in the Harbor District. To remain berthed, moored or anchored in the Harbor as a man-made floating object existing after December 1, 2015, the man-made floating object shall not exceed the length or beam that was existing on December 1, 2015 and shall comply with all other requirements of Santa Barbara Municipal Code except as set forth above.
(Ord. 5728, 2015; Ord. 6090, 2022)
It is unlawful for any person to willfully or carelessly destroy,
damage, disturb, deface or interfere with any buoy, float, life preserver,
sign, notice or any other municipal or public property within the
Harbor district under the jurisdiction of the City, and such person
shall make full restitution for any resulting damages to the City.
(Prior code §24.8; Ord. 4757, 1992; Ord. 5901, 2019)
The master and pursers of all vessels using the Harbor or wharves
shall furnish the Waterfront Director with information regarding the
size and kind of vessel; the amount, kind and value of waterborne
freight handled, and the number of passengers carried and submit their
papers, including their manifests for inspection, upon demand.
(Prior code §24.9; Ord. 4757, 1992)
The owner of any vessel shall assume all risk of damage or loss
of any kind to his or her property while it is within the limits of
the Harbor district. The City assumes no risk on account of fire,
theft, act of God, conditions of the sea, or damages of any kind to
vessels.
(Prior code §24.11; Ord. 4757, 1992)
It is unlawful for any person to leave any vessel unattended
or unoccupied at, or alongside any public wharf, pier, float, quay
or landing without obtaining permission of the Waterfront Director
to do so.
(Prior code §24.12; Ord. 4757, 1992)
It is unlawful for any person to obstruct access to or use of
any public area including landings, piers, fairways, walkways and
docks or to berth any vessel where the length of the vessel exceeds
the maximum permissible length for the slip as established by resolution
of the City Council.
(Prior code §24.14; Ord. 4757, 1992; Ord. 5152, 2000)
No person shall operate any surfboard, sailboard, paddleboard,
raft, or similar craft or device, in or across the main channel, or
in area of launching ramps, marinas, and turning basins; without first
having obtained permission from the Waterfront Director.
(Prior code §24.141; Ord. 2749 §1, 1959; Ord. 4308, 1984; Ord. 4757, 1992)
No person shall use or operate any sailboard, windsurfer or
similar device in the waters bounded by West Beach, Stearns Wharf,
the rock groin at the Harbor entrance and an imaginary line connecting
the Santa Barbara Harbor Light 4 (located at the end of Stearns Wharf)
to Santa Barbara Harbor Breakwater Light (located at the most southeasterly
point of the breakwater) between the hours of 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.
on Sundays during the months of April, May, June and July.
(Ord. 4308, 1984)
A. It
is unlawful for any person to operate a vessel within the Harbor:
1. At
a speed greater than five nautical miles per hour;
2. In
a manner that creates a wake that causes docks, floating structures
or vessels secured to docks or floating structures to move in a way
that threatens safety, or damages floating structures or vessels;
or
3. In
a manner that fails to account for visibility, weather conditions,
other vessels, property or for the safety of all persons.
B. This
section shall not apply to public officers in the performance of their
official duties or persons issued a special permit by the Waterfront
Director.
(Prior code §24.16; Ord. 2666 §1, 1958; Ord. 4757, 1992; Ord. 5124, 1999; Ord. 5602, 2012)
A. Unlawful
operation of vessels in Stearns Wharf Wye. It is unlawful for any
person to operate a vessel within the Stearns Wharf Wye at a speed
greater than five nautical miles per hour. This section shall not
apply to public officers in the performance of their official duties.
B. Definition
of Stearns Wharf wye. The Stearns Wharf Wye shall be defined as the
area depicted on Exhibit A.
(Ord. 5841, 2018)
It is unlawful to operate a power driven vessel, or a sail vessel,
within any designated swim area in the Harbor District unless authorized
by the Waterfront Director. Swim areas shall be designated by the
placement of regulatory buoys.
(Prior code §24.17(a); Ord. 2666 §2, 1958; Ord. 4757, 1992; Ord. 5458, 2008)
No person shall enter the Harbor waters except slip permittees,
lessees, licensees and those persons with valid Business Activity
Permits, who, in the course of doing boat maintenance are required
to be in the water. Swimming is permitted from that portion of West
Beach bordered by Stearns Wharf, the rock groin and the navigation
channel, and the seaward portion of the sandspit.
(Prior code §24.18; Ord. 2749 §2, 1959; Ord. 4757, 1992)