New League City Boat Rules Draw Opposition From Liveaboard Residents

Boat owners are against a League City ordinance that makes it harder for liveaboard boaters to do what they want. This decision comes after the City Council passed new inspection and permit requirements to improve safety, protect the environment, and find abandoned boats.

At a meeting on December 15, the League City City Council passed the law by a 7-1 vote. The new rules say that people who live on a boat in a port for more than 10 consecutive days within 30 days need to obtain a city permit.

Mayor Nick Long says that as part of the permit process, checks will be conducted to ensure that a vessel is seaworthy and that waste is handled correctly. The city's YouTube account posted a video on Dec. 17 with Long saying, "We are going to go check to make sure the boat is seaworthy and make sure you are not sending the trash back into the lake."

City officials said the ordinance was the result of a year of work with marina owners, the Texas General Land Office, and comments from residents. Long also noted that the policy was based on the fact that abandoned boats cause more crime and environmental damage.

As of Monday, more than 1,000 people had signed an internet petition against the ordinance. There is a petition that says the city is unfairly limiting responsible liveaboard boaters. The petition calls them "working families, retirees, veterans, and long-time residents" who take care of the waterways in their own way.

Councilman Tom Crews suggested changes that would have limited the ordinance's application and given present liveaboard residents time to adjust. They disagreed with the changes, and Crews was the only person who voted against the law. Before the vote, he said, "People who are already living abroad should not have to leave overnight because of a new rule."

The public has had a range of reactions. On community Facebook pages, some people supported the inspections as a way to improve the marinas. In contrast, others were concerned about privacy and its potential impact on League City's boating culture.

Long said that the law came about because of problems caused by people leaving their boats behind. At one point, the submersion of several of the 26 ships was apparent. The vessels put people in danger, damaged bulkheads during storms, and leaked fuel into the water, he said.

Two deaths found in city marinas in 2024, the mayor said, made the need for better control even clearer. In June, a League City port discovered a woman's body on a boat. This tragic incident occurred shortly after the discovery of another woman's body in the same body of water.

The city officials stated that the law aims to enhance safety, safeguard the environment, and guarantee the smooth operation of marinas. Boaters opposing the rule say they will continue to advocate for changes.

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