Second Hearing Scheduled for Causeway Watercraft Launch Ordinance

Published on July 29, 2026

The City of Dunedin is considering an ordinance to prohibit the launching of motorized watercraft on the south side of the Dunedin Causeway.

The first public hearing on the proposed ordinance was held on Thursday, July 23. The City Commission voted 4-0 to move forward with the proposal after considering public input. A second hearing is scheduled for the September 3 Commission Meeting at 6 p.m. at Dunedin City Hall.

Commissioners initially provided consensus direction at its June 2 workshop, asking staff to move forward with drafting the ordinance to address environmental and safety concerns.

The Dunedin Causeway has been closed since 2024 due to damage that occurred during Hurricane Milton. Pinellas County is actively repairing the damage and expects construction to be completed by December. While the Causeway has been under repair, the ecosystem has been thriving.

"During the time that the Causeway has been closed to motorized watercraft launching there has been a resurgence of seagrass, a resurgence of the native wildlife," said City Manager Jennifer Bramley. "The parking issues are no longer there, the trash issues are no longer there."

The proposed ordinance only prohibits the launching of motorized watercraft from the south side of the Causeway and will not affect the operation of motorized watercraft in the Intracoastal Waterway or St. Joseph Sound. The launching of motorized vessels is already prohibited on the north side of the Causeway, west of the drawbridge.

Because there are no paved ramps on the south side of the Causeway, the public has to launch directly from the shoreline.

"Shoreline launching has a lot of negative effects on the environment," said Director of Parks and Recreation Tony Mulkey. "It can take 10 years for boat scarring to recover in a seagrass bed. And those seagrass beds are vital for the flora and fauna of the sound and the waterway itself."

In addition to environmental impacts, the ordinance will also address public safety concerns. Banning the launching and retrieval of motorized watercraft lowers the risk of collisions with kayakers, paddleboarders and other people in the water.

According to Dunedin Fire Chief Michael Handoga, there have been two Jet Ski fatalities since 2020. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has also reported 80 Jet Ski-related incidents between January 1, 2022, and April 30, 2026.

The public is encouraged to provide input at the September 3 public hearing, whether in person, through e-Comment available on the City website or by emailing the City Commission at CityCommission@Dunedin.gov.

If the ordinance is adopted, the public will be directed to launch from public and private boat ramps located between two and 12 miles from the Causeway.

The proposed ordinance has received support from Pinellas County, the Causeway and Coastal Waterway Committee, Dunedin Windlasses and Dunedin Youth Sailing. Environmental groups, including the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and Sierra Club, are in support of protecting the flora and fauna in and around the Gulf Coast.