Newport Beach to consider new language changes in city’s Harbor Code

On Tuesday, the Newport Beach City Council will consider additional adjustments to the city’s Harbor Code on the requirements for live-aboards — essentially, houseboats — in commercial marinas.

The recommendations come from the Harbor Commission, which formed an ad hoc committee in 2018 to review Title 17, also known as the city’s Harbor Code, to identify potential areas for modification. As part of that discussion, council members requested that the Harbor Commission review language surrounding live-aboards.

Proposed revisions to city code would include adding language to expand live-aboards to commerical marinas under certain circumstances and ensuring that all vessels are capable of operating from their berthing place.

It would also include language to clarify that offshore moorings would be subject to a 7% limitation. This limit would not apply to commercial marinas.

Current regulations state that live-aboards are prohibited at piers bayward of residentially zoned areas and that no individuals are allowed to live on any vessel with an onshore mooring and cannot live on an offshore mooring without a permit.

City staff also recommends clarifying public anchorage regulations to state that anchoring a vessel is only allowed in designated anchorages and that the vessel must be attended to at all times.

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