HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Cover PageAGENDA ITEM COVER PAGE
File ID: #19115
Ordinance
Sponsored by: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 54 OF
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"),
TITLED "STREETS AND SIDEWALKS," BY CREATING SECTION 54-19 OF THE CITY
CODE, TITLED "TRANSIT SHELTERS; USE AND CONDUCT," PROVIDING
DEFINITIONS AND PROHIBITED CONDUCT AT TRANSIT SHELTERS; PROVIDING
FOR ENFORCEMENT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE X OF THE CITY
CODE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
City of Miami File ID: 19115 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/29/2026
City of Miami
Legislation
Ordinance
Enactment Number: 14462
File Number: 19115 Final Action Date: 5/14/2026
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 54 OF
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"),
TITLED "STREETS AND SIDEWALKS," BY CREATING SECTION 54-19 OF THE CITY
CODE, TITLED "TRANSIT SHELTERS; USE AND CONDUCT," PROVIDING
DEFINITIONS AND PROHIBITED CONDUCT AT TRANSIT SHELTERS; PROVIDING
FOR ENFORCEMENT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE X OF THE CITY
CODE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Chapter 54 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("City
Code"), titled "Streets and Sidewalks," regulates the use of streets, sidewalks, and public rights -
of -way within the City of Miami ("City"); and
WHEREAS, bus stops, bus shelters, trolley stops, and other transit shelters located
within the City are intended to provide temporary seating and weather protection for individuals
awaiting public transportation; and
WHEREAS, such transit shelters are limited public facilities designed for short-term
occupancy and must remain accessible for their intended use; and
WHEREAS, the use of transit shelters as places of dwelling or living accommodation
interferes with accessibility, sanitation, and the safe use of public transportation infrastructure;
and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds it necessary to regulate conduct at transit
shelters to ensure their availability and functionality for the public;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Ordinance are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Chapter 54 of the City Code is amended by creating a new section, to read as
follows:1
"CHAPTER 54
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
1 Words and/or figures stricken through shall be deleted. Underscored words and/or figures shall be
added. The remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged. Asterisks indicate omitted
and unchanged material.
City of Miami File ID: 19115 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/29/2026
Sec. 54-19. - Transit shelters; use and conduct.
(a) Purpose. Transit Shelters located within the City are intended to provide temporary
accommodation, seating and protection from weather conditions for members of the
public of awaiting public transportation. Such facilities shall remain accessible for their
intended public transit use.
(b) Transit Shelter. Any public transit facility, including but not limited to, a bus stop, bus
shelter, trolley stop, bus bench, other structure or seating area located within a public
right-of-way that is intended to provide accommodation or weather protection for
members of the public awaiting public transportation.
(c) Prohibited conduct. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in conduct at, within
or upon a Transit Shelter that interferes with the intended public transit use of the
facility except for an imminent medical emergency, including but not limited to:
(1) Using a Transit Shelter as a living accommodation, including lodging, residing, or
otherwise occupying the Transit Shelter as a place of dwelling;
(2) Placing bedding, blankets, sleeping bags, mats, cardboard, or similar materials
at, within or upon a Transit Shelter for the purpose of establishing or maintaining
a living accommodation;
(3) Storing personal belongings at, within or upon a Transit Shelter in a manner that
obstructs seating, interferes with pedestrian access, or prevents use of the
Transit Shelter for members of the public awaiting public transportation;
(4) Lying across benches or seating areas in a manner that obstructs or prevents
use of the Transit Shelter for members of the public awaiting public
transportation;
(5)
No person shall urinate or defecate at, within, or upon a Transit Shelter, including
the immediate surrounding public right-of-way. This subsection shall be enforced
in a manner consistent with Section 37-11 of the City Code and shall not be
construed to create a separate or additional offense;
(d) Enforcement. Any violation of the provisions of this subsection are subject to
enforcement pursuant to Chapter 2, Article X of the City Code, as amended, and
may result in a citation. An authorized enforcement officer may provide a verbal
warning that the prohibited conduct cease prior to issuing a citation. No one method
of enforcement shall preclude any other remedy available at law or in equity,
including injunctive relief.
(e) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the members of the public
from sitting, standing, or otherwise using a Transit Shelter for the purpose of awaiting
public transportation.
Secs. 54-4920 - 54-40. Reserved."
Section 4. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phrase, or word of this
Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
City of Miami File ID: 19115 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/29/2026
Section 5. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately after final reading and
signature of the Mayor.2
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ge Wy j ng III, C1ty ttor y 3/31/2026
2 This Ordinance shall become effective as specified herein unless vetoed by the Mayor within ten (10)
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Ordinance, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission or upon the effective date stated
herein. whichever is later.
City of Miami File ID: 19115 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/29/2026