State rules change livery definition; long‑term anchoring permit begins Jan. 2026

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials briefed Okaloosa County liveries on new definitions and permit requirements at the county’s Waterway Safety Meeting on Jan. 13.

Officer William Oliver said the long‑term anchoring permit went into effect Jan. 2026 and requires vessels anchored for 14 days within any 30‑day period to register for a free electronic permit. "It's just your vessel information and your information, phone number, stuff like that," Oliver said, directing operators to the FWC website to sign up.

FWC also described a statutory change in how it classifies liveries, effective July 1, 2025: liveries are entities that offer a vessel for use for consideration when the renter is not required to provide a U.S. Coast Guard‑licensed master. Under the change, many bareboat charters will be treated as liveries unless a licensed USCG captain is required as a condition of the rental. "If you have a captain that goes with that boat ... then you wouldn't fall under the definition of what is a livery," an FWC speaker said.

FWC staff reviewed livery compliance requirements: liveries must obtain an annual no‑cost livery permit, keep the permit on site for inspection, maintain rental agreements and attestation forms (retained at livery location for specified periods), display yellow safety signage of the required size, and ensure minimum insurance coverage is in force (FWC cited $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per incident). Violating the livery permit statute is a first‑degree misdemeanor, they said.

Speakers emphasized common enforcement priorities: having serviceable safety equipment, legible signage, accurate manifests and proof of insurance on board. FWC staff also warned that liveries renting vessels to underage operators can be in violation if the livery has knowledge the vessel will be operated by a person under 18. "If delivery had knowledge, then that's the only violation," one officer said.

The briefing included practical guidance for operators: check that temporary certificates and online vendor tests are legitimate and keep rental paperwork readily available to officers during stops. FWC provided application forms and a contact table for follow‑up after the meeting.

What happens next: operators who anchor in local harbors more than two weeks in a rolling month should register for the long‑term anchoring permit; liveries unsure of their status were encouraged to file the free livery permit and consult FWC's online guidance to avoid accidental noncompliance.