Miami Beach: Take Care of our City

One of many lifeguard stands lining the sands of Miami Beach

Take Care of our City and it Will Take Care of You

Welcome to Miami Beach, a place filled with exciting and surprising things to do and see. Just like these amazing people that know and love our city, you’ll have a hard time picking your favorite thing to do, because you’ll probably have more than one. Check out some of their favorite things to do and see here in Miami Beach. Enjoy!

Local Laws & Regulations

The following is illegal:

Consumption of alcohol in public
Smoking tobacco or marijuana on beaches or in parks
Possession or consumption of narcotics
Driving under the influence
Driving a scooter or vehicle irresponsibly
Violence of any kind

Prohibited on the beach:

Smoking cigarettes or filtered tobacco products
Narcotics and marijuana
Large tents, tables or similar structures
Loud music
Large coolers
Glass containers
Styrofoam and plastic straws

March 13-16 and March 20-23

The periods between March 13-16 and March 20-23 are expected to generate the largest spring break crowds this year. As such, more stringent measures will be implemented during these two weekends, including:

Parking garages and surface lots south of 23 Street will be closed, including the garages at 7 Street and Collins Avenue (G1), 12 Street and Washington Avenue (G2), 13 Street and Collins Avenue (G3),16 Street between Collins and Washington avenues (G4), 17 Street and Convention Center Drive (G5), 18 Street and Meridian Avenue (G7), Lincoln Lane North and Pennsylvania Avenue (G9) and 23 Street and Park Avenue (G12).
A $100 flat fee parking rate will be in effect for visitors at the Sunset Harbour Garage on 19 Street and Bay Road (G10) and the 42 Street garage between Royal Palm and Sheridan avenues (G6).
Parking garage and surface lot closures as well as flat-fee parking rates do not apply to Miami Beach residents, access card holders, permit holders or Miami Beach employees. For regular rates to apply, proof of Miami Beach residency or employment (pay stub, letter, ID card, etc.) will be required upon entry.
Sidewalk seating on Ocean Drive will be closed on March 14-16 and March 21-23.
The Miami Beach Police Department will implement a License Plate Reader (LPR) detail on the eastbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway on March 14-16, March 21-23 starting at 8 p.m. with set up at 7 p.m. and on the eastbound lanes of the Julia Tuttle Causeway on March 14-16, March 21-23 starting at 9 p.m. with set up at 8 p.m. Motorists should expect significant traffic impacts and delays as eastbound travel lanes will be reduced on the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways. MBPD will also have an LPR detail along the 5 Street corridor on March 7-9 starting at 7 p.m. with set up commencing at 6 p.m.
License Plate Readers have historically been instrumental in the identification of serious and violent offenders as well as the recovery of stolen vehicles.
A DUI sobriety checkpoint will be in place along the 400 block of 5 Street starting at 7 p.m. over March 14-15 and March 21-22.
Businesses renting or leasing golf carts, low-speed vehicles, autocycles (i.e. slingshots), motorized scooters, mopeds, motorcycles powered by motors of 50 cubic centimeters or less and motorized bicycles will be suspended from operating on March 13-16 and March 20-23.
Ocean Drive will only be accessible to vehicles from the most northern street available with a sole exit at 5 Street on March 6-9, March 13-16 and March 20-23. Barricades will line the west side of Ocean Drive to reduce the potential of pedestrians coming into contact with motor vehicles.
The nonresident towing rate will be $532 — double the regular rate — for vehicles towed in South Beach.
Beach entrances on Ocean Drive will be limited to 5, 10 and 12 streets and will have security checkpoints to ensure prohibited items are not brought onto the beach. These entrances will close at 6 p.m. Coolers, inflatable devices, tents, tables and similar objects are not permitted on the beach. Amplified music without a city-issued permit will be restricted. As a reminder, alcohol and smoking are always prohibited on city beaches.
Packaged liquor stores in the Entertainment District will strictly adhere to the 8 p.m. regular closing time.
The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) will implement a traffic plan beginning at 6 p.m. each Thursday through Sunday to reduce traffic impacts around the South of Fifth (SoFi), West Avenue and Flamingo Park neighborhoods. Motorists can access the SoFi neighborhood via Alton Road, Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. The Flamingo Park neighborhood can only be accessed via Alton Road. Local access restrictions will be enforced on some city streets to limit traffic and improve mobility for residents and business patrons.

Every Thursday through Sunday

On the first (Feb. 27- March 2), second (March 6-9) and fifth (March 27-30) weekends in March

The following high-impact measures will be in place:

A flat parking rate of $30 will be in effect at city parking garages and surface lots in South Beach, including the garages at 7 Street and Collins Avenue (G1), 12 Street and Washington Avenue (G2), 13 Street and Collins Avenue (G3),16 Street between Collins and Washington avenues (G4), 17 Street and Convention Center Drive (G5), 42 Street garage between Royal Palm and Sheridan avenues (G6),18 Street and Meridian Avenue (G7), Lincoln Lane North and Pennsylvania Avenue (G9), 19 Street and Bay Road (G10), and 23 Street and Park Avenue (G12) — with entry to garages closing at 6 p.m. to all visitors.
The flat parking rate and 6 p.m. entrance restriction does not apply to Miami Beach residents, access card holders or authorized Miami Beach employees. For regular rates to apply, proof of Miami Beach residency or employment (pay stub, letter, ID card, etc.) will be required upon entry.
The nonresident towing rate will be $532 — double the regular rate — for vehicles towed in South Beach.
Beach entrances on Ocean Drive will be limited to 5, 10 and 12 streets and will have security checkpoints to ensure prohibited items are not brought onto the beach. These entrances will close at 6 p.m. Coolers, inflatable devices, tents, tables and similar objects are not permitted on the beach. Amplified music without a city-issued permit will be restricted. As a reminder, alcohol and smoking are always prohibited on city beaches.
Packaged liquor stores in the Entertainment District will strictly adhere to the 8 p.m. regular closing time.
The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) will implement a traffic plan beginning at 6 p.m. each Thursday through Sunday to reduce traffic impacts around the South of Fifth (SoFi), West Avenue and Flamingo Park neighborhoods. Motorists can access the SoFi neighborhood via Alton Road, Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. The Flamingo Park neighborhood can only be accessed via Alton Road. Local access restrictions will be enforced on some city streets to limit traffic and improve mobility for residents and business patrons.

On-Street Parking

The city will conduct enhanced parking enforcement and increased towing throughout the month of March — with priority attention given to residential areas.
Parking will not be allowed on Collins Avenue from 5 Street to Española Way and Washington Avenue from 5-16 streets starting at 5 a.m. on March 6-10, March 13-17 and March 20-24.
Parking along the 100 blocks of 6-15 streets will be restricted 24 hours per day on March 6-10, March 13-17 and March 20-24. Residential Zone 5 parking permit holders are exempt from these restrictions, unless noted otherwise on signs.
Parking along the 200 blocks of 6 Street through Española Way will be restricted 24 hours per day March 6-9, March 13-16 and March 20-23. Residential Zone 5 parking permit holders are exempt from these restrictions unless noted otherwise on signs.

Staffing

Staffing levels for Miami Beach Police, Fire Rescue, Ocean Rescue, Code Compliance, Park Rangers, Parking and Sanitation will be significantly enhanced throughout the month of March.
MBPD will be supplemented by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Miami-Dade Schools Police Department and other municipal law enforcement agencies.
The Miami Beach Fire Department will have augmented staffing, including Fire Inspectors who will be conducting nightly, weekend inspections for occupancy loads and life safety systems at nightclubs and other establishments.
Goodwill Ambassadors wearing pink “Take Care of Our City” T-shirts will be deployed throughout the Entertainment District to answer visitor questions, provide directions and give tips on how to enjoy the city.

Miami Beach Trolley Service

The Miami Beach free citywide trolley service will operate on an enhanced schedule during two of the highest-impact periods, with additional vehicles operating on South Beach Loops A and B as well as two additional vehicles assigned to the Collins Express route. The enhanced trolley service will operate from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. on March 13-16 and March 20-23.