Residents must obtain a live-aboard permit from the city and pay an annual fee of $150. The permit application requires the following:
- Proof that the vessel passed a U.S. Coast Guard inspection or a check by a certified Marine Safety Enforcement Officer within 60 days of the permit application
- Written consent for the city to perform a criminal background check
- Liability insurance and 24-hour emergency towing capability, unless a waiver is granted documenting that the vessel can be moved by ordinary means in an emergency
- A daily log on board that documents the vessel's occupancy, sanitation activity and any maintenance issues affecting safety or wastewater management
- Owner-provided written consent allowing the city to remove or relocate the vessel during emergencies or if the permit is revoked and the vessel is not moved within 10 days
Live-aboards must also display a city-issued “live-aboard permit” decal on their vessel where it can be visible from the dock or pier, according to city documents.
The ordinance also increases the city's authority to remove vessels that are deemed abandoned or derelict, according to city documents.
The backstory
In an interview published by the city in November, League City Mayor Nick Long said abandoned boats, which often sink, had become increasingly hazardous for other boats and the general bay area.
