Monroe County Moves to Charge Non Residents for Park Access

The Board of County Commissioners voted on December 10, 2025 to direct staff to prepare ordinance updates that would permit the county to charge non residents for parking and boat ramp use at all county parks and beaches where allowed. The directive calls for updates to the fee structure at Harry Harris Park and for non residents to begin being charged at Higgs Beach in Key West, Pine Channel Nature Park on Big Pine Key, Rowell’s Waterfront Park and Mike Forster Memorial Park on Key Largo, and at county facilities such as the Gato Building in Key West and the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo among other locations.

Currently the county charges non resident admission only at Harry Harris Park. That fee is fifteen dollars per non resident vehicle, and boat ramp fees are forty dollars on non holiday weekends and sixty dollars on holidays. Park admission is waived for active duty military, disabled veterans, and qualifying individuals under Florida law, provided they present proper identification.

Parks and Beaches Director John Allen told the commission that the proposed fee structure is intended to provide sustainable funding while retaining free access for residents. "The intent is not to restrict public access, but to ensure that the financial burden of maintaining these popular amenities is shared by those who don’t pay property taxes in Monroe County," Allen said. "The potential code amendment is intended to help offset the rising costs of maintaining and improving public facilities' ongoing upkeep."

The board also directed that the updates allow fees to be set and adjusted by board resolution rather than through repeated ordinance amendments. That procedural change would give the commission greater flexibility to change rates, while raising questions about how often fee adjustments will require public notice and formal debate.

Staff will prepare the proposed ordinance updates for board consideration at a future meeting. If implemented the expansion of non resident fees could provide new revenue for maintenance and capital improvements, and it will likely affect recreational boaters, day visitors, and small businesses that rely on visitor traffic. The proposal shifts the county's approach to funding public amenities, and commissioners will face decisions about balancing revenue needs, access, and administrative enforcement at upcoming public meetings.