Anchoring Regulations

[michaelmrc]

just have a question regarding legalities of anchoring out. say i decide that i want to anchor out in a bay here on vancouver island for an extended stay is there any legalities or laws i would be breaking for doing this. im not too familiar with where you can and cannot anchor out. thanks everyone

[limmer]

I would pick up some sort of cruising guide for the area, there are alot of good books like best anchorages or something like that. but as far as I'm concerned you can anchor out for as long as you want.

[michaelmrc]

well it was always my understanding that at sea you were allowed to anchor where you like as long as you were not causing environmental ie leaking fuel waste etc... but ive been hearing some contridictory information.

[Lancerbye]

There are some waste issues when anchoring out around Vancouver Island. There are a number of no discharge zones, but if you use the holding tank and pump out at pump out stations you can anchor out for long periods of time. There are a few places where they are in a Marine Parks or Sanctuary of some type, might have lenght of stay restrictions. I have never had any problems , but then I don't stay in one place very long while I am cruising.

[jackdale]

There are 17 no-discharge areas in BC. There are listed at:

Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals

Grey water discharge is OK.

Aside from that concern, you should be able to able just about anywhere unless it is a designated as a no-anchor zone.

Jack

[cal40john]

I don't know how different it is in Canada, but in the U.S. cities and states can make regulations about anchoring. Some of them are illegal and have to be challenged in court, which you might not be interested in doing on your vacation. See any of the threads on anchoring in Florida. As an example here in Seattle city limits the only legal place for a recreational vessel to anchor is in Andrews Bay on Lake Washington. It seems to me big municipal areas like Victoria and Vancouver will have strict limitations as well.

So I was going to go with the get a cruising guide answer given above. All the ones I have discuss if you can or want to anchor in a specific location.

It is much easier to use a cruising guide than find something like this:

weblink where info below is found
Seattle Municipal Code

SMC 16.40.030 Anchorages designated.

Recreational anchorage is authorized only pursuant to subsection F of
this section. In aid of commerce and navigation anchorage for vessels
or obstructions is authorized in the following described waters:

(I left out sections A. through E.)

F. Lake Washington Andrews Bay Anchorage. Within an area marked by
buoys or, in the eastern shore of the bay, by stakes or signs, which
shall be set within an area bounded on the north by a straight line
which is drawn between a point on the west coast of the Bailey
Peninsula that is one hundred (100) yards south of the fishing pier
(the northeast corner) and a point one hundred fifty (150) yards
easterly of the western shore of Andrews Bay along a straight line
drawn from the northeast corner to the surfaced boat ramp at the foot
of Ferdinand Street on the western shore of Andrews Bay (the northwest
corner); on the south by a straight line which is drawn between a
point on the west coast of the Bailey Peninsula that is a straight
line extension of South Dawson Street (the southeast corner) and a
point one hundred fifty (150) yards easterly of the western shore of
Andrews Bay along a straight line extension of South Brandon Street
(the southwest corner); and on the west by a straight line drawn
between the northwest corner and the southwest corner described above,
limited to a period not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours within any
one week period.


In addition to the Andrews Bay anchorage, whenever deemed advisable by
the Chief of Police, he or she may grant a written permit to the
master or owner of any vessel for the anchorage or mooring of said
vessel outside of the outer harbor line, or in any unused slip, or in
any street end on Lake Washington at such locations as he shall
determine will not interfere with or impede navigation.



John

[jackdale]

The City of Vancouver restricts anchoring in False Creek. A permit is required for lengthy stays.

http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/streets/...falseCreek.pdf

New boating restriction regulation on anchoring in False Creek -June*30,*2006 - News release - Media Room - Transport Canada

Other restrictions may be found in Harbour Regulations, specific to a harbour.

Jack

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by jackdale

There are 17 no-discharge areas in BC. There are listed at:

Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals

Grey water discharge is OK.

Aside from that concern, you should be able to able just about anywhere unless it is a designated as a no-anchor zone.

Jack

If anyone gives you any crap (pun intended) about anchoring in B.C., point them to the practices of Victoria B.C. which pumps 100% of their untreated sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

If anyone gives you any crap (pun intended) about anchoring in B.C., point them to the practices of Victoria B.C. which pumps 100% of their untreated sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Originally Posted by cal40john

As an example here in Seattle city limits the only legal place for a recreational vessel to anchor is in Andrews Bay on Lake Washington. It seems to me big municipal areas like Victoria and Vancouver will have strict limitations as well.

Heck, in Seattle you can't even take down a tree w/o a permit or act of God, and that could be questionable.

As for around Vancouver Is., I've only seen the authorities once in the many times I've been up there and they were patrolling just outside the channel of Vancouver City where the pot smokers anchor out to party.

[seabum]

FYI I came across this in the Seattle Parks and Rec. website regarding other anchoring possibilities in Lake Washington (without a police permit!) besides the Andrew Bay anchorage:
Seattle Parks & Recreation: Seward Park - Andrews Bay Anchorage
scroll to the bottom.
Cheers

[Maggie-K]

I hate to go off topic but it's time to set the record straight

Originally Posted by senormechanico

If anyone gives you any crap (pun intended) about anchoring in B.C., point them to the practices of Victoria B.C. which pumps 100% of their untreated sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

There is primary treatment of sewage out of Victoria and if people actually looked at the scientific studies behind the effluent discharge rather then spouting off they would soon understand the net result of the effluent discharge is negligable. If people understood the currents they would know the effluent never reaches Whidbey Island , Perhaps the overflow from the Discovery Park recovery plant should be a greater concern.

"delmarrey" there is no such a place a Vancouver City on Vancouver island , There is restricted anchorage in Victoria Harbor due to the air drome. The patrol there is to keep the air traffic lanes clear .

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by seabum

FYI I came across this in the Seattle Parks and Rec. website regarding other anchoring possibilities in Lake Washington (without a police permit!) besides the Andrew Bay anchorage:
Seattle Parks & Recreation: Seward Park - Andrews Bay Anchorage
scroll to the bottom.
Cheers

Yes there are other places to anchor on Lake Washington. I was trying to be very careful to say within the city limits of Seattle the only recreational anchorage is Andrews Bay to illustrate that each city has its own laws regarding anchoring. The places listed in your link are other cities on Lake Washington. And they missed that you can anchor in Kenmore at the north end of the lake as well as part of Fairweather Bay. Coulon park you are only allowed to tie up to the dock and not for overnight.

Most of the cities ordinances are a nightmare to read and don't define crucial terms like inner harbor line. Kenmore's is one of the few that make sense.

http://www.mrsc.org/mc/kenmore/kenmore_08.pdf

8.20.060 Temporary anchorage or moorage.

Any vessel or watercraft may anchor or moor
without being subject to the permit requirements of
KMC 8.20.050 and 8.20.070; provided, that the
vessel or watercraft does not remain within a onemile
radius of the original anchorage or moorage
for a period longer than 72 hours out of any 120-

hour period. [Ord. 98-0035

§ 1(C) (KCC
12.46.060).]

Fairweather Bay anchoring according to a cruising guide:

A Cruising Guide to Puget Sound and ... - Google Books

[GordMay]

“Transport Canada seeks public feedback as it considers tightening restrictions on floating accommodations” ~ Cottage Life
➥ https://cottagelife.com/general/tran...ccommodations/

“Long-term anchoring” ~ Transport Canada
Transport Canada wants to know if you think changing Canada’s rules would be a good way to manage vessels [ie: Floating Homes] that anchor long-term.
➥ https://letstalktransportation.ca/long-term-anchoring