Know Rules Before You Hit Miami-Area Beaches

MIAMI BEACH, FL — With Miami-area beaches set to reopen Wednesday there are a number of new rules everyone will need to know before they hit the sand for the first time since the tourist-favorite hot spots shut down in March to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.

In separate interviews with Patch, Miami Beach's top cop and the director of the Miami-Dade Police Department, both said beachgoers should expect a heightened police presence on the beaches to enforce new social distancing requirements.

"We’ll be doing our details as we’ve been through all the COVID programs," Miami-Dade Police Director Freddy Ramirez told Patch ahead of the beach reopenings. "I’m very proud of the way our law enforcement community has handled themselves with the community. We’ve had no issues, a high level of compliance, very minimal issues."

While the rules vary from one Florida county to another, people who visit Miami-Dade beaches won't need to wear a mask while they are sitting on the sand, swimming in the ocean and walking or jogging on the beach. But they must carry masks with them at all times.

Children two or younger, and anyone with respiratory problems, will not have to wear a mask but everyone must wear facial coverings when they are too close to practice social distancing or when they are heading to a concession stand or bathroom.

"We hope for a very understanding and cooperative crowd," shared Miami Beach Police Chief Rick Clements. "We want people to come back to the beaches, but understand that they’ve got to really take care of themselves and make sure that we don’t have a second outbreak of the virus."

Clements said he hopes to avoid a repeat of the overcrowding that forced a shut down of South Pointe Park when it reopened.

"We got a little bit inundated with people, probably more than what we expected," he conceded. "The behavior has been much better since we kind of did a reset on it. I think people understand for the most part that we are there to work with them, not against them."

If you plan on meeting friends at the beach, you will also need to keep a distance of 6 feet from them, with no more than 10 people in any one group even while practicing social distancing.

People can bring an umbrella and chairs to the beach or get one from their hotel, condominium or apartment complex. They can also rent one from a concessionaire, but the concessionaire, apartment complex, condominium or hotel will be responsible for cleaning the umbrella and chairs after each use.

"This is not going to be something that we’re going to come out without a whole lot of sympathy and understanding and compassion for people as people are going back out on the beaches," Clements acknowledged. "We’re really going to try and facilitate a good process."

Beachgoers can feel free to walk, swim, sunbathe, paddleboard, kayak and sit and eat under an umbrella, even with family from the same household.

But people will need to set up their chairs and umbrellas at least 6 feet away from all others, including friends. No canopies or tents will be allowed on any Miami-Dade County beaches.

Changing rooms, playground equipment and picnic pavilions will remain closed for the time being. There will also be no organized group activities or athletics, including volleyball, soccer, frisbee or paddleball.

No dogs or pets of any kind will be allowed on the beach for now either. Fishing will only be permitted in specially designated areas that allow for social distancing. People can also fish from piers.

Clements said a number of beach ambassadors will be on the beaches making sure that people follow social distancing requirements.

"We’re there basically just to help them in the event that they get any pushback, or the pushback becomes aggressive," the chief said. "We’re there to calm it down."