Nassau County
Executive Order
April 30, 2020
“Section 11. A violation of any provision of this order will subject the violator to a second-degree misdemeanor with a penalty of sixty (60) days in jail and/or a $500.00 fine.”
WHEREAS, the County issued Executive Order Numbers 1 and 2 which restricted vehicular access to beach areas and camping and horses on the beach and pedestrian access; and
WHEREAS, the County has evaluated the Governor’s Executive Orders, consulted with medical and Health Department officials, as well as the City of Fernandina Beach and State officers; and
WHEREAS, Nassau County expects the Governor’s Order imposing a stay-at-home order to expire at Midnight, April 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the number of positive cases in Nassau County are approximately ?? {we are awaiting an updated figure] of the population; and
WHEREAS, the safety of Nassau County residents and their use of the beach is the primary concern; and
WHEREAS, the opening of the beaches, subject to regulations and restrictions, is appropriate at this time.
NOW, THEREFORE, MICHAEL S. MULLIN, as Nassau County Manager, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Local State of Emergency and County Emergency Management Plan and with the consent of the Emergency Management Director, promulgate the following Executive Order to take immediate effect:
Section 1. Effective at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2020, the beaches within the unincorporated areas of Nassau County will be open, subject to restrictions set forth herein.
Section 2. Vehicular traffic or vehicular parking on the unincorporated beach areas is prohibited, except for police and emergency vehicles, turtle patrol and other vehicles permitted by the County Manager. The County Manager may permit vehicles such as D.E.P. permit required vehicles or similar public necessity vehicles. This applies to both the dry sand and wet sand areas of the beach.
Section 3. The beaches in the unincorporated areas will be open daily. The hours are from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. each day. The beach areas will remain closed each day from 9:01 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. No one is allowed on the beach areas between those hours except law enforcement, rescue personnel, lifeguards or anyone authorized by the County Manager.
Section 4. The beach parking areas, Peter’s Point, Burney Park, Scott Road and the south end walkover will be open daily from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The aforementioned parking areas will be closed daily from 9:01 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. except law enforcement, rescue personnel or lifeguards.
Section 5. All individuals allowed on the beach areas, subject to the restrictions stated herein, shall adhere to the center for Center for Disease Control guidelines which include maintaining a minimum 6’ distance between individuals and no gathering of more than ten (10) people.
Section 6. No commercial or group sports activities shall be allowed on the beach.
Section 7. No horses are allowed on the beach.
Section 8. No alcohol in unsealed or sealed containers are allowed on the beach or in coolers or other containers.
Section 9. No horse trailers or trucks larger than pick-up trucks are permitted in the parking areas set forth in Section 4 herein.
Section 10. “Beach” is considered, for purposes of this Order, to mean the sandy wet portions and dry portions of the Atlantic Ocean beach in the unincorporated areas of Nassau County.
Section 11. A violation of any provision of this order will subject the violator to a second-degree misdemeanor with a penalty of sixty (60) days in jail and/or a $500.00 fine.
Section 12. Any vehicle that remains in the parking areas set forth herein after the hours established will subject the owner/operator to a second-degree misdemeanor with a penalty of sixty (60) days in jail and/or a $500.00 fine. In addition, the vehicle is subject to being towed and the owner/operator shall be liable for the costs associated with towing and impoundment.
Section 13. This Executive Order shall expire at the expiration of the declaration of the Local State of Emergency.
DATED this _________ day of April, 2020.
Signed by Michael Mullin, County Manager
and Greg Foster, Director of Emergency Management