Marinas

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health conducts a state-mandated Marina Program under Section 3733 of the Ohio Revised Code. There are currently six licensed marinas in the Board of Health's jurisdiction, which encompass approximately 644 docks. The marinas are located in Rocky River and Bratenahl.

Definition

A marina, by definition, is a boat basin that has docks or moorings for seven or more water craft as defined in Section 1547.01 of the Revised Code. Excluded as marinas are:

* Docks for a private residence
* Docks at a shipyard
* Dry docks
* Locations for canoes, rowboats, paddle boats, etc.

License and Inspection

Marina operators are required to obtain an annual License to Operate a Marina. The license is valid from April 1st through March 31st of each year. The license fee is determined by the number of docks at a marina. The current license fees for marinas are as follows:

One inspection a year is required, however, a minimum of two inspections a year are conducted by the Board of Health. The inspections take into account the following areas of concern: potable water protection, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal, water safety, electrical safety, fire protection, nuisance abatement, and general maintenance.

Plan Approval

Plan approval is necessary when a new marina is constructed, for alterations of sanitary facilities, or for a substantial increase in the size of the marina. Plans are to be submitted in triplicate to the Ohio Department of Health Engineering Unit at least 60 days prior to construction.

Ohio Clean Marina Program

The CCBH actively participates in the Ohio Clean Marinas Program, which is a voluntary program developed through the Ohio Sea Grant College Program that encourages marina operators and boaters to utilize best management practices to keep Ohio's water resources clean.  The goal of the program is environmental stewardship through increasing awareness of environmental laws, rules, and jurisdictions.  By obtaining Ohio Clean Marina status, marina operators will meet the requirements of all state and federal agencies with regulatory authority pertaining to marinas through a process of self-regulation.  Ohio Clean Marina operators will benefit from reduced costs of waste disposal, new sources of revenue, and an increased attraction to their property due to responsible marina customer respect of following best practices.

Ohio Clean Boater Program

The Ohio Clean Boater Program is part of the Ohio Clean Marina Program.  The goal of the program is for boaters to follow best boater practices for fuel and engine maintenance, boat painting and cleaning, and waste disposal.

Contact Information

For more information on the Marina Program, please contact:

Marty Baier, R.S., Program Manager, at (216) 201-2001 x 1246, or mbaier@ccbh.net

Links

Ohio Department of Health Marina Program -
www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/eh/marina/marina1.aspx/

U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety -
www.uscgboating.org/

National Marine Manufacturers Association -
www.nmma.org/