Obstruction of Passage
San Diego Municipal Code § 63.25.20
in effect§63.25.20 Obstruction of Passage
It is unlawful to tie up or anchor a vessel in Mission Bay in such a manner as to prevent or obstruct the passage of other vessels or to voluntarily or carelessly sink or cause to be sunk any vessel in any channel or to float loose timbers, logs, or piles in any channel in such a manner as to obstruct, impede, or injure navigation; whenever a vessel is wrecked or sunk in Mission Bay, accidentally or otherwise, it is the duty of the owner to immediately mark it by a buoy during the day and by a lighted lantern at night and to maintain such markings until the sunken vessel or obstruction is removed; the neglect or failure of the owner to do so is unlawful. The owner shall immediately commence the removal of the obstruction and prosecute the removal diligently to completion, and any failure to do so shall constitute an abandonment of the vessel. Whenever the navigation of any navigable water within Mission Bay Park is obstructed or endangered by any vessel or other obstruction, which has existed for a period longer than ten (10) days, or whenever the abandonment of a vessel or other obstruction can be legally established in a shorter period of time, the vessel or other obstruction is subject to be removed, sold, or otherwise disposed of by the City Manager at his or her discretion without liability for any damages to the owners.
Any costs incurred by the City in the removal of any vessel or other obstruction, may be recovered by the City from the owner of such vessel or the person causing or responsible for the obstruction, in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(Amended 5–31–1994 by O–18073 N.S.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter06/Ch06Art03Division00.pdf#page=29Fetched: 10/28/2026