Polk County Approves New Ordinance Establishing Designated Swim Areas and Vessel Exclusion Zones in Three County Lakes
Bartow, Fla. (May 23, 2025) – Polk County Board of County Commissioners have approved an ordinance repealing and restating the Polk County Waterway Protection Code. Concurrently with this ordinance, the board passed a resolution establishing vessel exclusion zones for designated swim areas in certain areas of Lake Winterset, in Winter Haven and Lake Clinch and Lake Ariana in Auburndale.
The new resolution creates vessel exclusion zones within these designated swim areas. It aims to improve public safety and reduce the risks for all who use the county’s waterways by prohibiting motorized vessels, along with activities such as fishing, in these designated swim areas.
Polk County is home to approximately 550 lakes covering more than 93,000 acres. County officials take water safety seriously. Earlier this month, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd submitted a formal request to the board citing concerns about an increasing number of near-miss collisions, property damage from excessive wake, interference with non-motorized recreational users and unsafe proximity between boats and swimmers.
Commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance but said they would keep an eye on the situation.
“This is a good start. It is a good beginning,” said Commissioner Martha Santiago. “As we move forward with this, we will depend on the residents to tell us how it’s going so that we can make further decisions.”
The new designated swim areas and associated vessel exclusion zones will go into effect once appropriate signage is installed. Additional details on enforcement and implementation will be shared as the process moves forward.
