The Orange Beach City Council approved a 90-day moratorium on the issuance of business licenses for charters and delivery of rental watercraft in public access areas during the March 16 council meeting. The 90 days will give adequate time to draft the language amending the Business License Code.

The city has seen an increase in charter and watercraft rental companies using public boat launches to do business. The delivery of rental watercrafts such as pontoon boats, kayaks and jet skis at public access areas where individuals and charter vessel passengers also park has created a parking issue.

Mayor Tony Kennon said that the city is working with the state on how to police the issue and deal with it.

“We are trying to get a grasp on who’s doing it and how they are doing it. We are working with the state on how to police it and how to deal with it. Right now, we are going to go through the licensing process,” he said.

The increase in vehicles without trailers occupying the limited number of boat trailer parking spaces is a big problem. Councilman Jeff Boyd said he felt the issue started with the duck boat.

“This started with the duck boat and from the duck boat it just grew. Chris Blankenship kind of gave it a nod of approval. For years we had guys that drop their boats but go to marinas to pick up their people. The difficulty is that if you drop a boat and four cars come to get on the boat and that happens with a dozen charters you just blocked all your access points,” Boyd said.

According to Kennon, the city will use signage placed at the public boat launches and the issuance of tickets to help with the problem.

“If there is a car parked in the parking lot without a trailer it’s going to get a ticket,” Kennon said.