News

By Sallie James
    
Residents who need to renew their annual beach parking permits can now do it by mail or email.
    “It seems so archaic to make everyone stand in line at our community centers. How wonderful that we are doing it through the mail and Internet,” Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie said at a recent City Council meeting.
    City officials also renamed the $57 annual permit to “vehicle entry permit.”
    The permits are issued for Spanish River Park, South Beach Park and Red Reef Park. City residents and property owners of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District are eligible for the permits.
    Property owners who live west of Florida’s Turnpike and/or north of Clint Moore Road have access only to South Beach Park.
    The changes provide a more “customer friendly” way of issuing the permits, said Boca Raton Recreation Services Director Mickey Gomez.
    “We’re no longer requiring the resident to come to one of our three community centers to prove residency and receive a beach permit,” Gomez explained during an Oct. 14 City Council meeting. “We are now allowing them to apply online through an online application process and we will simply send them a permit.”
    To renew your permit online, go to: www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/pages/beaches/where-obtain-beach-permit.
    Residents are required to provide current proof of residency and current vehicle ownership to receive a permit. The following documents are required for such:
    • Proof of residency requires one of the following original documents: current city/county tax bill; water bill; Florida Power & Light bill; rental/lease agreement; current driver’s license; or a notarized letter from a condo association. University students and faculty residing on campus may establish residency by submitting a signed letter by the director of housing certifying that they live on campus.
    • Proof of vehicle ownership requires one of the following original documents: current motor vehicle registration; title; current bill of sale; vehicle rental/lease agreement in applicant’s name; or current insurance card for each vehicle. Applicants will be required to also provide their license plate numbers if they are not on their documentation.
    Residents who still want to apply/renew their vehicle entry permits in person can still do so at the following city locations:
    • Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd.
    • James A. Rutherford Community Center at Patch Reef Park, 2000 W. Yamato Road
    • Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S. Military Trail
    • City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road