Miami Will Vote on Virginia Key Marina Lease November 3
The 75-year proposal for 27.62 acres faces opposition from the county mayor ahead of the election.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in City Hall
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize commercial marina development over preserving public waterfront habitat?
Miami voters will decide on November 3, 2026, whether to approve a 75-year lease for the Virginia Key marina site. The referendum, placed on the ballot by City Commissioners, comes amid a long-standing dispute over the property.
Why it matters
The proposal carries significant implications for the future of Biscayne Bay and public access to the waterfront. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has voiced opposition to the plan, citing concerns about potential dredging and increased development.
The proposed 75-year lease includes $2.2 million in annual minimum rent and 6% of gross revenues, compared to a total of $204 million in rent increases over the initial term. It remains unknown how the scheduled September 2027 trial may affect the lease if voters approve the measure.
The players
Daniella Levine Cava
The Miami-Dade County Mayor who has announced her opposition to the marina referendum.
Miami City Commission
The body that unanimously placed the marina lease proposal on the ballot in June 2026.
Virginia Key LLC
The developer party to the proposed 75-year lease agreement for the marina site.
The details
The agreement between the City of Miami and Virginia Key LLC covers 27.62 acres where the Rickenbacker Marina has operated since its previous lease expired in 2016. Developers would commit $80 million to improve facilities, following a 2021 voter rejection of a different marina proposal. The current ballot question proceeds despite court findings that the city had previously discarded procurement results incorrectly.
Timeline
2016: Rickenbacker Marina lease expired.
2021: Voters rejected a separate marina proposal.
June 2026: City Commissioners placed the referendum on the ballot.
November 3, 2026: Election Day for the marina referendum.
September 2027: Trial scheduled for the underlying lawsuit.
Beyond the 305
This vote marks another chapter in the city's waterfront development debates, following the 2021 Miami marina proposal referendum that voters rejected. The current measure tests whether residents will support a new 75-year framework after years of leasing uncertainty.
Residents casting ballots on November 3 will determine the long-term management and development path of a key piece of public land on Virginia Key. The results will dictate whether the city proceeds with the proposed $80 million facility investment or continues under existing conditions.
The takeaway
Voters should note that this referendum is the result of a unanimous commission vote aimed at resolving a lease status that has been in limbo since 2016. Keep an eye on the November 3 election returns to see if this proposal fares differently than the version rejected by voters in 2021.
Further reading
For more background on local government decisions, visit City Hall.
Live Poll
Should your local government prioritize commercial marina development over preserving public waterfront habitat?
