Members Rules and Regulations
The Board of Directors (BOD) would like to welcome you to the Gulf Harbors Beach Club, Inc. (GHBC). All family members and/or others who legally reside in one household constitute one membership. The GHBC privately owns the beach, buildings, and structures thereon, as well as, the beach driveway, parking lot, and circle pond area, located prior to entering the beach. Gulf waters adjacent to the beach, identified by buoys, are not under the jurisdiction of the Beach Club. Members and eligible guests are encouraged to swim inside the area owned by GHBC. Gate Attendants are authorized by the BOD to expel violators. Violation of any of the Rules and Regulations could result in suspension or termination of Beach Club privileges with no refund of paid dues. To facilitate the enjoyment of everyone, members and their guests are subject to the following Rules and Regulations:
1. All persons accessing beach property do so at their own risk. There are no lifeguards on duty at any time. The Beach Club is not responsible for loss, theft, damage of personal property, or for personal injury occurring on the Beach Club property. Gate Attendants are authorized to close the beach at any time due to inclement weather, public health issues, and other emergencies, and may use discretion in allowing members to remain or requesting members to leave for safety reasons. Members shall not damage or steal the property of the beach club.
2. Members may enter the beach during normal operating hours, through the front gate only. The beach opens at 9 AM. The Beach closes 30 minutes after sunset year-round. Beach Club Attendants close the ENTRANCE GATE at sunset as determined by www.google.com for New Port Richey, Florida. The sunset time changes daily and is posted at the entrance. The EXIT GATE is closed and locked 30 minutes after the posted sunset time. Members may not access the beach property once the entrance gate is closed. Vehicles remaining in the parking lot after the gates are locked can be retrieved the next day when the beach opens.
3. Upon payment of annual dues, members' names are placed in a current membership database along all members of the household living with you can be listed on the annual demographic sheet which is accessible by QPM management and GHBC gate attendants. Members in the current database can access the beach one of two ways, They can register 2 household members with the biometric system which gives them access to open the gate when they arrive or they can show a valid ID that lists their registered Gulf Harbors home to the gate attendant on duty. If a member's eligibility for GHBC membership is suspended or terminated, or they decide to rent their property they will be deactivated in the membership database and if using the biometric system this will be deactivated as well. if eligible.
4. Skateboarding, scooters, roller-skating, windsurfing, or any variety of bodyboarding on Beach Club property is prohibited.
5. ATVs and/or golf carts are allowed to enter the Beach Club property only if insured and are driven by an authorized driver. Due to limited space in the GHBC parking lot, except for GHBC-approved vendors, RVs, campers, semi-trucks, tractors, trucks pulling work or recreational trailers, with or without boats, kayaks, and canoes, are not permitted to enter the property. ATVs and/or golf carts are not permitted on the beach or in patio or maintenance areas unless they are designated GHBC Vehicles.
6. Access to the Beach shall be through the entrance gate only. Any other form of entry to the beach will be considered trespassing. Discharging passengers from watercraft on the Gulf of Mexico or beaching of watercraft to discharge passengers for beach entry is prohibited. Except in the case of distress, no watercraft of any kind may be beached or launched from Beach Club property.
7. The speed limit in the driveway and parking lot is five (5) miles per hour, maximum. Excessive speed could result in suspension and/or termination of membership.
8. Parking is allowed only in designated parking spots in the GHBC parking lot. No parking is permitted in the circle around the pond., or other non-designated areas
9. Positively no glass containers of any kind are allowed on Beach Club property.
10. Persons using the beach are expected to keep the area clean. Trash must be deposited in the containers provided at each cabana.
1. Fishing from the beach is not allowed.
12. Proper attire is required at all times. Nudity is not allowed.
13. Loud blaring noise/music from electronic equipment is prohibited on Beach Club property.
14. Contact sports are not permitted. Members engaging in any form of sport must use caution and respect the rights and safety of other persons at the Beach.
15. Alcohol intoxication, excessive profanity, threatening behavior, possession of controlled substances, illegal activities, and any intentional behavior that unreasonable and adversely affects other members, guests, or employees who are then on the beach property, are prohibited, and may be grounds for suspension.
16. No animals may be brought onto any portion of the Beach Club property
17. Cabanas, furniture, and grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may not be reserved. Under no circumstances are any cabana furnishings, including furniture, grills, or waste receptacles to be removed from shelters.
18. Children (12 and under) are not permitted to use Beach Club facilities unless accompanied by an adult member or a registered club member. An Adult must watch all children that are with them at all times.
19. Guests: Due to increased membership rights and privileges.
a. Guest status shall not be granted to those persons who are eligible for membership (as defined in the GHBC, Inc. Amended Bylaws), but are not already members of the Beach Club. You can not be a guest if you are eligible to be a paying member
b. Guests of members in good standing, may use the beach property only while the member in question is present. One guest is allowed to bring their car when directly behind the member's car. The driving guest will be asked for ID and be given a GHBC placard to be hung on the guest mirror during their duration at the beach, when leaving they will return their placard and receive their ID back.
20. Rentals: Members renting their property to a tenant must completely fill out an Associate Member Registration Form and must have a lease of (12 months) or longer available at the GHBC gatehouse or QPM management services, owners will relinquish all Beach Club access rights during the total period of tenancy. The rented property must be located within the geographic area as stated in the GHBC Amended Bylaws. No Beach Club membership or access will be granted for rentals of less than twelve (12) months.
21. No member or guest shall reprimand or threaten any Beach Club employee. Complaints regarding an employee must be made in writing to the Board of Directors, providing the member/associate member's name, the employee's name, and the date of the complaint.
22. Fundraisers benefiting organizations other than the Beach Club are at the sole discretion of the BOD.
23. No member may conduct business for financial gain on Beach Club property.
24. Procedure for suspension
a. The Beach Club may suspend, for a reasonable period of time, the rights of a member or guest to use common areas and facilities for the failure of the member or the guest to comply with any provision of the Beach Club bylaws or rules.
b. Immediate Suspensions: Suspensions may be imposed by the board without prior notice, for nonpayment of any money owed to the Beach Club. If the suspension is for nonpayment of money and the moneys are paid in full, the suspension shall be deemed lifted immediately upon payment. Suspensions may also be imposed without prior notice by the board (or the president in an emergency), for behavior which in the board’s opinion constitutes serious damage or injury, or threats of serious damage or injury, to persons or property, or which constitutes an emergency. The board will provide prompt written notice of such suspension by mail, email, or hand delivery to the member or guest involved and shall grant the member or guest the opportunity for a hearing before the board within 30 days after the date of the notice. A member or guest may elect to file a written rebuttal for the board to consider rather than attend a hearing.
c. Minor Violations: For violations that the board considers to be minor, the board may elect to send a letter to the member or guest warning that future violations could result in a suspension.
d. More Serious Violations: For violations that the board considers to be more serious or repeated (though not justifying in the board’s opinion an immediate suspension), the board may send a letter to the violator specifying the bylaw or rule violated and stating that the board intends to impose a suspension of a stated time period for the violation and giving the violator at least 30 days’ notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the board, before the suspension is imposed.
Please direct all questions and comments to Gulf Harbors Board of Directors, 5345 West Shore Drive New Port Richey, Florida 34652 or at GHBC5345@gmail.com.
