Biscayne Bay Recovery Efforts
The Miami Foundation, in partnership with Miami-Dade County’s Office of Environmental Risk & Resilience, is on a mission to support clean water preservation. The Biscayne Bay Recovery Fund, which is housed at The Miami Foundation, is a regional effort dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring Biscayne Bay.
“Protect Biscayne Bay” specialty license plate now available!
UPDATE | July 2025 | Plates now available for purchase at Tax Collector and DMV offices throughout Florida
The Miami Foundation, in partnership with Miami-Dade County’s Office of Environmental Risk & Resilience, is on a mission to support clean water preservation. During Florida’s 2021 legislative session, Senator Ileana Garcia and State Representative Nick Duran led a successful bipartisan effort to create the Protect Biscayne Bay specialty license plate. With 3,000 license plate pre-sale vouchers, the license plates will go into production and be available to drivers across the State of Florida.
Revenue generated through plate sales will provide funding to preserve and restore Biscayne Bay, including water quality, marine debris and habitat restoration. The Biscayne Bay Recovery Fund, which is housed at The Miami Foundation, is a regional effort dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring Biscayne Bay.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Brady Hunter Foundation, critical vouchers needed to get the Bay plate in production were made free. Every Florida resident with a registered vehicle is eligible to sign up for the specialty plate. Thank you for your part in caring for our blue heart.
Have questions? Check out our FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Proceeds from the license plate sales will be distributed to the Biscayne Bay Recovery Fund at the Miami Foundation. The Miami Foundation in partnership with Miami-Dade County’s Office of Environmental Risk and Resilience, will work together to create programs and projects that help raise awareness and support our mission of conserving Biscayne Bay. This includes supporting local nonprofits that work on restoration and education efforts.
Costs may vary based on your vehicle and local tax collector fees. Here’s what to expect:
- Specialty license plates require an additional annual fee of approximately $25.
- You will also pay your vehicle registration renewal fee, which varies based on weight, type, and intended use.
- Florida plates are replaced every 10 years. If you switch plates before your current one is due for replacement, there is a $28 replacement fee.
- If your current plate is due for replacement, you may be exempt from the $28 fee, though standard fees still apply.
- Check with your local tax collector’s office for a full breakdown of costs.
You can redeem your voucher in-person at any Florida tax collector’s office or license plate agency.
- No need to bring the physical voucher receipt – you can redeem it with your driver’s license number.
- Tell the clerk you want to redeem your voucher for the Protect Biscayne Bay specialty plate.
- Let them know which vehicle you’d like to assign the plate to.
- The voucher covers the specialty plate fee for one year. You’ll still be responsible for registration or other applicable fees.
- Refunds: If the plate is deauthorized or never issued after meeting the pre-sale threshold, you may apply the voucher fee to another specialty plate or request a refund from the state using the appropriate form.
- At this time, you are unable to redeem your voucher online.
No. The voucher does not expire, so you can redeem it at your convenience. If you wish to wait until your registration is going to expire, you may.
All licensed Florida drivers are eligible to purchase a Protect Biscayne Bay specialty plate.
Yes, you will need the other person’s:
- Driver’s license number
- Address
- Phone number
Yes, the plate can be issued for a boat trailer.
No. You can purchase the plate at any time, though additional fees may apply if you’re switching before your renewal date.
Each year before your birthday, remember to renew your registration and continue to support Biscayne Bay.
How to Redeem Your Pre-Sale Voucher
Visit your local tax collector’s office. Find your office here: https://floridataxcollectors.com/your-tax-collector/ or Miami-Dade County tag agencies.
What to bring:
- Your driver’s license
- Your voucher form (if available, but not required)
- Applicable fees – The voucher covers the specialty plate fee for one year. You’ll still be responsible for standard registration and service fees.
At the Tax Collector’s Office:
- Confirm the plate is in stock
- Tell the clerk you’re there to redeem your voucher for the Protect Biscayne Bay specialty plate
- Provide your driver’s license number or voucher receipt
- Let the clerk know which vehicle the plate should be assigned to
For any questions about the plate purchase process reach out to resilience@miamifoundation.org.
The Importance of Biscayne Bay: Facts & Figures
Biscayne Bay contributed to 10.2 % of the total Miami-Dade County economy, as well as 4% of the southeast Florida economy.
Biscayne Bay generated $12.7 billion in economic output, $6.3 billion in incomes, 138,000 jobs, and $627 million in tax revenue within the local economy
71% of local business owners feel that the aesthetic qualities of Biscayne Bay are vital to their economic values
1.6 million individuals annually visit the National Park and three State Parks that surround Biscayne Bay
65.5 million person-days are spent recreationally on Biscayne Bay annually
Biscayne Bay is home to an incredible diversity of life including over 600 native fish, neo-tropical water birds, many threatened and endangered species, and over 100 species important to recreational and commercial fisheries.
All statistics sourced from: Adams, Chuck. “Imperiled Water Quality of Biscayne Bay.”. To learn more about specialty license plates in Florida, click here.