OCEAN CITY, Md. - A briefcase filled with more than 1,300 signatures made its way to Ocean City Town Hall on Monday, as a group of local homeowners and realtors took a major step toward forcing a referendum on new short-term rental rule they argue are too restrictive.
“The people are overwhelmingly against these restrictive ordinances that the town has put on the people,” said homeowner Robert Knauer. “They see it for exactly what it is.”
The signatures, gathered over the last few weeks, are part of a larger grassroots effort to overturn recently approved rental regulations affecting residential neighborhoods and mobile home communities. Among the most contested changes: a five-night minimum stay requirement, a cap of two occupants per bedroom regardless of bedroom size, and a moratorium on new business rental licenses through the end of the year.
“I had to rent it out to do so many upgrades to it,” said Linda Tucker, an Ocean City homeowner. “Taxes are so high in Ocean City, Maryland, and I was still working to help take care of it and pay the bills.”
Town officials say the changes are aimed at preserving the character of year-round residential areas. “These rule changes would only affect residential areas and mobile homes,” said Town Manager Terry McGean. That’s roughly 300 of the nearly 9,000 rentals in town. "The council wants to protect those areas so that year-round residents or those looking for a different style of living in town are accommodated.”
To force a referendum, the petition organizers needed verified signatures from 40 percent of Ocean City voters. The signed documents were submitted Monday to the Ocean City Clerk, who will now begin the process of validating each signature.
If the signatures are certified, the town will be required to suspend the five-night minimum stay rule until voters can weigh in. According to McGean, the Ocean City Council could choose to hold a special election to expedite the process or wait until the next regularly scheduled council election.