UPDATE: Ocean City residents make decision on controversial short-term rental ordinance
OCEAN CITY, Md. — Residents decided on a controversial issue via ballot: whether to ban short-term rentals in the R-1 and MH housing districts.
The decision is as follows, 834 against banning short-term rentals, and 800 for the restrictions.
Community members congregated at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center to weigh in on the ordinance, which would limit vacation stays to a minimum of five nights. That minimum would increase to 31 nights by 2027.
If the ordinance passed, it would specifically limit rentals in single-family neighborhoods and mobile home communities.
Resident Gordon Kretser supported the proposed change, saying it would help preserve the community.
“The people we want in these neighborhoods are ones that will stick around and provide value to the community,” he said.
Opponents argue that the measure would infringe on property rights. Rob Knauer, who lives in the resort town, said it would hurt tourism and undermine Ocean City’s identity as a popular summer destination.
“It’s going to send away thousands of people who visit this town and have done so for decades,” Knauer said.
Kretser disputed that point, saying zoning laws are about planning and conservation—not finances.
“To encourage more long-term, full-time residents to occupy these neighborhoods, which in turn will make this community a better place to live,” he said.
Neighborhoods that could be impacted include Little Salisbury, Mallard Island and Montego Bay. Knauer owns a home in one of those areas and regularly rents it out to offset costs. He believes the ordinance could negatively affect the future of Ocean City.
“Vote against this referendum. Vote to protect property rights, and vote to prevent government overreach,” he said. “If you look out here, it’s a very David vs. Goliath kind of situation, where you have the ordinary people—the average citizen—vs. the Mayor, the Council and State Senator for the opposition.”
Kretser said he wants his children to be able to live in the town and hopes the ordinance passes.
“To support the community and serve the community, versus people who come and go every week or every couple of days,” he said.
The decision was ultimately be made by voters. Polls closed at 8 p.m.
