Short-term rental ban up to voters

OCEAN CITY, Md. — An Ocean City referendum on single-family homes and mobile homes will come down to a vote on July 22.

Neighborhoods like Mallard Island, Little Salisbury, and Montego Bay are at the forefront of the potential ordinance.

The referendum will be presented as Question A, and residents will have the option to vote for or against short-term rentals.

If passed, it would set a five-night minimum stay for rental homes located in these communities in 2025 and 2026. According to resident and realtor Terry Miller, it could become even stricter.

“In 2027, that would turn to a 31-night minimum consecutive stay.”

Peck Miller, who served on the Ocean City Planning Commission before retiring, supports the ordinance. He said the neighborhoods in question have always stood out from the rest.

“We just wanted a neighborhood environment, where kids could go trick-or-treating, learn how to ride bikes on the road, and do things like that.”

On the other side, Rob Knauer rents his home in Montego Bay and says others do the same. “Tons of people buy these homes and condos with the intent to retire in Ocean City, and they need to rent those out to offset those costs.”

Unfortunately, he said he would consider leaving the town if the ordinance is passed.

“If it goes through, I’m going to reevaluate my options in 2027 on where we want to live,” Knauer said.

Peck Miller, however, disagrees, arguing that every portion of the town has a purpose.

“In Ocean City, we have R-1, R-2, R-3, and local commercial districts. In those different districts, you have expectations of what is going to be in those neighborhoods.”

On July 22, Ocean City residents can make an impact by voting on a ballot measure regarding the issue.

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.