Ocean City officials are hoping to add code enforcement staffing on beaches

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Officials looking to fix some issues that have impacted beach-goers this summer. While plans are still in the early stages, officials plan to build a team of inspectors that will enforce code on the beach.

This past spring, Ocean City implemented a new tent and canopy rules on the beach. All structures with sides are banned, but open-sided canopies smaller than 10 by 10 feet are allowed.

The anchoring lines and stakes must be within the canopy’s footprint. City Manager Terry McGean said the Beach Patrol has been working doubly hard to enforce the new rules.

“It’s becoming overwhelming for our beach patrol folks to enforce all those things and guard the beach, and obviously their number priority has to be life-safety.”

According to Joe Theobald, Emergency Services Director, it was difficult to align tourists and residents. “It was very beginning of the summer, so we spent the summer trying to educate the public who didn’t have any idea about it, because it started around Memorial Day.”

Safety on the water would still be provided by the Ocean City Beach Patrol, but code enforcement would be handled by a different team under the same umbrella.
McGean indicates the potential concept is still in its initial stages.

“We are working to put together that program. They will present it to me, and then we will take it to the council around budget time. It’s not a done deal, there is a lot of work that still needs to happen.”

Theobald is confident things will get done before the busy season next summer. “Do I think we’ll be able to move this along, and get it to where it needs to be for next season? Yes.”

This summer, officials continued to educate the public about the new regulations.