After an hour-plus discussion during which three motions failed, the Ocean City Council this week settled on a five-day minimum length of stay for existing short-term rentals in the R-1 and MH mobile home districts.
In addition to setting a moratorium on the issuance of any new short-term rental licenses in the R-1 residential and mobile home districts, the council this week agreed to set a minimum length-of-stay restrictions for existing rentals, beginning this season.
To give the city time to evaluate short-term rental regulations and data, the council also agreed to set a moratorium through Dec. 31, until which time no new short-term rental licenses will be issued in the R-1 and MH districts. However, officials did make some concessions by allowing any short-term rental license applications submitted through Jan. 27 to be considered. They also directed staff to create an appeals process for short-term rental licenses should a property be transferred to another family member.
“If we don’t have the moratorium, it’s more and more licenses, and it keeps spiraling almost,” Councilman John Gehrig said this week. “We at least need to push the pause button.”
While I agree that an hourly rate is inappropriate, some folks only want a weekend or middle of the week stay. This would discourage those types of visitors and potentially more revenue.
Stupipo!