By Greg Ellison

Staff Writer

(Jan. 30, 2020) Despite the recent introduction of rental licenses in Worcester County, questions remain about how the new lodging requirements will affect Ocean Pines.

Last August, the county commissioners approved legislation requiring rental property owners to obtain licenses as of this January. The rule applies to all property outside the county’s municipalities that are rented for sleeping accommodations, including single-family homes, RVs, lots to park mobile homes or tents.

OPA President Doug Parks said determining how the association would comply with the rental regulations is being discussed with Worcester County Commissioners Chip Bertino and Jim Bunting, both of whom represent the community.

“Are we stepping on anybody’s toes if we change any enforcement?” he asked. “We want to stay in lock step with the county.”

For his part, Bertino said although the regulations were an appropriate way to address rental business conducted through online platforms such as Airbnb or Vrbo, the impact on Ocean Pines could be less than satisfactory.

“The regulations, as written, don’t really help situations in Ocean Pines where we have larger homes than can accommodate many more people than parking would allow or that neighbors would like,” he said.

Bertino said legislation falls slightly short of what he envisioned.

“At the time, I was hoping we would be able to limit the number of occupants per house but that wasn’t the case,” he said. “We had the best intentions at the county in trying to address an emerging problem with online reservation services.”

For now, Parks is heading the OPA effort to coordinate enforcement with county officials, “To ensure we are complying with any county enforcement and also to work with the county regarding potential Ocean Pines oriented enforcement.”

Bertino also said, however, that the OPA could exercise some of its own authority over how properties are used.

“They can certainly control and regulate that through a change in the bylaws, I suspect,” he said.

Bertino noted this was Worcester County’s first swipe at instituting some level of control over online rental platforms and that it may fall short of regulating certain aspects.

“I think Ocean Pines residents and homeowners will have exposure where abuse can take place,” he said. “That’s a concern of mine now and it was a concern when we were talking about it back in the fall.”

Applications for a rental license are available on the DRP webpage at www.co.worcester.md.us/departments/drp.

For additional information, contact DRP staff at 410-632-1200.