Ocean City Voters Nix New Limits on Short-Term Rentals

8/5/2025

Ocean City, Maryland, residents narrowly voted down a referendum, known as Question A, that would have significantly limited short-term rentals (STRs) in single-family homes. The proposal would have imposed a five-night minimum stay requirement for renters in single-family residences, increasing to a 31-night minimum by 2027. Voters rejected the proposal by a slim margin—834 to 800. Opponents of the restrictions cited private property rights and the economic role of STRs in the resort town's tourism-driven economy.

Maryland Association of Counties (08/04/25) Kevin Kinnally