Ocean City Voters Overturn STVR Ban

7/23/2025

On July 22, residents in Ocean City, Maryland, voted to overturn an ordinance passed by the city council earlier this year that would have banned short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) in residential zones in the city. The ordinance was put to a ballot referendum, and Ocean City voters rejected the city’s new STVR restrictions by a narrow 834-800 vote.

Specifically, the ordinance would have banned STVRs in the R-1 and MH zoning districts within the city limits by 2027 and set a five-night minimum stay for STVRs located in those zoning districts during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Rejection of these restrictions is a major victory for the STVR industry and a testament to the grassroots efforts and hard work of STVR advocates in Ocean City.