OCEAN CITY, Md. – A group of property owners is organizing a protest on Saturday, March 16, coinciding with the town’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, to voice opposition to recently implemented restrictions on short-term rentals. The protest will take place at 11:00 a.m. on 50th Street, just off Coastal Highway, an hour before the parade begins. Protesters plan to gather on the ocean side of Coastal Highway, opposite the parade route, to attract attention from parade-goers. The protest is being coordinated by OCMD Property Rights, a group of homeowners concerned about the new regulations. The restrictions, which apply to properties in the R-1 and MH districts, include a 5-night minimum stay requirement for 2025 and 2026, followed by a 31-night minimum stay starting January 1, 2027. Property owner Terry Miller believes these changes will devastate the short-term rental industry in Ocean City, citing the national average of 3.41 days for rental stays. Alongside the protest, Miller’s group is collecting signatures for a petition to place the issue on the ballot, allowing voters to decide the fate of the new rules. The city solicitor approved the petition on March 10, and the group has 40 days to gather the required signatures from 40% of registered Ocean City voters. City Manager Terry McGean acknowledged the protest but emphasized that the town’s primary focus would be the parade.
