to look at

By Mallory Panuska Managing Editor

(July 28, 2023) The days of large tents and canopies speckling Ocean City’s beaches on hot summer days could be numbered as resort officials prepare to discuss whether to restrict the shady shelters after the 2023 season.

“We’ve all been receiving quite a few emails from beachgoers about concerns about the tents on the beach and the size of the tents on the beach,” Mayor Rick Meehan said during a council meeting last week. “As somebody who goes up on the beach and walks the Boardwalk, like many of us do, they’re [the tents are] getting bigger, they’re not getting smaller.”

City Manager Terry McGean said this week that Meehan and members of council have fielded a “flurry” of emails — between 10 and 20 — complaining about the size and number of tents, prompting him to revisit research performed last year on regulatory efforts at neighboring beaches.

He said council members had “no desire” to pursue new ordinances in Ocean City at that time, but he anticipates they may have a different take this fall.

“After the season, assuming the council president wants to put it on an agenda, we will do so,” McGean said.

Meehan said he would like to see

According to websites and ordinances, the following regulations exist regarding tents, canopies and the like at other municipal beaches:

Bethany Beach Beach and Boardwalk Regulations

No tents, canopies, tarps or cabanas. Standard upright umbrellas and baby tents (no larger than 3feet high, by 4-feet wide, by 5-feet long, and without grounding wires or ropes that extend beyond the perimeter of the device) are allowed.

Town of Dewey Beach

Four-poster canopies, umbrellas, and open-sided tents are permitted on the beach. All canopies must be set up behind the lifeguard stands. Lifeguards must have a clear view of the beach and neighboring stands. Anyone unsure of where to set up a canopy should check with a lifeguard.

Rehoboth Beach

The town’s website states that officials understand tents are convenient, but they became “so plentiful at peak times that they blocked access and visibility to the water’s edge, affecting public safety and everyone’s enjoyment “of the beach.

For that reason, tents, tarps, cabanas, pavilions, canopies, sportsbrellas, and similar devices are prohibited. Baby tents (up to 36inches high, by 36-inches wide, by copies of ordinances and regulations from other beaches, as well as obtain drone footage of Ocean City’s beaches to determine how many tents and canopies are typically seen on a wider scale, when they have the public discussions.

“We may or may not take action,” Meehan said. “But we’re getting

36-inches deep, used to shade infants and small children), are permitted.

Virginia Beach

A city ordinance states that it is unlawful for any person to erect, maintain, use or occupy on any beach any tent, shelter or structure of any kind between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. unless authorized by a valid permit.

Ocean City, New Jersey Beach FAQs

Tents and canopies are limited in size to 10 feet by 10 feet and cannot block public or emergency vehicle access. As a matter of courtesy on crowded beaches, patrons are asked to set up devices on the soft sand closer to the dunes.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Shading Device Policy

Myrtle Beach’s shading device policy states that non-umbrellas measuring less than 12 feet by 12 feet are welcome nine months out of the year. Between Memorial Day and the day after Labor Day only umbrellas are allowed. During that time, only umbrellas measuring up to 7.5 feet in diameter are allowed in line with, or behind, the established umbrella line. Non-umbrellas and umbrellas larger than 7.5 feet in diameter are not permitted, with the exception of infant tents no larger than 4-feet wide by 3-feet deep, and 3-feet high.

Rules exist in other jurisdictions

enough emails, we need to discuss it.”

According to other municipal websites, of the beaches that surround Ocean City, Dewey Beach in Delaware is one of the only ones that still allows “four-poster canopies” and tents.

Bethany Beach in Delaware does not allow any tents, canopies, tarps or cabanas. Only standard umbrellas and baby tents are allowed.

Rehoboth Beach; as well as Virginia Beach; Ocean City, New Jersey; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, all also have regulations in place for tents, canopies and the like.