Ocean City · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Ocean City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Reduced-setback dwelling at 13506 Sinepuxent Avenue
The Tacconeli sunroom case shows how the board handles modest encroachments when a similar nonconformity already exists on the block — approved 5-0 with no neighbor objections.
Extension of Ocean Sands Hotel redevelopment variances
The owners of the Majestic Hotel on the Boardwalk at 7th Street asked the board to extend prior redevelopment approvals, keeping the project alive.
Escapomania escape room conditional use at 13113 Coastal Highway
The Escapomania escape room at 13113 Coastal Highway cleared its public hearing in October, but its findings of fact still need approval — and that's now delayed, holding up permits. Commissioners also questioned why escape rooms need a conditional use at all, and staff is drafting an amendment to allow them outright in LC-1 and SC-1 districts.
Water System Hydrant Flushing
Ocean City is flushing fire hydrants starting Nov. 1, so your tap water might look a little rusty or lose pressure for a bit. It’s routine twice-a-year maintenance, not an emergency—just run the cold water until it clears.
Delmarva Power substation expansion and battery storage
The Second Street substation upgrade — including elevating equipment against downtown flooding — is at 30% design with construction targeted for fall 2027. The 100th Street battery storage unit should be fully online by January 2027, but neighbors say its floodlights are shining into condominium bedrooms.
Fiscal Year 2026 audit and financial report
The town got a clean audit and its finances look strong — net position up $22.5 million, revenues up 12%, and pensions over 95% funded. Council is now asking whether the town is holding too much in reserves and whether some should pay down debt instead.
Northside Park Living Shoreline project
Bid openings for the airport terminal siding ($108,500 low bid vs. $130,000 budget) and the Northside Park living shoreline ($110,850 low bid vs. $351,113 budget) both came in well under budget and went back to staff for review.
Baltimore Avenue Redevelopment and Utility Burial Delay
The scaled-back Baltimore Avenue project will underground utilities from North Division Street to 9th Street, with bidding next year and construction hoped for October 2027. Sidewalks stay at five feet — no widening — but new light poles and no overhead wires are coming.
Lazy Lizard Off-Site Parking Reconfiguration
The Lazy Lizard is consolidating its parking: adding land to Lot D on St. Louis Avenue for 51 spaces, keeping other lots, and releasing two lots it no longer needs. Total parking rises to 78 against a 77-space requirement, with flooding-tolerant landscaping still being worked out.
Event branding and city image
The Beautification Committee recognized property owners across every category — homes, hotels, boardwalk shops, restaurants, condos — for keeping Ocean City beautiful. Special recognition went to the Believe in Tomorrow children's cancer house and the 133rd Street beach entrance garden.
Special Event Zone / Public Safety
Ocean City is setting up a Special Event Zone for Endless Summer Cruisin', so expect extra traffic rules and heavier police enforcement near the boardwalk this weekend. If you're driving in, plan for delays and follow the posted rules closely.
Racquet Center renovation
The city manager previewed a September 29 bid opening for the Ocean City Recreation Center renovation — a project worth watching for locals who use the facility.
AARP Age-Friendly Community designation
The council agreed to start applying for the AARP/WHO Age-Friendly designation — a five-year process championed by Dr. Mary Kellerman that could help the town win grants and improve life for its growing senior population, though members questioned the workload and vague deliverables.
Accessibility ramp at Four Seasons Condominium
Aging condo residents have been using crumbling front steps with no ramp option, because the site can't fit an ADA-compliant slope. The exception lets the association build a gentler ramp right where the old steps sit, closer to the street than code normally allows.
Boardwalk Tram Feasibility Study
Ocean City is weighing whether its Boardwalk tram can come back, and a new report says revival may not even be feasible. That means the debate over cost, access, and Boardwalk business traffic is likely headed to City Hall.
Downtown Sign Regulations
Two ordinances advanced on first reading would tighten rules for signs, awnings, and banners projecting over sidewalks, streets, and the boardwalk in downtown districts. Final adoption comes after a second reading later.
Free Bus Passes for Residents
A resident asked the council to fund complimentary bus passes for residents, noting many depend on the bus for work and appointments. Council asked staff to bring back cost estimates from the Transportation Committee, noting prior figures around $300+ and potential MTA/FTA grant restrictions.
Beach Restoration
A nor’easter chewed up Ocean City’s beaches, and there’s now a $25.7 million plan to restore them. It’s big money for sand and shoreline repair, but the beach is the main draw for residents, tourists, and local businesses—so it affects basically anyone who uses the shore.
Beach Erosion
Ocean City’s eroding beaches are already costing the town money, including a scrapped festival. If you live there or vacation there, expect dune restoration talks to get louder.
Beach Renourishment Funding
Ocean City’s beach is getting a $25.7 million rebuild from the Army Corps after a nor’easter stripped away sand. That’s big money to protect the town’s main tourist attraction and the property behind it.
Fire Prevention Commission Restructuring
The body that appoints the fire marshal, hears fire code appeals and writes the fire code currently consists only of the four volunteer fire chiefs. The restructuring adds the career fire chief as chair, a volunteer deputy chief, and at-large citizen members to make appeals look and feel more neutral.
Signage in the Baltimore Avenue Right-of-Way
After a storm toppled a private sign in the unused Baltimore Avenue right-of-way, the town is changing its rules so staff — not the full Council — can approve signs projecting into that right-of-way, with encroachment agreements and insurance requirements attached. Redeveloped properties would have to move signs out of the right-of-way.
Beach Renourishment Contract
Ocean City is getting $25.7 million in federal money to pump sand back onto its eroding beach. The point is to protect the shoreline, keep tourism humming, and shield waterfront property. If you care about the beach economy, this is a big deal.
Storm Damage Assessment
A nor'easter hit Ocean City, damaging property and canceling a music festival. City crews are now sizing up the damage and deciding what to clean up and restore first, especially the beach.
Storm Cleanup and Flood Damage
A Nor’easter flooded parts of Ocean City and Fenwick Island, and cleanup crews are now working through the mess. Expect possible road closures and ongoing recovery work, so check routes before you head out.
Coastal Flooding
A nor'easter swamped Ocean City and stranded visitors, showing that coastal flooding isn't a someday problem—it's a recurring headache city officials have to plan around. If you live, work, or vacation there, expect more disruptions unless flood defenses and emergency plans keep pace.
Storm Flooding
A coastal storm is flooding streets in Ocean City, and officials are warning people to avoid travel. If you're headed to the shore, expect water-covered roads and delays—so plan around it or stay put.
Bull on the Beach pergola parking waiver
A beloved 94th Street restaurant wanted to enclose its patio pergola with roll-down rain screens, which under town code counts as enclosed space requiring five more parking spots. The board waived them 4-1, since the site is already far below code parking and no seats were added. A condo association president raised ongoing safety worries about the tight Coastal Highway corner.
Montego Bay survey dispute and setback variances
A new house on Beachcomber Lane ended up inches inside the side setback because three surveyors disagree on where the lot lines are in the 1971-era Montego Bay plat. The board approved tiny after-the-fact variances 4-1 after hearing the lot is a skewed parallelogram and moving the house would risk damaging neighbors' homes.
Transportation Infrastructure Funding
Maryland’s new transportation funding plan includes the Bay Bridge but skips Ocean City’s aging drawbridge, so the city won’t get state money for it this round. That leaves a key local crossing without a funding fix for now.
Convention Center and Event Strategy
Sodexo Live! keeps the convention center food contract for eleven more years, investing $1.465 million in improvements plus $150,000 cash, with city revenue around $750,000 this fiscal year.
Special Event Zone Designation
Ocean City is setting up a Special Event Zone for OC Rock & Ride Bikefest, which means downtown traffic and parking rules will likely change while the event is running. If you’re driving or parking near the action, plan ahead so you don’t get rerouted, ticketed, or towed.
Internal audit Quarter 2 findings
Q1 overtime hit 23,603 hours — up about 2,600 from last year, with fire department training overtime doubling. Council members Heiser and Gehrig pressed for optimization, and the FY 2027 audit plan will scrutinize vendor accounts, rental licenses, legal fees, and AI usage.
Proposed Chapter 110 zoning code amendment
The city is proposing changes to numerous sections of its zoning code, with a new section 110-888 added. A public hearing is set for October 6, 2026, so residents and property owners will have a chance to comment before anything is adopted.
Youth Curfew Legislation
Ocean City wants Maryland lawmakers to pass a youth curfew-style law aimed at 'teen takeover' crowds by next summer. If it happens, busy beach weekends downtown could look and feel different—more enforcement, possibly fewer large teen gatherings.
Habitable attic determination appeal at 103 Sea Lane
A property owner is appealing the city's determination that a dwelling's second floor is a 'habitable attic' under the town code, which blocked an amendment to building Permit 25-1995. The outcome could clarify how the town treats second-floor spaces in renovations.
Marine construction permits for waterfront properties
Two cases (PW 26-022 and PW 26-028) exceeded the standard 20% channelward extension limit, and the board approved both after finding the new structures would be no larger — or smaller — than what already exists. This sets how the board treats replacements of nonconforming structures.
Shoreline and pier construction approvals
A Heron Gull Court resident testified that an approved neighboring dock project will make his existing boatlift nearly unusable, and replacing it with an elevator lift could cost around $25,000. The board noted the project met all setbacks and approved it anyway.
Northside Park Softball Field Lighting Purchase
The city is buying new softball field lighting for Northside Park, up to $300,000, through a cooperative purchasing network to get better pricing.
Pension Fund Investment Manager Change
The Pension Committee's plan to swap the JP Morgan Mid Value fund for Columbia Select Mid Cap Value and pour about $250,000 of set-aside cash into the unbudgeted FY27 pension contribution got unanimous council approval.
Board of Supervisors of Elections vacancy filled
With an election a couple months away, the council appointed Bobbie Lynne DaCosta to replace longtime board chair Mary Adeline Bradford, who retired after about 40 years.
Government relations lobbying contract
After interviewing four firms, the city hired Manis Canning and Associates to represent Ocean City on budget, legislative, policy and regulatory matters in Annapolis and Washington.
Homeless Shelter Legal Dispute
A church in Ocean City is battling the city over $20,000 in fines tied to its homeless shelter. The case isn’t just about cash—it could change how Ocean City zones and regulates homelessness services.
Construction Site Appearance and Screening Enforcement
A commissioner flagged that Ocean City construction sites look messy and pushed to make on-site material storage screening a key, enforced condition of approvals. The dental office approval includes a fencing-and-screening condition that will test whether the town follows through.
Atlantic Edge Condo Project Phasing
The developer of the approved Atlantic Edge project at 14 142nd Street wants to build it in two phases instead of all at once. Neighbors near 142nd Street may see construction stretched over a longer period.
Fire department GPS tracking for missing dementia patients
Retiree Andrew Sanderson asked the council to move about $25,000 from the discretionary fund to equip the fire department with GPS tracking devices for at-risk wanderers; the city manager will take the request to the fire department.
Home-based mushroom cultivation at 602 141st Street
A Caine Woods resident is appealing the city's finding that an indoor mushroom-growing business doesn't qualify as a permitted home occupation. The case tests how far the town's home-business rules stretch for small agricultural uses.
Majestic Hotel redevelopment timeline
The developers of the old Majestic Hotel at 7th Street and the Boardwalk got another year on their zoning approval while they finish new site plans. A major hotel redevelopment is planned, with Planning Commission review expected in early September.
Talbot Street pier exceeds code limit
The Angler's pier replacement raised the question of whether a pier that predates current length limits can be rebuilt at its existing 150 feet when town code allows less. The board weighed code strictness against documented history, a 1991 street-end agreement, and safety benefits of a wider pier near the 50 bridge.
Biosolids Mixer Replacement
Three mixers at the wastewater plant are near the end of their service life; replacing them costs $662,046, covered by wastewater fund savings from FY26.