MARGATE – Although the city has an extensive rental ordinance on the books limiting rental periods to a week or more, residents have complained that large groups are renting properties for one or two nights.
Iroquois Avenue resident Dennis Asen Thursday, Sept. 19 told the Board of Commissioners that certain “party houses” are not following municipal regulations, especially when it comes to number of occupants. He held up a 12-page print-out of AirBNB rental properties he said, “encourages a party atmosphere.”
Asen said he purchased his home in Margate because it was a “quiet, safe and beautiful” community.
Resident Anna Scout said the six-bedroom home next to them that was advertised on AirBNB for 12 occupants recently rented for the weekend to 20 guests who each arrived in their own vehicles for a bachelorette party.
“They were drunk all over the back yard for hours,” she said. “My concern is that they are renting daily,” she said. “It is not weekly or monthly, they are renting it out on a daily basis. Next will come hourly, I assume.”
Asen said the practice is hurting Margate’s image as a residential community.
“It looks to be more of a hotel zoning, and it is not zoned as a hotel,” she said.
City officials encouraged Asen and other residents with similar problems to call police to create a paper trail of infractions.
“Enforcement is the key to this,” Commissioner John Amodeo said. “It’s up to the neighbors to notify the Police Department so we know when it’s going on…It’s a quality of life issue and we want to stay on top of it.”
Solicitor John Scott Abbott said the city is “well aware of the problem…The most important thing you can do is when the nonsense starts to call police,” Abbott said.
Police can issue summonses for a variety of existing “quality of life” ordinances, including noise, he said.
Police Chief Matthew Hankinson said that police would quickly respond to any calls received at the department’s non-emergency phone number, 609-822-1151.
“My officers will be there in five minutes,” he said.
If noise persists, the police will follow up by contacting the Code Enforcement Department, he said.
Neighboring municipalities on Absecon Island are also grappling with the short-term rental problem. Longport is hoping to beef up its rental ordinance before the next summer season, and Ventnor has already passed an ordinance requiring renters to obtain a license for short-term rentals. Calls to local police will document infractions and homeowners could have their licenses revoked for repeated offenses.
Chapter 223 of Margate’s City Code titled, Rental Restrictions, requires property owners obtain an annual rental license and charges a $100 application fee for each rental unit.
The Building Department will conduct an inspection within 10 days of receiving an application to ensure the property meets the national property maintenance codes, including having CO and smoke detectors, and limits the number of occupants based on number of bedrooms and square footage.
A homeowner can lose their license for violations, including a pattern of “disorderly, indecent, tumultuous or riotous conduct” violations, or renting to more than maximum occupancy permits, or where police issue more than three summonses in a month.
The rental restriction ordinance suggests filing a written complaint, which could result in a hearing on the matter. Fines for violations include a $1,000 fine, 90 days in jail and/or 90 days of community service.
“Once we have a record, we can stop this,” Administrator Richard Deaney said.
