ORDINANCE NO.  26-08

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING

CHAPTER IV, POLICE REGULATIONS, OF

THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OCEAN CITY

(Prohibiting Camping or Sleeping on Public Property)

            WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Ocean City finds that it is in the best interest of its residents and visitors to prohibit camping or sleeping in public areas including, but not limited to, the beach, boardwalk, pavilions, sidewalks, Community Center, Civic Center, playgrounds, recreation fields and parks within the city.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Council of the City of Ocean City, County of Cape May, State of New Jersey, as follows:

Section 1.

       Chapter 4, “Police Regulations”, of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Ocean City is hereby revised to include the following:

       §4-44        Sleeping/Camping in Public

       §4-44.1     Definitions.

CAMPING

For the purposes of this Section, “Camping” means the act of occupying a location 

outdoors for temporary habitation as evidenced by one or more of the following actions: the erection or use of tents, tarps or other shelters; the laying down of sleeping bags, blankets, pillow or other items used for bedding; the placing or storing of personal belongings; the act of cooking or making a fire. 

PUBLIC AREA

For the purposes of this Section, “Public Area” means any and all areas open to the public including, without limitation, City streets, sidewalks, alleys, boardwalks and ramps, areas beneath the boardwalk, beaches, pavilions, gazebos, playgrounds, fields, rights-of-way, parks, benches, parking lots, athletic fields and courts, bus stops, bus station, stadium, Music Pier, Sports and Civic Center and Community Center. 

       §4-44.2     Sleeping and/or Camping Prohibited

A.        No person shall sleep or camp in any Public Area or portion thereof at any time.

B.        Exception for ordinary beach recreation. This Section shall not prohibit ordinary recreational use of the beach, including sitting, reclining, sunbathing, or napping on a beach towel, beach blanket, or beach chair, provided that such conduct is not accompanied by temporary habitation, storage of personal belongings, erection or use of a tent, tarp, or other shelter, cooking, fire-making, or use of bedding or camping equipment.

      §4-44.3      Penalties.

A violation of the provisions of this Section will, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine or not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not exceeding the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) and/or imprisonment or community service for a term not to exceed ninety (90) days.

Section 2.

All ordinances or portions thereof inconsistent with this ordinance are repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

Section 3.

If any portion of this ordinance is declared to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall not affect the remaining portions of the ordinance which shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 4.

This Ordinance shall take effect in the time and manner prescribed by law.

The above Ordinance was passed by the Council of Ocean City, New Jersey, at a meeting of said Council held on the 25^th day of June, 2026. Said Ordinance will be considered for adoption after an open public hearing to be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall, Council Chambers, Ocean City, NJ 08226. Said ordinance will be made available in the Clerk’s Office for the members of the general public for copies and or review. Melissa Rasner, RMC, City Clerk.