Long Beach Township Bans Short-Term Rentals As Coronavirus Hits

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, NJ — Long Beach Township will temporarily prohibit short-term rentals as a precaution against the novel coronavirus. The restriction was part of a "declaration of disaster and emergency" that Township officials signed Thursday.

Short-term rentals of 21 days or fewer are prohibited from now until May 1 or when Governor Phil Murphy lifts his stay-at-home order — whichever comes first. All rental arrangements made for this time window were declared terminated.

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Long Beach Island's municipalities have prepared individual declarations of disaster or emergency. But Long Beach Township took an extra step of prohibiting short-term rentals.

The declaration is an effort to reduce visits to the island. Long Beach Township has only one full-service grocery store, and the local hospital has only 120 beds, officials said.

The order doesn't apply to non-residential properties, such as hotels and motels. It also doesn't include visits from family, caretakers, household members or romantic partners.

Read the declaration below:

President Donald Trump declared New Jersey a major disaster area Thursday. Governor Phil Murphy announced 2,492 new cases of the coronavirus Thursday, as well as 19 more deaths. There are now 6,876 cases in New Jersey and 81 deaths. Read more: NJ 'Major Disaster' Area: 2,492 New Coronavirus Cases, 19 Deaths

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