Politics & Government

Long Beach Township To Lift Short-Term Rental Ban June 1

As Long Beach Island gradually reopens, the township would lift some coronavirus restrictions one week after Memorial Day.

Long Beach Township will lift its coronavirus ban on short-term rentals June 1. Long Beach Island municipalities have gradually lifted coronavirus restrictions.
Long Beach Township will lift its coronavirus ban on short-term rentals June 1. Long Beach Island municipalities have gradually lifted coronavirus restrictions. (Neal McNamara/Patch)

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, NJ — Long Beach Township will soon make short-term rentals on residential properties available, but not until after Memorial Day weekend. The Township will lift several coronavirus restrictions June 1 as part of an emergency order officials signed Tuesday.

Long Beach Township announced March 26 a ban on short-term rentals — defined as 21 days or fewer. The order did not apply to hotels and motels. Read more: Long Beach Township Bans Short-Term Rentals As Coronavirus Hits

Read the declaration here.

Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

But Long Beach Island municipalities have recently lifted some coronavirus restrictions to prepare for the upcoming summer.

The Township will also lift restrictions June 1 on all parking lots, parks, playgrounds and restrooms. The Township closed the Holgate parking lot April 2 to vehicles, while keeping access open to pedestrians.

Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

But several LBI municipalities have lifted restrictions recently. Long Beach Township, Beach Haven and Ship Bottom restricted general public access to beaches. But in the past week, each municipality began allowing the public to the beaches.


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Governor Phil Murphy said Thursday hat he'd be "shocked" if beaches weren't open by Memorial Day. But he warned that if case totals "turn against us there's no way can responsibly take a step like opening beaches." Read more: Gov. Phil Murphy: NJ Beaches May Open Very Soon Amid Coronavirus

The Ocean County Health Department reported the following coronavirus totals in LBI as of Monday:

  • Long Beach Township: 20 cases, fewer than five deaths
  • Barnegat Light: two cases, fewer than five deaths
  • Ship Bottom: seven cases, fewer than five deaths
  • Surf City: four cases, fewer than five deaths
  • Beach Haven: seven cases, no deaths
  • Harvey Cedars: no cases

The OCHD does not reveal the exact number of deaths in towns with one to four fatalities in order to protect patient privacy.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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