Sleeping, Camping Banned In Public In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Council approved an ordinance that prohibits sleeping and camping in public areas across the city, including the boardwalk, pavilions, gazebos, benches, recreation fields and areas around public buildings.

"It does not prohibit somebody from napping on the beach," said City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson. "So, there'll be some common sense applied in the application of this ordinance."

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The ordinance says the City Council of the City of Ocean City found it was in the best interest of residents and visitors to prohibit camping or sleeping in public areas.

Under the new section of the city code, camping is defined as occupying an outdoor location for temporary habitation. The ordinance says that can be shown by the use of tents, tarps or other shelters, the laying down of sleeping bags, blankets, pillows or other bedding items, the placing or storing of personal belongings, or cooking or making a fire.

The ordinance defines public area broadly.

The measure includes an exception for ordinary beach recreation. It says the section does not prohibit sitting, reclining, sunbathing or napping on a beach towel, beach blanket or beach chair, as long as that activity is not accompanied by temporary habitation, storage of personal belongings, use of a tent, tarp or other shelter, cooking, fire-making, or bedding or camping equipment.

The ordinance sets penalties upon conviction at a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $2,000, and it also allows imprisonment or community service for a term not exceeding 90 days.