85 Kids At Illegal Pool Rental At Toms River Home: Officials

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River homeowner is accused of illegally renting out the home's swimming pool after authorities saw buses drop off 85 children at the home earlier this month, officials said Friday.

Toms River code enforcement officers, working with the township's Quality of Life Task Force, saw two passenger buses from Jay’s Bus Service dropping off and picking up the children at the home in the North Dover section on July 16, between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., to use the swimming pool for a fee.

The homeowner, who was not identified, was issued summonses for violating two township ordinances: failure to obtain a permit for commercial use of a private swimming pool, and renting a swimming pool.

Authorities began investigating after receiving multiple complaints about the issue, and the investigation is continuing, township officials said. The homeowner is scheduled to be in court Aug. 10.

"The township has ordinances in place which prohibit daily rentals of houses and swimming pools in residential neighborhoods," Mayor Maurice Hill said. "As mayor, it is my job to enforce these ordinances and I remind our residents that any similar violations will be addressed in the same manner."

The township tightened its ordinances on Airbnb rentals in 2018, and they specifically prohibit the rental of a home's amenities, including the swimming pool. Renting it is considered a commercial use in a residential neighborhood.

Violations of the ordinances are punishable by fines of up to $2,000 per occurrence, 90 days in jail and/or 90 days of community service.

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