Rehoboth Beach pool ban for renters voted down [photos]

It’s still safe for renters in Rehoboth Beach to use a pool or a hot tub.

A controversial proposal to ban renters from using pools or hot tubs connected to their rental properties was voted down at commissioner’s meeting Friday night.  A second ordinance requiring homeowners with pools to register with the city if they rent out their property was approved.

More than 100 people turned out to protest the ordinance at a meeting held in the city’s convention center.  The ordinance was intended to control noise levels during the summer. The idea was to keep pools locked when a property was rented out.

But the proposed change drew criticism from members of the Delaware legislature and the Delaware Realtors Association.  They claimed the new rule would turn away potential renters and create unnecessary tension between full time residents and summer renters.  They organized people to come in red shirts and make signs showing their displeasure with the idea.

Another group organizing a protest effort was “Save Our Nation’s Summer Capital”. The group adopted the name based on the slogan of Rehoboth. One the members, Rick Perry said the group was pleased with the defeat of the pool ban.  However, Perry, who is also running for commissioner in the August 8th elections said the registration aspect, “is still troublesome because a pool license is subject to suspension or revocation for even a one-time violation of the recently adopted “noise” ordinance, which is really a “sound” ordinance based upon a “plainly audible” standard.”