TOMS RIVER, NJ —(patch) Toms River residents who have been trying to rent out their private home swimming pools through websites are being warned they will face charges for violating the township's ordinances.
Private pool rentals have been a hot-button issue in Toms River for a few years, and were banned in 2018 under the township's short-term rentals ordinance.
That has not stopped some homeowners from trying to rent their swimming pools out on an hourly or daily basis through several websites that operate similar to Airbnb. The most popular, Swimply, was recently highlighted in articles in the Wall Street Journal and Insider.
Hot weather, lengthy delays in getting swimming pools installed because demand skyrocketed last summer during the pandemic, and a spike in the price of pool chlorine that USA Today reported was fueled by a fire at a Louisiana plant, have led more people to use the websites to seek a place to take a dip.
"Homeowners place photos of their pools online and offer to rent them for several hours or the entire day," township officials said. Town ordinances consider the rental of a home's amenities, including the swimming pool, to be a commercial use in a residential neighborhood.
"It is also illegal to advertise, either in print or online, the illegal pool rentals," officials said.
Homeowners violating the ordinance will be issued summonses and face fines of up to $2,000 per occurrence, 90 days in jail and/or 90 days of community service. In 2020, a Toms River homeowner was cited for having 85 children dropped off by bus to use the pool for a fee.
"We have ordinances in place to protect not only the integrity and peacefulness of neighborhoods but the overall health and safety of residents," Mayor Maurice Hill said.
Toms River's Code Enforcement officials and the town's Quality-of-Life unit are checking the listings and will issue summonses to anyone found violating the law.
"These rentals illegally convert private swimming pools into public pools in violation of state, local, and Ocean County Health Department regulations," Hill said.
Homeowners who violate the township's ordinance also can face state enforcement actions, and the private rentals may compromise their homeowner insurance coverage, Hill said.
Land of the free! Lol
ReplyDeletePublic swimming pools are governed by very stringent laws pertaining to safety, hygiene and liability. You are actually quite reckless renting out a pool without having all those concerns properly addressed. And H-shem Yerachem, what would you do if someone leaves your gate unsecured and a child wanders in?
ReplyDeletePlus insurance is totally different for a public pool if something happens to someone using your pool and the insurance company finds out they will void your policy plus penalties
DeleteNot completely accurate. Of course your insurance should cover if an invited guest is using your pool. However, they won't cover if you are charging for it. Same with a car. Many people don't know this. If you charge someone for a ride, Insurance will disclaim, if G-d forbid there is an accident. If you are giving someone a ride, Of course that's covered. You can ask a passenger to chip in for expenses like gas and tolls, but NOT fort the ride itself.
DeleteI wonder why they decided in 2018 that it's illegal, but was legal before that? Is it because it's the Jews? Antisemitism labeled as public safety.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can rent my pool for free but charge 50$ for a towel. A home business is generally allowed so making the pool my home business is not making it a commercial enterprise. This should be challenged in court.
You will lose in court because your having a public usage on a private property vs selling a towel yhe towel is picked up and used elsewhere
DeleteActually home businesses are NOT allowed except with certain restrictions. Like type of business, how many employees, parking, signage etc. Even Lakewood has such rules.
DeleteListen nobody asked you to buy a house that you could only afford by renting it out for a quarter of the year at exorbitant prices! In any event take it up with your neighbors who are massering but honestly you can’t blame them because they see how people fun unzere (you could even say mizera amalek) hire lawyers to stop shuls.
ReplyDelete"Massring", when it effects their rights?? Seriously??
DeleteEven without the ordinance it may be an issue of Nizkei Shcanim to rent out a pool over without consent of the neighbors. Particular if you live in a cul de sac. See Bava Basra 20B
ReplyDelete