Last month, the Somers Point City Council voted 5-2 to introduce legislation that would increase the minimum stay at a short-term rental from three to seven nights. Since then, multiple coalitions and groups have come forward to speak out about how damaging this could be.

^{→ Let’s step back for a second, this battle didn’t start last month. In 2023, City Council passed regulations on short-term rentals after several meetings, which led to the current three-night minimum. While rental owners weren’t exactly happy with the decision then, they adapted to the changes and were able to survive.}

Fast forward to May 2025, the Somers Point City Council is now rushing to extend the minimum stay to seven nights, with zero justification for the extension besides baseless claims.

Councilman Sean McGuigan has repeatedly spoke out against rentals, citing disruptions and other issues. McGuigan has even gone as far as to argue for a 30-day minimum rental period.

The Somers Point Hosts & Residents Coalition, a group of rental owners and residents has said “This change would severely limit the flexibility that local families, visitors, and property owners rely on—particularly during our peak summer season”

Now, if you’re not already convinced that this over-regulation will have a severely negative impact on local tourism, we’ve found some data on the typical rental length in Somers Point:

Ultimately, regulating short-term rentals isn’t inherently wrong — but doing so without data, support, or logic is reckless. If Somers Point continues to choose politics over people, it will lose both.