Annapolis City Council Work Session on Houseboat Task Force Findings – September 18, 2025

On September 18, 2025, the Annapolis City Council held a work session to receive the final report and recommendations from the Task Force to Study Houseboats, Floating Homes, and Other Commercial Marine Vessels. The meeting, which began at 3:00 PM in City Council Chambers, featured presentations from Task Force Chair Gee Caron and Vice Chair Rod Jabin, along with remarks from city staff. The public did not have an opportunity to comment. The task force, formed by Resolution 46-24, delivered a comprehensive 50-plus-page report after six months of study, including public surveys and city department input.

Presentation of Findings

• Chair Caron and Vice Chair Jabin presented the task force's work, emphasizing that the group split Resolution 46-24 into 26 tasks and gathered input from the public, city departments, and the task force itself. They defined key terms: houseboats (navigable, designed to leave dock), house barges (stationary dwelling units on floats, non-navigable, often with a loophole engine), charter boats (regulated by Coast Guard), and liveaboards (primary residence on a recreational vessel).
• The task force identified short-term rental house barges as the primary concern. They noted that city laws on noise and short-term rentals are unclear about enforcement jurisdiction between the harbormaster, police, and planning and zoning.
• Statistics: Annapolis has 2,342 slips across 38 marinas (37 private, 1 city). 23 marinas are small (under 50 slips), 15 are large (over 50 slips). Current code allows house barges only in marinas with 50+ slips, limited to 2% of slips (potential maximum of 32 house barges if all large marinas applied).
• Environmental concerns: Black water (sewage) and gray water (dish/laundry/wash water) disposal challenges, especially in winter when pump-out systems are winterized. Gray water from house barges would be discharged directly into the water.
• Economic impact: A 40-foot recreational boat slip might generate $153/night, while a similar house barge could bring $1,500/weekend. However, house barges do not contribute to the maritime repair industry (hauling, painting, fiberglass) unlike recreational vessels.
• Other cities: Ocean City and Beach Haven prohibit commercial house barge rentals; Nantucket, Tisbury (Martha's Vineyard), Newport (RI), and Brookhaven (NY) ban house barges outright. Baltimore, Sausalito, Seattle, and National Harbor allow them. Wilmington (NC) permits STR barges in a dedicated marina away from the main viewshed.
• Public survey results (summarized via ChatGPT for independence): Majority opposed STR house barges, demanded parity with land-based STR regulations, clearer definitions, stronger pump-out infrastructure, and placement restrictions away from residential areas.
• City department responses: Generally neutral, noting potential tourism benefits but also concerns about property values, tax revenue, environmental impacts (black/gray water), and enforcement ambiguity. Fire department noted that house barges would fall under its purview if non-propelled, and regulations are often reactive to accidents.

Task Force Recommendations

• No rentals of house barges (neither short-term nor long-term), to eliminate safety, noise, environmental, and enforcement issues.
• Alter the 50-slip/2% rule to allow any marina to have at least one house barge (2% or one unit), but only for non-commercial, internal business use (e.g., fuel dock office, staff housing), not for rental to the public.
• Clarify and modernize city code definitions of houseboats, house barges, charter boats, and liveaboards, and update enforcement mechanisms.
• Existing city noise, STR, and zoning laws should be enforced; STR licenses can be revoked after violations.

Council Discussion

• Alderman Arnett praised the thoroughness, noting the distinction between boats (navigable) and barges (residential) and that house barges are visually imposing and do not support the maritime repair industry.
• Alderman Lyles requested the presentation and report be uploaded to Legistar. He asked for clarification on the recommendation: the final language prohibits all rentals (not just short-term) to close loopholes (e.g., renting for 91+ days to avoid STR rules). The task force confirmed this.
• Alderman Savage expressed commitment to implement the recommendations in the next council term. He noted the need to clarify definitions in current code and acknowledged that most marinas currently do not allow house barges.
• Deputy City Manager Jackie Gyle noted the task force is set to disband on December 18, 2025 (three months after the report).
• Mayor Buckley thanked the task force and city staff, calling the work a city record speed for a task force.

Key Outcomes

• No formal vote was taken; the work session was for information and discussion.
• Council members committed to pursuing legislation in the next term to implement the task force's recommendations: banning all rentals of house barges, revising the slip-count rule, and updating definitions and enforcement.
• The task force’s report and presentation will be uploaded to Legistar for future reference.
• The task force will remain available for follow-up until its disbandment date in December 2025.