Dewey residents share input on beach canopy rules

Tents and canopies on the beach were a hot topic at the Dewey Beach Town Council meeting Oct. 17, with the results of a recent town poll indicating mixed feelings among residents about the town’s current rules.

Town Ordinance 848, which council passed in December 2024, bans the use of tents on the beach (with the exception of baby tents) and prohibits canopies from being left unattended on the beach prior to 9 a.m. This was its first summer in effect. 

“It was our first year, and [it was] a real learning experience,” said Town Manager Bill Zolper.

To gauge how residents thought it went, the town sent out a poll in its October e-newsletter asking for input.

Of the 40 or so responses, mainly from Dewey property owners, more than half expressed a desire for the town either to further restrict canopies in some way – such as limiting how big they can be or where they can be set up – or to ban them altogether. 

Many complained the canopies being used, particularly those with extended anchoring systems, take up too much space and block other patrons’ and lifeguards’ views of the ocean. Some suggested only allowing canopies in the back row of the beach.

“The canopies need to go away,” one anonymous respondent wrote. “People are creating untenable conditions, where two people occupy a 20-by-20-foot [area] or even bigger space.”

“I’d love to see this further refined to a maximum footprint for tents and canopies,” another said. “Many of the open designs have legs that extend well beyond people’s usable space.”

Respondents also cited a continued abundance of canopies left unoccupied, often in prime locations near the ocean, for hours on end. 

However, not everyone called for a crackdown.

Several said they liked the ordinance as it was, urging the town not to become too strict.

“I think the ordinance was good and just the right amount of ‘rules’ without completely banning the ability to have shade,” one respondent said. “I’d say keep it as it was. Don’t become like our neighbor to the north. Let us keep our canopies and umbrellas. Do not move canopies to the back of the beach, it isn’t necessary.”

Canopies have long been a point of contention, not only in Dewey, but in neighboring beach towns as well. Rehoboth, for example, has enacted a complete canopy ban.

“I think this year went OK,” Zolper said. “If the commissioners are going to make a decision about changing what we currently have, my opinion would be to do away with canopies completely.”

Council has not yet made any decisions or taken any action. The October meeting simply served as a starting point for continued discussion at future meetings.