Oyster Harbor Citizens Association ~~~ Annapolis, Maryland ~~~ Beach, Marinas & Parking Rules

Our Association

Beach, Marinas, and Parking Rules

Beach

OHCA Beach Reservation Form
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Approved Beach Reservations

July 10 - OHCA Event: Music on the Beach with Johnny Steele

This beach and adjacent fishing pier are private facilities for use by Oyster Harbor residents and their guests only. They are owned by the Oyster Harbor Citizens Association (OHCA) and are not open to the general public. If you fish on the pier, please be prepared to show the police or a member of OHCA’s beach patrol your beach key or a picture ID to verify residence. Guests must be accompanied by an OHCA resident at all times.

The beach is open to residents 24/7, but please use common sense regarding noise, the nature of your activities, and the privacy of your neighbors. Keys to the beach gate are issued to all residents by the Association Manager Claire Dillon, 410 280-8999 or manager@oysterharbor.org.

Use of the beach and fishing pier by OHCA residents is non-exclusive: All residents have access to the beach and fishing pier at all times, and exclusive use of the beach for parties or private functions is not permitted. However, if you wish to reserve the community’s picnic facilities (tables, grills, gazebos, and power outlets) for a private party, you may do so on a first-come, first-served basis by filling out a OHCA Beach Reservation Form online or contacting a member of the beach committee.

Other OHCA residents may still use the beach, even if you have reserved it. The reservation process is merely a heads-up for other residents who may want to postpone or relocate their activities during your event.
We hope you have a good party and are glad you could use the OHCA community beach. Please remember that reservations apply only to facilities (gazebos, BBQ, tables, electrical outlets, etc.), not the beach itself or the pier, which remain open to other OHCA residents at all times. Please ensure that your guests do not park illegally on the community streets, stone swales or private property, including people’s driveways and the double lot across the street.
Please help us keep our beach clean for everyone’s enjoyment by picking up all your trash, bagging it, and putting recyclables into containers. Check for personal belongings and please try to leave the beach in better shape than you found it. If you notice any problems or broken equipment, please report them to an OHCA officer or the chairman of the beach committee, Dan Craig (410-268-7929).
If you see Canada geese on the beach -- day or night -- please help chase them away. They leave an unwelcome mess on the sand and bacteria in the water where our children play (see separate bacteria count chart posted elsewhere on this bulletin board).
Parking at the Beach is limited to the apron next to the brick wall. Please arrange for your guests to park on your property or elsewhere. Please remember parking is not allowed on our narrow streets for public safety reasons. Your guests may park at the community lots on Harbor Drive. Do not park on the stone swales or in other people’s yards/driveways. Avoid parking along the north (channel) end of Shore Drive as it is currently a construction zone. Please display your OHCA parking decal.

Swim at your own risk: there is no lifeguard on duty. Small children, toddlers, and infants must be under direct adult supervision at all times.

Do not jump or dive from the fishing pier and do not swim near the pier or in the channel: there is boat traffic and conditions are dangerous.

Avoid the rock breakwaters and wood pilings from which the jellyfish nets are hanging – they have splinters, sharp edges, and other hidden hazards. Do not hang on or play with the nets. Do not disturb the floating lights moored in the swim areas if they are present (they help keep geese away at night).

NOT PERMITTED on the beach:

Boats
Pets
Disruptive behavior
Overnight camping/sleeping
Loud noise (music/bands to cease by 11 pm)
Bonfires (unless an OHCA-sponsored event)
Fireworks (unless an OHCA-sponsored event for which a permit has been secured)
Charging admission for events.

Alcohol may be consumed by adults but may not be sold at events or provided to minors. Please recycle your empty containers.

Please clean up the beach after your event. Carry your own trash and recyclables out to the curb or back to your home.

Dogs are not permitted on the Oyster Harbor Beach at any time, however, they may swim at Fishing Creek Park. Please pick up after your dog. Read why.

A port-a-potty is available at the entrance for resident beach-goers from May through October. The beach and pier are patrolled by Anne Arundel County police, off-duty sheriffs hired by OHCA, and a community beach patrol. Please contact 911 in the event of any problems or unusual activities.

NOTE: GEESE ARE NOT WELCOME ON OHCA’S BEACH! If you see Canada Geese on the beach, please help chase them away (their feces are messy and foul both the sand and the water where our children play).

Click for printer friendly version of Beach Rules

Marinas

Keys ~~ To obtain keys to the Shore Drive beach gate, and Fishing Creek gate contact Association Manager Claire Dillon, 410 280-8999 or manager@oysterharbor.org. There is no charge for keys; one per household. There is a $25 charge for replacement keys.

Parking for cars & trailers ~~ Parking at the Marina and boat ramp lots is for users of those facilities only. Trailers may not be parked at these locations.

Boat Slips ~~ Only registered slipholders may keep their boats at the community marinas. Slips are rented on a yearly basis. The current slip holder has first chance to renew his or her contract. There is a waiting list and residents on the list will be contacted as soon as a
slip opens. The boat owner will then have the chance to accept the slip or decline depending on location and needs. Proof of registration and boat insurance is required for slip rental and renewal. For detailed rules and regulations and boat slip inquiries contact Piers and Harbors Chair: Rhoades Whitehill, 443 623-6946, crwhitehill@comcast.net.

Pumpout ~~ There is a public pumpout at the Oyster Creek marina. Any member of the public may use it. Instructions are on the unit.

Safety Equipment ~~ Please raise the ladders on the Oyster Harbor marina piers when you are finished with them so that the rungs do not accumulate slime or other marine growth. There are "man overboard" life rings and fire extinguishers on the Oyster Harbor marina piers and on the fishing pier. If you see that any of these are missing or in disrepair, please notify Piers and Harbors Chair: Rhoades Whitehill, 443 623-6946, crwhitehill@comcast.net.

Swimming ~~ Swimming and diving is not permitted from Oyster Harbor marina piers.

Crab Pots & Fish Traps ~~ Crab pots and fish traps are not allowed on community piers and slip pilings. The pots and traps
can cause serious damage to boats and engines. They can also be harmful to marine life if left unattended. They will be removed if left unattended and attached to pilings. Do not confuse these with floating oyster cages that are attached to community piers as part of the Green Oyster Harbor Environmental Committee initiative to clean up the water in Oyster Creek.

Fishing Creek Park

All small watercraft in Fishing Creek Park are required to have an OHCA small boat sticker. To obtain your sticker contact Chris DeSimone, GoVikes80@aol.com, 410 263-5399.

Kayak Racks & Floating Dock ~~ These facilities are for use by all Oyster Harbor residents on a first come basis.

Be considerate and do not leave your boats in the beach/launch area. It is a very small area and boats left there prevent other boaters, kids, dogs, and other residents from using the beach.

Please do not use the floating dock for boat storage. If you do not use your boat on a regular (daily) basis, then store it on land.

Trailer storage is prohibited.

Parking

Oyster Harbor rules prohibit parking on our narrow streets. There are good reasons for this. On-street parking poses a safety hazard for “darting children” and hinders access for emergency fire and police vehicles.

OHCA Car Decals ~~ At recent OHCA community meetings residents have expressed concerns that our community areas/facilities are being used by non-residents. To help provide easy recognition of whether or not a vehicle does indeed belong to a community member, we have printed OHCA vinyl car window decals.

The stickers will also instill a sense of pride in this wonderful community in which we reside. Stick them on your car and display your community spirit!

If you have more than three vehicles, or if you need hanging tags that will act as temporary identification for visitors' vehicles, please contact Linda Nivens-Epps, 410 263-0717, lnivens64@aol.com.

Speed Limits ~~ Please obey posted speed limit signs, particularly on Arundel on the Bay Road. Watch out for children, dog-walkers, pedestrians and the police officers who will be glad to introduce themselves and their speeding tickets.

Save our Swales ~~ Please refrain from raking leaves or other yard debris into the street or community swales and ditches. When this happens, the community incurs increased costs in dump fees and grounds keeping expenses. Most importantly, it interferes with water infiltration and runoff.