Cape May City Council recently adopted an ordinance to ban large commercial events such as weddings and corporate retreats held at homes in residential areas.
The so-called "event homes" in recent years have led to complaints about noise, traffic congestion, litter and other issues. A committee worked on the ordinance all winter and it was recommended by the Cape May Planning Board.
The ordinance bans event houses in residential zones but allows them in the commercial hotel/motel zone called the C-3 Zone. Even there, the ordinance only allows three events per year and none between July 1 and Labor Day.
An event house is are defined in the ordinance as one "used, maintained and/or advertised as a destination location for special events such as weddings, corporate retreats, parties and meetings."