Chapter 18. Ocean City — Back Bay Areas
Regulation .01 Canals and Inlets.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Ocean City Canals and Inlets.
(1)
Areas.
(a)
) All of the waters of Assawoman and Isle of Wight Bays, east of a line beginning at First Street at or near Lat. 38° 20.043' N., Long. 75° 5.347’' W., then running 26° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 20.057'N., Long. 75° 5.338' W., then running northerly along the shore to 10th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 20.518'N., Long. 75° 5.083' W., then running 344° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 20.612'N., Long. 75° 5.117' W., then running northerly along the shore to 14th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 20.782'N., Long. 75° 5.123' W., then running 2° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 20.858'N., Long. 75° 5.120’ W., then running northerly along the shore to a point at or near Lat. 38° 21.007’N., Long. 75° 5.055’ W., then running 302° True to Mallard Island, at or near Lat. 38° 21.030'N., Long. 75° 5.103' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 21.107' N., Long. 75° 5.088' W., then running 352° True to the south end of an island, at or near Lat. 38° 21.195' N., Long. 75° 5.105' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 21.237' N., Long. 75° 5.075' W., then running 359° True to a Bayshore Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 21.462' N., Long. 75° 5.078' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 21.668' N., Long. 75° 5.130' W., then running 353° True to Penguin Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 21.755' N., Long. 75° 5.143' W., then running northerly along the shore to 36th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 21.862' N., Long. 75° 4.505' W., then running 15° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 21.867' N., Long. 75° 4.503' W., then running northerly along the shore to Trimper Avenue, at or near Lat. 38° 21.915'N., Long. 75° 4.492' W., then running 345° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.007' N., Long. 75° 4.523' W., then running northerly along the shore to 43rd Street, at or near Lat. 38° 22.192' N., Long. 75° 4.437' W., then running 38° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.265'N., Long. 75° 4.363' W., then running 2° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.350'N., Long. 75° 4.360' W., then running northerly along the shore to 47th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 22.365'N., Long. 75° 4.358' W., then running 23° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.427'N., Long. 75° 4.325' W., then running northerly along the shore to 48th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 22.447'N., Long. 75° 4.318' W., then running 322° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.453'N., Long. 75° 4.325' W., then running northerly along the shore to 49th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 22.525'N., Long. 75° 4.318' W., then running 344° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.602' N., Long. 75° 4.347' W., then running 322° True to 52nd Street, at or near Lat. 38° 22.682' N., Long. 75° 4.425' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.702' N., Long. 75° 4.420' W., then running 2° True to Reedy Island, at or near Lat. 38° 22.765'N., Long. 75° 4.417' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.817'N., Long. 75° 4.377' W., then running 78° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.830'N., Long. 75° 4.298' W., then running 21° True to 56th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 22.867'N., Long. 75° 4.280' W., then running 8° True to 57th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 22.923'N., Long. 75° 4.270' W., then running 15° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.967'N., Long. 75° 4.255' W., then running 11° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.007'N., Long. 75° 4.245' W., then running 321° True to a point on the shore south of the MD Route 90 Bridge, at or near Lat. 38° 23.097'N., Long. 75° 4.337' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point on the north side of the MD Route 90 Bridge, at or near Lat. 38° 23.190'N., Long. 75° 4.455' W., then running 18° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.335'N., Long. 75° 4.397' W., then running northerly along the shore to 66th Street, at or near Lat. 38° 23.385'N., Long. 75° 4.380' W., then running 49° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.407'N., Long. 75° 4.348' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.427'N., Long. 75° 4.343' W., then running 23° True to a marsh point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.463'N., Long. 75° 4.323' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.620'N., Long. 75° 4.303' W., then running 9° True to Swan Point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.925'N., Long. 75° 4.240' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.948'N., Long. 75° 4.237' W., then running 47° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 24.095'N., Long. 75° 4.033' W., then running 337° True to Rusty Anchor Road, at or near Lat. 38° 24.432'N., Long. 75° 4.217' W., then running 325° True to Bradley Road, at or near Lat. 38° 24.498'N., Long. 75° 4.277' W., then running 329° True to Mooring Road, at or near Lat. 38° 24.567'N., Long. 75° 4.328' W., then running 0° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 24.875'N., Long. 75° 4.327' W., then running 51° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 25.010'N., Long. 75° 4.118' W., then running northerly along the shore to Point Lookout Road, at or near Lat. 38° 25.162'N., Long. 75° 4.052' W., then running 97° True to Shifting Sands Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 25.145'N., Long. 75° 3.877' W., then running 16° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 25.177'N., Long. 75° 3.865' W., then running northerly along the shore to Jamestown Road, at or near Lat. 38° 25.345'N., Long. 75° 4.035' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 25.440'N., Long. 75° 4.027' W., then running 335° True to Newport Canal, at or near Lat. 38° 25.457'N., Long. 75° 4.037' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 25.520'N., Long. 75° 4.105' W., then running 341° True to Heron Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 25.547'N., Long. 75° 4.117' W., then running northerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 25.578'N., Long. 75° 4.113' W., then running 3° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 25.602'N., Long. 75° 4.112' W., then running northerly along the shore to North Heron Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 25.640'N., Long. 75° 4.108' W., then running 7° True to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 25.660'N., Long. 75° 4.105' W., then running northerly along the shore to 122nd Street, at or near Lat. 38° 25.703'N., Long. 75° 4.097' W., then running 4° True to South Ocean Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 26.132'N., Long. 75° 4.062' W., then running northerly along the shore to the south side of Fenwick Ditch, at or near Lat. 38° 26.563'N., Long. 75° 4.107' W.
(b)
All of the waters east of a line beginning at a point at or near Lat. 38° 26.855'N., Long. 75° 4.330' W.; then running 27° True to a point on the Maryland-Delaware line, at or near Lat. 38° 27.075'N., Long. 75° 4.187' W.
(2)
The speed limit for the areas described in §A(1) of this regulation is 6 knots.
B.
Fenwick Ditch.
(1)
Fenwick Ditch Main.
(a)
Area. All of the waters north and east of a line beginning at a point, at or near Lat. 38° 26.563' N., Long. 75° 4.107' W., then running 329° (True) to a point on shore, at or near Lat. 38° 26.855' N., Long. 75° 4.330' W., and south of the Maryland-Delaware line across Fenwick Ditch beginning at a point at Maryland-Delaware Boundary Monument 0, at or near Lat. 38° 27.075'N., Long. 75° 3.297' W., then running 270° True to a point at Maryland-Delaware Boundary Monument 1, at or near Lat. 38° 27.075'N., Long. 75° 4.187' W.
(b)
Except as specified in §B(2)(a) of this regulation, the speed limit for the area described in §B(1)(a) of this regulation is 6 knots.
(2)
Fenwick Ditch Marsh.
(a)
Area. All of the waters enclosed by a line beginning at Lat. 38°26.563' N., Long. 75°4.107' W.; then running 329° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.855' N., Long. 75°4.330' W.; then running 127° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.738' N., Long. 75°4.132' W.; then running 26° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.887' N., Long. 75°4.039' W.; then running 117° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.836' N., Long. 75°3.914' W.; then running 175° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.777' N., Long. 75°3.908' W.; then running 187° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.759' N., Long. 75°3.911' W.; then running 181° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.711' N., Long. 75°3.912' W.; then running 207° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.683' N., Long. 75°3.930' W.; then running 197° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.662' N., Long. 75°3.938' W.; then running 226° True to a point defined by Lat. 38°26.637' N., Long. 75°3.971' W., then running 235° True to the point of beginning.
(b)
The area described in §B(2)(a) has a minimum wake zone.
C.
94th Street Marsh.
(1)
Area. All of the waters enclosed by a line beginning at a point at the northeast corner of the 94th Street Canal, at or near Lat. 38° 24.610'N., Long. 75° 3.750' W., then running 280° True to a point on the north side of the 94th Street canal, at or near Lat. 38° 24.687'N., Long. 75° 4.310' W., then running 24° True to a point at the west tip of Devils Island, at or near Lat. 38° 24.768'N., Long. 75° 4.263' W., then running 27° True to a point on the south side of the Old Landing Road canal, at or near Lat. 38° 24.993'N., Long. 75° 4.120' W., then running 95° True to a point on the south side of the Old Landing Road canal, at or near Lat. 38° 24.983'N., Long. 75° 3.972' W., then running 103° True to the south side of Old Landing Road, at or near Lat. 38° 24.977'N., Long. 75° 3.890' W., then running 138° True to the south side of Old Landing Road, at or near Lat. 38° 24.768'N., Long. 75° 3.6520' W., then running 191° True to the point of beginning.
(2)
Personal watercraft (PWC) may not operate in the area described in §C(1) of this regulation in excess of idle speed.
Regulation .02 Herring Creek.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Herring Creek encompasses all of the waters upstream of a line beginning at a point on the west shore, at or near Lat. 38°20.677’N., Long. 75°7.762’W., then running 77° (True) to a point on the east shore, at or near Lat. 38°20.705’N., Long. 75°7.613’W. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.
B.
Glen Riddle Basin encompasses all of the waters of Herring Creek upstream (west) of a line beginning at a point on the north shore of the Glen Riddle Basin entrance channel, at or near Lat. 38°20.859’N., Long. 75°7.796’W., then running 180° (True) to a point on the south shore of the entrance, at or near Lat. 38°20.801’N., Long. 75°7.795’W. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.
Regulation .03 Isle of Wight BayLinkCopy Citation
Isle of Wight Bay encompasses the area enclosed by a line beginning at the Oceanic Fishing Pier, at or near Lat. 38° 19.572’ N., Long. 75° 5.473’ W., then running 230° (True) to the north end of Assateague Island, at or near Lat. 38° 19.445’ N., Long. 75° 5.668’ W., then running westerly along the shore to the west end of a jetty, at or near Lat. 38° 19.550’ N., Long. 75° 5.827’ W., then running 286° (True) to a point on the shore, at or near Lat. 38° 19.610’ N., Long. 75° 6.097’ W., then running easterly and northerly along the shore to the west end of the U.S. Route 50 bridge, at or near Lat. 38° 20.050’ N., Long. 75° 5.810’ W., then running 111° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 19.977’ N., Long. 75° 5.573’ W., then running 18° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 20.137’ N., Long. 75° 5.507’ W., then running 108° (True) to Second Street, at or near Lat. 38° 20.088’ N., Long. 75° 5.322’ W., then running southerly following the shoreline to the point of beginning, including all tributaries. This area has a 6-knot speed limit, during the boating season.
Regulation .04 Prohibited Areas — Coastal Bays.LinkCopy Citation
A.
A person may not operate or give permission to operate a vessel during the period April 1 through September 15 in areas established as protective buffers for nesting sites, and feeding areas of birds listed as endangered, threatened, or in need of conservation under COMAR 08.03.08. These areas may change in response to the location of the nesting sites and feeding areas as identified by the Department.
B.
This regulation only applies to waters adjacent to lands owned or controlled by the State or federal government which have been restricted from human intrusion.
C.
Prohibited areas shall be marked by the Department.
Regulation .05 Ocean Pines Canals, Creeks, Channels, Basins, and Inlets.LinkCopy Citation
A.
The Ocean Pines canals, creeks, channels, basins, and inlets encompass those areas of Manklin Creek and St. Martin River bordering the community of Ocean Pines as set forth in §§B—D of this regulation.
B.
The area north and west of a line beginning at the west side of Wood Duck canal, at or near Lat. 38° 22.383’ N., Long. 75° 8.500’ W., then running 93° (True) to the east side of Wood Duck canal, at or near Lat. 38° 22.380’ N., Long. 75° 8.418’ W., then running easterly along the shore to the west side of Goldeneye canal, at or near Lat. 38° 22.357’ N., Long. 75° 8.358’ W., then running 78° (True) to the east side of Goldeneye canal, at or near Lat. 38° 22.372’ N., Long. 75° 8.265’ W., then running easterly along the shore to the west side of a cove, at or near Lat. 38° 22.378’ N., Long. 75° 8.202’ W., then running 77° (True) to the east side of the cove, at or near Lat. 38° 22.382’ N., Long. 75° 8.183’ W., then running easterly along the shore to the west side of Wood Duck canal, at or near Lat. 38° 22.373’ N., Long. 75° 8.128’ W., then running 97° (True) to the west end of an island, at or near Lat. 38° 22.363’ N., Long. 75° 8.032’ W., then running easterly along the shore to the east end of the island, at or near Lat. 38° 22.388’ N., Long. 75° 7.980’ W., then running 356° (True) to the shore at Wood Duck Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 22.407’ N., Long. 75° 7.982’ W., then running 34° (True) to the shore on the west side of Mallard Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 22.470’ N., Long. 75° 7.927’ W., then running 73° (True) to the east side of Mallard Court, at or near Lat. 38° 22.492’ N., Long. 75° 7.838’ W., then running northeasterly along the shore to the east side of Mallard Court, at or near Lat. 38° 22.527’ N., Long. 75° 7.792’ W., then running 90° (True) to the west side of Mallard Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 22.527’ N., Long. 75° 7.762’ W., then running northeasterly along the shore to the east side of Mallard Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 22.560’ N., Long. 75° 7.720’ W., then running 19° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.575’ N., Long. 75° 7.713’ W., then running northeasterly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.588’ N., Long. 75° 7.695’ W., then running 107° (True) to the west side of Harlan Trace, at or near Lat. 38° 22.572’ N., Long. 75° 7.627’ W., then running northeasterly along the shore to the east side of Harlan Trace, at or near Lat. 38° 22.608’ N., Long. 75° 7.577’ W., then running 44° (True) to the south side of Leslie Mews, at or near Lat. 38° 22.652’ N., Long. 75° 7.523’ W., then running northeasterly along the shore to the north side of Leslie Mews, at or near Lat. 38° 22.698’ N., Long. 75° 7.495’ W., then running 98° (True) to the south side of Leigh Drive, at or near Lat. 38° 22.692’ N., Long. 75° 7.435’ W. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.
C.
The area south and west of a line beginning at Skyline Court, at or near Lat. 38° 23.592’ N., Long. 75° 8.060’ W., then running 316° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.727’ N., Long. 75° 8.223’ W., then running 352° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.782’ N., Long. 75° 8.233’ W., then running 323° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.878’ N., Long. 75° 8.327’ W., then running 276° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.888’ N., Long. 75° 8.447’ W., then running 312° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.923’ N., Long. 75° 8.497’ W., then running northwesterly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.958’ N., Long. 75° 8.547’ W., then running 308° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.972’ N., Long. 75° 8.568’ W., then running northwesterly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 24.033’ N., Long. 75° 8.692’ W., then running 281° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 24.060’ N., Long. 75° 8.863’ W., then running northwesterly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 24.105’ N., Long. 75° 9.083’ W., then running 343° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 24.122’ N., Long. 75° 9.090’ W., then running northwesterly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 24.230’ N., Long. 75° 9.345’ W., then running 288° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 24.238’ N., Long. 75° 9.378’ W. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.
D.
Marina Village Basin encompasses all of the area upstream and westerly of a line beginning at a point, at or near Lat. 38° 22.737’ N., Long. 75° 7.407’ W., then running 4° (True) to Ocean Pines Yacht Club Light 2, at or near Lat. 38° 22.973’ N., Long. 75° 7.385’ W., then running 3° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 23.076’ N., Long. 75° 7.378’ W., then running 319° (True) to a point on shore, at or near Lat. 38° 23.217’ N., Long. 75° 7.532’ W. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.
Regulation .06 Edgewater Avenue.LinkCopy Citation
Edgewater Avenue encompasses the area enclosed by a line beginning at a point at Second Street at or near Lat. 38° 20.088’ N., Long. 75° 5.322’ W., then running 288° (True) to a point at or near Lat. 38° 20.137’ N., Long. 75° 5.507’ W., then running 16° (True) to a point at or near Lat. 38° 20.423’ N., Long. 75° 5.405’ W., then running 33° (True) to a point at the shore at or near Lat. 38° 20.700’ N., Long. 75° 5.175’ W., then running southerly along the shore to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 20.612’ N., Long. 75° 5.117’ W., then running 164° (True) to a point at the shore at or near Lat. 38° 20.518’ N., Long. 75° 5.083’ W., then running southerly along the shore to the point of beginning. Except as otherwise restricted, the speed limit for this area is 6 knots during the boating season.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§8-703, 8-704, and 10-2A-02, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: February 3, 1992 (19:2 Md. R. 153)
History: Regulation .01 amended effective May 27, 2002 (29:10 Md. R. 825)
History: Regulation .02 amended effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 430)
History: Regulation .04 adopted effective March 30, 1992 (19:6 Md. R. 672)
History: Regulation .04 amended effective August 2, 2004 (31:15 Md. R. 1185)
History: Regulation .05 adopted as an emergency provision effective May 6, 1992; emergency status expired September 15, 1992 (19:10 Md. R. 926)
History: Regulation .05 adopted effective March 1, 1993 (20:4 Md. R. 370)
History: Regulation .06 adopted as an emergency provision effective May 14, 1999 (26:12 Md. R. 923); adopted permanently effective August 9, 1999 (26:16 Md. R. 1246)
History: Chapter revised effective March 17, 2014 (41:5 Md. R. 341)
History: Regulation .01 amended effective March 17, 2025 (52:5 Md. R. 237)
History: Regulation .03 amended effective March 4, 2024 (51:4 Md. R. 202)
History: Regulation .06 adopted effective March 28, 2016 (43:6 Md. R. 406)