Barrington council adopts beach parking ordinance restricting nonresident parking during busy periods

The Barrington Town Council on Oct. 7 adopted ordinance number 2024-7 amending Chapter 134 (Parks and Recreation) to formalize parking stickers and day-pass administration at Barrington Beach.

Town staff said the draft largely reflects current practice and adds explicit authority for a parks-and-recreation director to permit day-pass sales when on-the-ground parking is available later in the day. The ordinance clarifies that sales of parking passes to nonresidents during beach season would not be permitted on holidays or weekend peak periods unless the recreation director determines spaces are available.

During public comment Leanne Capello raised whether short-term renters (for example, Airbnb guests staying at a taxed property) would be treated as residents and therefore eligible for resident parking. Jean Bell, the parks-and-recreation director, explained the town would verify residency with a driver’s license and lease or documentation for the relevant span; temporary renters who can provide a lease or booking receipt showing they are staying in Barrington during the relevant dates can be treated as residents for that span.

‘‘If they have a lease agreement for that span, then we would honor that as a resident fee,’’ Jean Bell said.

After questions and public comment, the council moved to adopt ordinance 2024-7 as presented. The motion passed unanimously, 5–0.

The ordinance gives the administration operational discretion—through the parks director—to reopen parking to nonresidents later in the day when spaces are available, and requires documentation to demonstrate residency for seasonal renters.