Orange Beach leaders discuss draft ordinance to curb commercial activity on beaches; vendors and watercraft rentals targeted

City of Orange Beach leaders on April 2 discussed a draft ordinance intended to limit commercialization of the city’s beachfront, drawing questions from local business owners about how the policy would affect concierge, picnic and photography services.

Angel Bennett, who identified herself as a local business owner and co‑founder of The Beach Moms, told council members she was concerned the agenda language and press coverage left unclear which activities the ordinance would ban. "When I first saw that this morning ... I became concerned because it had a picture of a beach picnic, which is a significant portion of our business," Bennett said, asking how larger picnics, food provision and beach‑chair services would be treated.

Mayor (Chair) and a council member responded that the draft’s purpose is to stop unsupervised, street‑style vending and the rental or sale of watercraft directly from the sand, not to prohibit concierge, photography or family‑oriented services that enhance visitors’ experience. "What we're trying to prevent is commercialization of the beachfront," the Chair said. "We don't want vendors walking up and down the beach trying to sell hot dogs or trinkets ... This is not the same as photography, concierge ... anything that makes the experience greater, nicer, more fun for our families and our visitors, we won't."

A second council member said the ordinance would give the city and police clearer authority to stop unauthorized commercial operations and to protect brick‑and‑mortar businesses that hold licenses and pay local taxes: "What this does is gives us teeth to be able to stand and say, 'Hey, this isn't allowed.' Here's an ordinance that says it isn't allowed. It allows us to stop it," the council member said.

Officials acknowledged the draft needs clearer definitions and said staff will work with affected businesses. Bennett and other speakers asked to be involved in drafting the guidelines so legitimate services ranging from family picnics and photography sessions to larger catered gatherings would not be unintentionally restricted.

The discussion was placed on the agenda as a nonbinding discussion item; city leaders repeatedly described it as intended to provide enforcement authority rather than to immediately shut down existing legal businesses. No vote or formal action was recorded during the session.

Looking ahead, officials said the city will refine the language and work with stakeholders, and that enforcement would focus on operations without licenses or oversight that threaten the city’s "family‑friendly" brand.