At the same time, these communities are also trying to maximize their appeal to summer renters and buyers of single-family homes.

Most houses are within private beach associations, which accept summer renters.

To help find them Ms. Seiler is creating a phone book of summer renters.

A summer renters' phone book "would make it more convenient to find somebody," she said.

Indeed, those who put themselves in the role of summer renter are often subjected to living none too stylishly.

Hundreds of people come: summer renters, their friends, weekend visitors staying at seaside inns.

She said the town was in effect seeking to evict the officers and the other summer renters until the owner obtained a permit.

Many people start out as summer renters, paying $5,000 to $80,000 a month, then fall in love and take a year-round lease on a beach place.

Many summer renters seem to have decided to stay away this year.

The typical summer renter is a young family from Manhattan, with a couple of kids, a stay-at-home mom and a commuting dad.