As the beaches get a little less busy and summer residents begin to head back to their hometowns, Wareham will see the population dwindle to half of what it is during the summer. Officials, concerned with how the high number of seasonal renters could affect the local housing market, are looking to gain a Seasonal Community Designation from the state.

A Seasonal Community Designation is a title given out by the Executive Office of Housing and Liveable Communities and it allows communities to protect their year-round citizens by creating restrictions regarding seasonal rental properties.

If the town secures the designation, it will help people that stay in the community year round.

"The town will be able to take advantage of tools and resources to promote year-round housing, said Town Administrator Derek Sullivan in an October Select Board meeting. "For example, seasonal communities can acquire year-round housing occupancy restrictions that prevent lots from being used as a seasonal home or for short term rentals."

The designation would also allow the town to establish year-round housing for public service employees like teachers and first responders.

According to the Executive Office of Housing and Liveable Communities, there are a number of criteria that qualify a town or city for the designation but the most pertinent one for Wareham is a significant population increase in seasonal visitors.

"Our census essentially doubles in the summer time and one of the things we've always talked about is we don't want to become a Nantucket where our residents are priced out of living here," said Select Board Chair Judith Whiteside.

Some areas that are currently considered seasonal communities are Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and a number of towns on Cape Cod that see a population increase during the summer months.

In order to secure the designation, the town would have to demonstrate there is a significant population increase during the summer. However, there is no exact seasonal population increase the town needs to prove in order to qualify for the designation. Land Use Coordinator Josh Faherety believes this is so the state can still have a say in whether a town meets the criteria of a seasonal community.

At Town Meeting, voters will decide if they will allow the town to seek a Seasonal Community Designation with the state.

Town Meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.