Guide to Laws for Beachgoers in Los Angeles County

If you’re having a beach day in LA County, here’s what you need to know to have fun and stay out of trouble. These rules apply to all of these areas: Malibu, Topanga Beach, Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Dockweiler, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance Beach, Palos Verdes Beach, San Pedro, and Long Beach.

1. Beach access

Am I allowed to go on any beach I want?

Throughout California, the public has the right to be on any wet sand beach, generally up to the edge of the wet sand (there may be a few exceptions for national security, like near military bases, etc.). Also many dry sand beaches (though not all) are designated for public access.¹CA Constitution, Article X, Section 4; CA Coastal Act 

Great! How can I access all this beach?

There are designated public access ways (technically “easements”) to the beach throughout the state. However, some of these are famously blocked by nearby homeowners who put up signs like “private property” or “no trespassing.” Any such obstacles to the designated public access ways are illegal, and could result in a fine of up to $11,250/day.²CA Const. Art X, Sec 4. See also Carstens v. California Coastal Comm. (1986) 182 Cal.App.3d 277; CA Coastal Act; SB 861

2. Beach activities

Are there any restrictions on activities at the beach?

Yes, sorry to be a bummer but there are several. But better to know than to get fined, right? Here are some of the most important rules.

All of the following is prohibited at L.A. County beaches (from Malibu through Long Beach).³all following citations are from LA County Municipal Code, Chapter 17.12 (See more prohibited activities here)

• Throwing frisbees or balls in the summer without permission from a lifeguard. This means you may throw frisbees or balls only in the “off season” or with a permit or permission from a lifeguard. Any ball-throwing that endangers nearby crowds could lead to a fine of $100.⁴Sec. 17.12.430
• Nudity.⁵Sec. 17.12.360Sorry, kids.
• Digging a hole in the sand deeper than 18 inches.⁶Sec. 17.12.205 Trying to get to China?
• Overnight camping,⁷Sec. 17.12.250 or even being at the beach at all from midnight to 6am⁸Sec. 17.12.350
• Drinking alcohol⁹Sec. 17.12.320 or smoking¹⁰Sec. 17.12.365
• Fires, except for pits installed by the Dept of Beaches and Harbors¹¹Sec. 17.12.370
• Cats and dogs,¹²Sec. 17.12.290 horses, mules, or “similar animals,”¹³Sec. 17.12.300
• Fireworks, except with written approval from the Director of the Dept of Beaches and Harbors and the Fire Chief¹⁴Sec. 17.12.400
• Selling or giving away any goods or merchandise, except with permission from the Board of Supervisors or the Director of the Dept of Beaches and Harbors¹⁵Sec. 17.12.340
• Swimming or surfing in hazardous conditions,¹⁶Sec. 17.12.440 or past 200 yards from the shore¹⁷Sec. 17.12.450
• Using any inflated equipment in the ocean, other than a “surfmat” (see Code for specifics)¹⁸Sec. 17.12.460
• Boating within 300 yards of the shore, with some exceptions¹⁹see exceptions here: Sec. 17.12.470

See more about available activities, facilities, and yes, rules, HERE.

Resources

For more information and asserting your rights to the beach, check out the Our Malibu Beaches app. (Note: we are not affiliated with this app)

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