El Segundo Municipal Code Ch. 3 Beach Regulations

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all ocean beaches in the city as defined in section 10-3-2 of this chapter, which are maintained for the use of the general public by the state, the county, and the city, or by any department thereof, or by any other public body. This chapter does not apply to any parks. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973)

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, the words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE: Includes alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, beer and every liquid or solid containing one-half of one percent (0.5%) or more of alcohol by volume and which is fit for beverage purposes either alone or when diluted, mixed, or combined with other substances.

BEACH: All that area lying adjacent to the Pacific Ocean within the city of El Segundo, described as follows:

A strip of land of variable width lying westerly of the westerly line of Lot 1, Tract 1314, recorded in Map Book 20, Page 161 in the office of the County Recorder of the County of Los Angeles, and lying westerly of the westerly line of Lot 22, Tract 2356, recorded in Map Book 28, Page 42, in the office of said County Recorder; extending from the northerly City boundary line (said line also being the westerly prolongation of the northerly line of said Lot 1, Tract 1314) to the southerly City boundary line (said line also being the westerly prolongation of the southerly line of property described by deed recorded August 10, 1954, in Map Book 45398, Page 396, of said County Recorder).

CHIEF OF POLICE: The chief of police of the city of El Segundo and his duly authorized officers.

LOITERING: To idle, to loaf, to stand idly by, or to walk, drive or ride about aimlessly without lawful purpose.

VESSEL: Includes every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. "Vessel" includes a raft, but does not include a surfboard, paddleboard, or a standard surf mat. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973; amd. 2000 Code)

A person shall not enter, be, or remain on any beach unless he complies with all of the regulations set forth in this chapter applicable to such beach, and with all other applicable provisions of this code. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973)

Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, the chief of police, or other public officer, the power may be exercised or the duty performed by a deputy of the officer or by a lifeguard or other person authorized, pursuant to law, by the chief of police, or other public officer, unless this chapter expressly provides otherwise. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973; amd. 2000 Code)

The chief of police shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. In order to protect public beach areas bordering the Pacific Ocean from damage and in order to preserve the peace therein, the chief of police may issue citations in accordance with section 853.6 of the Penal Code. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973; amd. 2000 Code)

A person exercising any of the privileges authorized by this chapter does so at his own risk without liability on the part of the county or city for any injury to person or property resulting therefrom. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973)

The provisions of this chapter are not applicable to acts performed:

A. In an emergency, for the purpose of protecting life or property;

B. By employees of the city, county or by employees of the state or other public body maintaining a beach, for the purpose of performing their duties; (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973)

C. For the purpose of giving instruction, training or exhibitions, when specific permission to give such has been received from the chief of police;

D. When special permit has been issued by the city council. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973; amd. 2000 Code)

Whenever any county lifeguard finds that because of extra high surf, riptide, or other hazardous conditions, it is unsafe for the average person to swim or bathe within a certain area of the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this chapter, during the time such hazardous conditions exist such lifeguard may instruct all persons not to swim or bathe in such area. All persons shall comply with such instructions. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973)

In subsections 10-3-11D, E and T of this chapter, and whenever elsewhere, a distance from shore is specified, it means the distance measured at right angles to the tangent of the actual line between the water and the unsubmerged beach as it exists at the time of measurement. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973)

If the chief of police finds that at certain times, or under specified restrictions, or at designated places a person can so operate a motor vehicle so as not to interfere in any way with the use of any beach, he may grant such person permission so to operate such motor vehicle. No person shall bring to, or operate on, any beach any motor vehicle except as permitted by the Chief of Police and subject to all of the conditions which are a part of such permission. If permission to operate a motor vehicle is granted, a person shall park such motor vehicle only in those areas designated by the Chief of Police for parking. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973; amd. 2000 Code)

A. Alcoholic Beverages; Intoxication:

1. Possession Or Consumption Prohibited: No person shall enter, be or remain on any beach while in possession of, transporting, purchasing, selling, giving away or consuming any alcoholic beverage.

2. Intoxicated Persons: An intoxicated person in an intoxicated condition shall not enter, remain on, or be on any beach.

B. Animals:

1. Bringing To Beach Prohibited: No person shall maintain or bring on any beach nor bring into the waters of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to any beach, any cattle, horse, mule, goat, sheep, swine, dog, cat or other animal of any kind, whether such animal is leashed or unleashed.

2. Riding Horses, Other Animals: No person shall ride a horse, mule, burro, or donkey, or other similar animal, or lead such animal on, upon, along any beach or in or along the waters of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to any beach.

C. Ball Regulations: No person shall cast, toss, throw, kick, or roll any ball, tube or any light object other than inflated rubber balls not less than ten inches (10") in diameter upon or over any beach regulated by this Chapter or upon or over any waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite such beach.

D. Bathing, Swimming: No person shall swim, bathe, or immerse himself in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this Chapter more than two hundred (200) yards from shore except:

1. A person who is the owner of a vessel, or who acts at the request of such owner while engaged in servicing or repairing such vessel, and then only in the immediate area of such vessel.

2. A person engaged in the sport commonly known as aquaplaning, water skiing, or any derivations thereof; provided, that such person is at all times wearing a safety belt approved by the Director.

3. A skin diver equipped with swim fins and a face plate if at all times he maintains within fifty (50) yards of himself a boat or a surf mat, paddleboard or surfboard upon which there is a rectangular flag twelve inches by fifteen inches (12" x 15"), orange-red in color with a white diagonal stripe three inches (3") wide running from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner. The flag shall be flown high enough so as not to touch the water.

4. No person shall surf more than fifty (50) yards beyond the farthest breaking wave when such farthest breaking wave is more than one hundred fifty (150) yards from shore.

E. Boating: No person shall operate any vessel within three hundred (300) yards of the shoreline of any beach regulated by this Chapter except when necessary in taking it to or from its lawful mooring place or when necessary in the case of emergency, or upon special permit issued by the City Council.

F. Disturbance: No person shall disturb the peace and quiet of any beach by:

• 1. Any unduly loud or unusual noise; or
• 2. By tooting, blowing, or sounding any automobile siren, horn, signal or noise-making device; or
• 3. By any tumultuous conduct; or
• 4. By the use of any vulgar, profane or indecent language.

G. Fires: No person shall light or maintain any fire on any beach.

H. Flora And Turf: No person shall dig, remove, destroy, injure, mutilate, or cut any tree, plant, shrub, bloom or flower, or any portion thereof, growing on the beach. No person shall remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel from the beach.

I. Glass, Bottles: No person shall place, throw, leave, keep or maintain any bottle, glass, crockery, sharp or pointed article or thing in such a manner that any person on a beach is or may be cut, pricked, or in any way injured thereby.

J. Guy Wires: No person shall fasten or maintain any guy wire, guy rope or exterior bracing or support of any tent, lodge, shelter or structure between it or any portion thereof, and any structure, stake, rock or thing outside of such tent, lodge, shelter or structure.

K. Inflated Equipment: No person shall use in the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this Chapter, any inflated equipment of any kind except a standard surf mat which is:

• 1. Constructed of a durable material with a nonslippery surface;
• 2. So constructed that, when inflated for use, it will not fold in any direction;
• 3. Not smaller than twenty four inches by forty inches (24" x 40");
• 4. Not larger than thirty inches by sixty inches (30" x 60");
• 5. Equipped with a safety rope.

L. Loitering: No person shall loiter on any beach at any time between the hours of twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight and six o'clock (6:00) A.M.

M. Overnight Use And Camping: No person shall camp on or use for overnight sleeping purposes any beach or bring a house-trailer or similar vehicle onto any beach in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 8, Title 7 of this Code.

N. Pollution:

1. Oil:

a. No person shall deposit, place, throw, divert, or in any manner dispose of, or cause or permit to be deposited, placed, thrown, diverted, or in any manner disposed of, any crude petroleum, refined petroleum, engine oil, or any oily byproduct thereof or any tar or any product containing tar, or any oily substance into the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or into or upon the waters of any lagoon, bay, inlet, or tributary thereof; or deposit, place, throw, divert, or in any manner dispose of any crude petroleum, refined petroleum, engine oil, or any oily byproduct thereof, or any tar, or any product containing tar, or any oily substance upon any beach, tideland, or submerged land, or any portion thereof.

b. No person shall deposit, place, throw, divert, keep, maintain, or in any manner dispose of, or cause or permit to be deposited, placed, thrown, diverted, kept, maintained, or in any manner disposed of any crude petroleum, refined petroleum, engine oil, or any oily byproduct thereof, or any tar, or any product containing tar or any oily substance into, along, or upon any land, premises, or place in such a manner that the same, or any portion thereof, may run or be transferred or carried to, or be in any manner deposited upon or conveyed to any beach, tideland or submerged land, or any portion thereof, or into or upon the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or into or upon the waters of any lagoon, bay, inlet, or tributary thereof.

2. Other: No person shall deposit, place, throw, or in any manner dispose of any dead animal or any portion thereof, or any vegetable or animal matter, or any offal, night soil, manure, rubbish, trash, garbage, or any decaying or putrid matter, material or substance which might decay or become putrid, or any matter, material or substance which is or might become injurious to health or which is or might become a nuisance or offensive to the senses of any person coming in proximity thereto, into the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or into the waters of any lagoon, bay, inlet or tributary thereof, of, in, upon, or along any beach, tideland, or submerged land, or any portion thereof, or keep or maintain or cause or permit to be kept or maintained upon any premises or in or at any place, any article, substance, or thing hereinabove in this Section enumerated, in such manner that any such article, substance or thing, or any portion thereof may be transferred or carried to, or be in any manner deposited upon or conveyed to any beach, tideland, or submerged land, or any portion thereof, or into or upon the waters of the Pacific Ocean, or into or upon the waters of any lagoon, bay, inlet or tributary thereof. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973)

O. Buildings And Structures:

1. Recreation Building: No person shall use any recreation building at any time except between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. and twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight of any day except upon written permit from the Chief of Police.

2. Structures And Facilities: No person, other than a duly authorized employee of the City, in the performance of his duties shall:

a. Cut, break, injure, deface or disturb any rock, building, cage pen, monument, sign, fence, bench, structure, apparatus, equipment or property on a beach, or any portion thereof;

b. Mark or place thereon or on any portion thereof, any mark, writing, or printing;

c. Attach thereto any sign, card, display or other similar device.

P. Rubbish: No person shall throw, place or dispose of any garbage refuse, or can in any place on a beach or into or upon the waters of the Pacific Ocean other than into a garbage can or other receptacle maintained there for that purpose. No person shall throw, place or dispose of, any waste paper or combustible refuse in any place on a beach or into or upon the waters of the Pacific Ocean other than into a receptacle maintained for that purpose.

Q. Shelters: No person shall erect, maintain, use or occupy on a beach any tent, lodge, shelter or structure unless such tent, lodge, shelter or structure shall have two (2) sides thereof entirely open, and unless there shall be an unobstructed view into such tent, lodge, shelter, or structure from the outside thereof on at least two (2) sides thereof.

R. Shooting: No person shall discharge or shoot any firearms, air gun, slingshot or bow and arrow anywhere on a beach.

S. Solicitation: No person shall solicit in any manner or for any purpose, or sell or offer for sale, any goods, wares or merchandise, or distribute or pass out any handbills, advertising matter or literature on a beach.

T. Surfboards, Surf Mats, Paddleboards:

1. Waters Restricted:

a. No person shall use, possess or operate in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this Chapter any object commonly known as a surfboard, paddleboard or similar device (but not including surf mats and belly boards) at such times when said waters are restricted for swimming and bathing only.

b. Such restrictions shall be effective when a yellow flag having dimensions of not less than two feet by two feet (2' x 2') and having a solid black circle in the center (commonly known as a "blackball flag") is prominently displayed from a lifeguard tower, lifeguard station, pier or similar structure under the control of the City. At such times as the blackball flag is displayed, swimming and bathing only shall be permitted in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite those areas of the beach within two hundred (200) yards of the point of display of said blackball flag; provided, however, that where said blackball flag is displayed from consecutive operational lifeguard towers, lifeguard stations and similar structures under the control of the City along a beach regulated by this Chapter, then all waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite said beach shall be restricted to swimming and bathing only.

c. Such restrictions shall also be indicated by pairs of red flags put in place by the chief of police. At such times as said red flags are displayed, swimming and bathing only shall be permitted in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite those areas of the beach lying between a given pair of such red flags.

2. Distances From Shore: No person shall use, possess or operate in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this chapter any object commonly known as a surf mat, paddleboard, belly board, surfboard, or similar device except within two hundred (200) yards from shore or seventy five (75) yards seaward of the point at which the average wave is breaking, whichever distance is greater, or when used by a skin diver to hold a flag required by subsection D of this section.

3. Near Other Persons: No person shall bring or permit or allow in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this chapter any object commonly known as, or used as, a paddleboard or surfboard, within one hundred feet (100') of any person in the waters thereof who was not at the time using or possessing a similar object.

4. Area For Exclusive Use: Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the chief of police may from time to time designate certain areas to be used exclusively by persons using surfboards and paddleboards. Such designation may be revoked at any time and the area covered by any such designation may be enlarged or reduced at any time. No person shall swim or bathe in the waters of the Pacific Ocean included in an area so designated except while using a surfboard or paddleboard or as is necessary in order to use a surfboard or paddleboard.

5. Leaving Area During Restriction: A person in violation of the restrictions set forth in this subsection shall not fail, refuse or neglect to leave the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this chapter when such restrictions are in force. (Ord. 803, 3-12-1973; amd. 2000 Code)

U. Nudity And Disrobing:

1. No person shall appear, bathe, sunbathe, walk, change clothes, disrobe or be on any beach in such manner that the genitals, vulva, pubis, pubic symphysis, pubic hair, buttocks, natal cleft, perineum, anus, anal region or pubic hair region of any person, or any portion of the breast at or below the upper edge of the areola thereof of any female person, is exposed to public view, except in those portions of a comfort station, if any, expressly set aside for such purpose.

2. This subsection shall not apply to persons under the age of ten (10) years, provided such children are sufficiently clothed to conform to accepted community standards.

3. This subsection shall not apply to persons engaged in a live theatrical performance in a theater, concert hall, or similar establishment which is primarily devoted to theatrical performances. (Ord. 1047, 2-15-1983)

V. Smoking Prohibited: It is unlawful to smoke on any public beach within the city of El Segundo. For the purpose of this section, "smoking" means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe. For the purpose of this section, “beach” does not include parking lots or roadways. (Ord. 1385, 8-2-2005; amd. Ord. 1664, 9-17-2024)