Hermosa Beach Municipal Code Ch. 12.28 Parks, Playgrounds and Other Public Areas

Contents:

12.28.010 Park regulations generally.

12.28.020 Obstructing pathways in parks.

12.28.030 Permit requirement for outdoor fitness classes in city parks and on the beach.

12.28.040 Damaging trees and buildings.

12.28.050 Park reservations.

12.28.070 Rules and regulations.

12.28.080 Fees and charges.

12.28.090 Designated in-line skate and scooter areas.

12.28.100 Requirements for the use of publicly owned or publicly operated skateboard facilities.

12.28.110 Violation–Infractions.

Within the limits of any public park or playground, no person shall:

1. Lead or let loose any animal, except dogs, which must be led by a cord or chain not more than six (6) feet in length. A violation of this paragraph shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 1.10;
2. Carry or discharge any firearms, firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes or any other fireworks, or air gun or slingshot;
3. Cut, break, injure, deface or disturb any tree, shrub, plant, rock, building, cage, pen, monument, fence, bench or other structure, apparatus or property, or pluck, pull up, cut, take or remove any shrub, bush, plant or flower or mark or write upon any building, monument, fence, bench or other structure;
4. Cut or remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel;
5. Distribute any handbills or circulars, or post, place or erect any bills, notice, paper or advertising device or matter of any kind; provided, however, the same may be personally delivered to persons who are willing to accept the same in hand;
6. Swim, bathe, wade in, or pollute the water of any fountain, pond or stream;
7. Make or kindle a fire except in picnic stoves provided for that purpose;
8. Ride or drive any horse or other animal, or propel any vehicle, cycle or automobile elsewhere than on the roads or drives provided for such purpose;
9. Sell or offer for sale any merchandise, article or thing, whatsoever, without a sidewalk vending permit issued pursuant to Chapter 12.38;
10. Hitch, or fasten any horse, or other animal, except at a place especially designated and provided for such purpose;
11. Ride or drive at a rate of speed exceeding fifteen (15) miles per hour, except upon the roads especially provided and set apart by the city manager for faster driving;
12. Ride or drive any horse or animal not well broken and under perfect control of the driver;
13. Practice, carry on, conduct or solicit for any trade, occupation, business or profession or circulate any petition of whatsoever kind or character without the permission of the city manager or, if applicable, a sidewalk vending permit issued pursuant to Chapter 12.38;
14. Drive, or have any dray, truck, wagon, cart or other traffic vehicle carrying goods or regularly used or employed in carrying goods, merchandise, lumber, machinery, oil, manure, dirt, sand or soil or any article of trade or commerce, or any offensive article or material whatsoever, upon any road or drive except such as may be especially provided or designated for such use;
15. Play, or engage in any game, excepting at such place as shall be especially set apart for that purpose;
16. Remain, stay or loiter, in any public park between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day;
17. Drive any truck, dray, wagon, cart or other traffic vehicle of more than one (1) ton capacity, carrying or regularly used or employed in carrying goods, wares, merchandise, lumber, machinery, oil, manure, dirt, sand, soil or any article of dirt or commerce along or upon any road or drive in any park or playground without first securing a permit to do so from the superintendent of streets;
18. Deposit any paper, fruit, rubbish, debris or any waste material of any kind, except in such receptacles as may be located in such park thereof;
19. Within the limits of any public park or playground, no person shall putt, pitch, chip or drive any golf ball, or any practice ball in any park or take part in the playing of any games or activities which involve hazardous or dangerous, thrown or otherwise propelled objects such as arrows, javelins or darts;
20. Bring (on or off leash) or allow a dog or any other animal, that he or she owns, or is in his or her care, possession or control to run loose in Sea View (19th and Prospect) and Fort Lots-o-Fun (6th and Prospect) parks. A violation of this paragraph shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 1.10;
21. Bring (on or off leash) or allow a dog or any other animal, that he or she owns, or is in his or her care, possession or control, to run loose on active school grounds. A violation of this paragraph shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 1.10. (Ord. 19-1391 §6 (part), 2019; Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), 2016; Ord. 96-1151 §3, 1996; Ord. 94-1110 §1, 1994; Ord. 93-1090 §1, 1993; prior code § 22-3. Formerly 12.28.030)

(Ord. # 21-1439 §2, adopted 11/23/2021, effective 12/23/2021; Ord. # 25-1486 §12, adopted 03/25/2025, effective 04/24/2025)

Effective on: 4/24/2025

No persons shall assemble, collect or gather together in any walk, driveway, passageway or pathway in any park or in other places set apart for the travel of persons or vehicles in or through any park or occupy the same so that the free passage or use thereof by persons or vehicles passing along the same shall be obstructed in any manner. (Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), 2016; prior code § 22-2)

No person shall for compensation conduct physical fitness, sports, or athletic instruction or classes of any kind in a city park or on the beach without an outdoor fitness instruction permit or a contract class agreement. The community resources department is authorized to establish and promulgate regulations governing the process for grounds for approval or denial of and conditions to be imposed on issuance of outdoor fitness instruction permits, including the size and duration of classes and the specific locations and times of day for which permits will be issued for outdoor fitness and athletic instruction in city parks and on the beach. Permittees will be required to provide such insurance and indemnification of the city as are required by the regulations. The application and permit issuance fees for an outdoor fitness instruction permit may be established by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), 2016; Ord. 13-1343 §1, 2013; prior code § 22-3.5. Formerly 12.28.040)

No person shall:

1. Cut, break, deface, mark or write upon, or in any manner injure or damage any public building, stadium, bleachers, grandstands, toilet and sanitary facilities, street tunnel, lighting standards or any fixtures, furniture or appurtenances attached thereto;
2. Cut, break, deface or disturb any tree, shrub, plant, fence, bench or other structure, apparatus or property, or pluck, pull up, take or remove any shrub, bush, plant or flower within any parkway or other public area not designated as a public park;
3. Tamper with, take, remove or carry away any machinery, equipment, motor vehicle, apparatus, furniture, or fixture of any kind from any public building, playground, park, yard, stadium, pier, Strand or other area without permission from the custodian in charge of such buildings or premises. (Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), 2016; prior code § 22-4. Formerly 12.28.050)

Park reservations shall be available year round to accommodate Hermosa Beach residents for informal or neighborhood gatherings. Reservations are optional and there shall be no charge except when the city incurs direct costs on behalf of the event. Reservations shall be submitted to the community resources department and can be made for the following parks only:

1. Valley Park: Corner of Gould and Valley Drive;
2. Bicentennial Park: 4th and Ardmore;
3. Greenwood Park: PCH and Aviation;
4. South Park: 425 Valley Drive;
5. Clark Field: 861 Valley Drive;
6. Edith Rodaway Park: Prospect and Hollowell Avenue. (Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), (C), 2016: Ord. 96-1155 §24, 1996; prior code § 22-5.4. Formerly 12.28.100)

Rules and regulations shall be established for the administration of this policy. Said rules and regulations may be amended for each event to address public safety concerns. All pertinent city ordinances shall be enforced. (Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), 2016; prior code § 22-5.10. Formerly 12.28.160)

All fees and charges may be changed by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), 2016; prior code § 22-5.11. Formerly 12.28.170)

The following areas are designated recreational areas in which the operation of in-line skates and scooters is permitted: any publicly owned or publicly operated skateboard facility, unless otherwise specifically excluded from this designation by resolution of the city council.

No motorized devices, including but not limited to motorized skates, skateboards, or scooters, shall be operated within any publicly owned or publicly operated skateboard facility. (Ord. 18-1386 §4, 2018: Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), (D), 2016: Ord. 98-1183 §2, 1999. Formerly 12.28.044)

Every person riding a skateboard, in-line skates, or a scooter at a publicly owned or publicly operated facility that is designed and maintained for the purpose of recreational skateboard use must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. (Ord. 18-1386 §5, 2018: Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), 2016; Ord. 98-1183 §3, 1998. Formerly 12.28.180)

All violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be infractions. (Ord. 16-1370 §5(B) (part), 2016; prior code § 22-19 (part). Formerly 12.28.190)