Hermosa Beach Municipal Code Ch. 12.30 Special Events on Public Property

Contents:

12.30.010 Special event regulations generally.

12.30.020 Special event application required.

12.30.030 Special event approval and permit issuance.

12.30.040 Commercial groups–Permit required.

12.30.050 Nonprofit organizations–Permit required.

12.30.060 Pass-throughs–Permit required.

12.30.070 Block party permits.

12.30.080 Commercial filming permits.

12.30.090 Costs for repairs.

12.30.100 Tents.

1. For purposes of this section, a "special event" shall mean any organized event, activity, celebration or function involving the use of the beach at which one hundred (100) or more persons are to be assembled, or use of outdoor city facilities, rights-of-way, or parkland at which twenty-five (25) or more persons are to be assembled.
2. No person shall organize or conduct a special event without first obtaining a permit to do so as prescribed by this section. In addition to the permit requirements prescribed by this section, certain special events occurring or planned to occur on summer days within the coastal zone may be required to obtain a coastal development permit.
3. On at least one (1) weekend during each summer season, the parks and recreation advisory commission shall recommend that no organized events be held on the beach.
4. To balance coastal access with special events, the city council shall establish peak season event limits for city-wide events, up to a maximum number of days used by events between the Saturday preceding Memorial Day through Labor Day.

(Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

(Ord. # 26-1495 §2 (Exh. A), adopted 01/27/2026, effective 02/26/2026; Ord. # 26-1501 §2 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

1. Application for a special event permit shall be made on forms provided for that purpose by the parks and recreation department, and shall contain the following information:

2. Name, address, telephone number and other identification information about the person or organization responsible for organizing the event, including its commercial/nonprofit status.

3. The proposed dates and hours of operation of the event, including the period required for setup and breakdown/cleanup.

4. An evaluation of the event impact on city facilities, coastal access, and city staff resources.

5. The estimated daily and total attendance at the event (including organizers, participants, spectators, volunteers and others), with an explanation as to the factual basis for the estimate.

6. A description of all organized activities proposed to take place during the event, and whether admission is to be charged.

7. A description or diagram showing the proposed location of the event, including all temporary facilities/structures/signage/equipment to be erected, ingress and egress, number and type of vehicles and whether existing structures/facilities are to be relocated or modified.

8. A parking plan showing the number of public parking spaces to be occupied by the event organizers, the location of satellite parking lots to be used for attendee parking, arrangements for shuttle bus transportation, and plans for publicizing the availability of off-site public parking.

9. An environmental protection plan showing proposed compliance with specified measures to reduce impacts and costs to the environment, the city, and the community. Such measures may include, but shall not be limited to:

10. Waste recycling and reduction.

11. Energy efficiency.

12. Protection of the marine environment.

13. Community education opportunities.

14. Monitoring and reporting compliance with the environmental protection plan.

15. Such other information determined by the parks and recreation director to be necessary to evaluate the proposed event.

16. An application fee in any amount determined by resolution of the city council.

17. A dated signature of the organizer or its authorized agent attesting to the truth, completeness and accuracy of the contents of the application.

(Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

(Ord. # 26-1495 §2 (Exh. A), adopted 01/27/2026, effective 02/26/2026)

Effective on: 2/26/2026

1. Special events are categorized as Impact Level I, II, or III event based on the number of participants, years of reoccurrence, location, time of the year, day(s) of the week, number of consecutive days, and any additional requests. The event levels may be further defined in a special events policy guide adopted by the city council.

2. Special events applications must be submitted as follows:

3. New events: Applications must be submitted at least ninety (90) days in advance of the event, regardless of Impact Level.

4. All returning events must be submitted no later than July 31 for the following calendar year.

5. The parks and recreation advisory commission and city council will evaluate and recommend approval of Impact Level III events and a "Nothing Weekend" first, and then recommend Impact Level II events within the targets established in peak season event limits.

6. At the discretion of the parks and recreation director, applications may be submitted and approved after the application submittal deadline has passed, provided:

7. There are unforeseeable circumstances (memorial service, team victory celebration, need for minimal marketing/advertising).

8. The event does not exceed peak season or off season event limits.

9. The event can still meet all of the event approval findings (as noted in subsection (F) of this section).

10. Special events will be reviewed as follows:

11. Any new event to Hermosa Beach will be subject to review and approval by the parks and recreation director, who may refer review and approval of the event to the parks and recreation commission for public hearing based on anticipated community impacts or other significant considerations at the director's discretion.

12. Returning events will be subject to approval by the parks and recreation advisory commission. City Council approval is also required when directed by City Council, or when significant changes to the event are proposed from prior years. "Significant changes" shall be determined at the parks and recreation director's discretion.

13. The parks and recreation director may issue a special events permit upon finding that:

14. The special event is considered by the appropriate level of review identified in subsection (E) of this section.

15. The applicant reimburses the city for all costs incurred by the city in connection with the event, including public safety, traffic control and monitoring.

16. The number of estimated attendees can be accommodated at the proposed location and surrounding area.

17. The applicant is capable and qualified to manage the event in a competent, professional manner in accordance with all conditions of approval.

18. Adequate provision has been made for satellite parking, shuttle transportation and traffic control.

19. Adequate provision has been made for security, crowd control, ingress and egress, and cleanup.

20. The total number of days required for the event shall not exceed sixteen (16) days.

21. The applicant provides required insurance, deposits, bonding and indemnification of the city.

22. The parks and recreation director may impose such conditions and operational rules and regulations on the special event permit as are necessary to minimize its impact on the community and to assure that it will not be a detriment to public health and safety. Such conditions include, but are not limited to:

23. Monetary deposits, bonds and other security as may be necessary to guarantee performance of all required conditions, cleanup and repair of any city property or facilities damaged as a result of the event.

24. Procurement of liability and other insurance policies to protect the applicant and attendees, naming the city and its officials and employees as additional insureds.

25. Limitations on the hours of operation and volume of public address systems and/or amplified music.

26. Any person may appeal a decision in regards to a special event permit application by filing an appeal in writing to the city clerk within ten (10) days of the decision. The appeal shall set forth the grounds upon which the appellant believes the decision is in error or contrary to applicable law. The appellate body shall consider and take action on the appeal at its next regular meeting following receipt of the appeal; provided, that it may continue its deliberations to a date certain with the consent of the applicant. The decision of the appellate body shall be final.

(Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

(Ord. # 22-1452 §2, adopted 10/25/2022, effective 11/24/2022; Ord. # 26-1495 §2 (Exh. A), adopted 01/27/2026, effective 02/26/2026; Ord. # 26-1501 §2 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

Permits shall be required for any commercial group requesting use of any outdoor area or public facility within the city. Any firm, association, partnership, business trust, corporation or company that is hosting a special event for the purposes of advertising or generating revenue for profit shall be considered a commercial group. Such permits shall be subject to a fee established by the city council, plus all costs incurred by the city on behalf of the event. (Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

Permits shall be required for any nonprofit group requesting use of any outdoor area or public facility within the city. Nonprofit groups may file a non-profit fee waiver or reduction request with the parks and recreation director, subject to approval by the city council. Such permits shall be subject to the applicable full, reduced or waived fee, plus all costs incurred by the city on behalf of the event.

(Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

(Ord. # 26-1495 §2 (Exh. A), adopted 01/27/2026, effective 02/26/2026)

Effective on: 2/26/2026

Permits shall be required for any group requesting use of any outdoor area or facility for a pass-through event within the city. A pass-through event is one in which neither the start nor finish occur within the city, but the event requests to utilizes city right-of-way to pass through the city. Such events shall be subject to a permit processing fee established by resolution of the city council, plus all costs incurred by the city on behalf of the event. (Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

Requests for permits for use of public rights-of-way for block parties may be made only by Hermosa Beach residents to the chief of police. All permit requests shall be subject to review and approval by the chief of police or his/her designee. Such permits are subject to a permit processing fee established by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

As determined by the California Legislature in California Government Code Section 14998.1, motion picture production is an important industry to the economy of California and local governments in this state should accordingly provide an environment conducive to the undertakings of the motion picture industry. To that end, the city expresses its desire and intention to create and maintain an environment in the city conducive to motion picture production activities in all areas of the city.

In accordance with this purpose, film permits for nonpermanent filming activities may be issued for filming on or in any private or city-owned property in any area of the city, irrespective of zoning in the area in which the permit is issued; provided, that such transient activity to which the permit applies will not be unduly disruptive of neighboring land uses. The parks and recreation department is vested with the authority to approve or deny film permits for nonpermanent filming activities in any area of the city and in making such determination to approve or deny a film permit application, to exercise its discretion to determine: (A) whether a particular filming activity is permanent or nonpermanent; (B) whether a particular filming activity would unduly interfere with or disrupt neighboring land uses so as to justify denial of the permit; and (C) mitigation measures to reduce any adverse impact on neighboring land uses. Conditions imposed under any permit shall reduce, to the extent the parks and recreation department determines appropriate in light of both the neighbors’ and permittees’ concerns, any adverse impact on neighboring land uses.

A "nonpermanent" filming activity, for purposes of this section, is an activity under an approved permit which involves no more than fifteen (15) days of consecutive filming at a single location.

The city council may adopt or amend from time to time the filming policy and procedures, which shall be consistent with this section and shall act as guidelines to the parks and recreation department in issuing or denying permits including appeal rights thereto, and which shall be incorporated by reference into any film permit which the parks and recreation department may issue. All film permits shall be subject to imposition of fees which shall be set forth in the filming policy and procedures.

(Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

(Ord. # 26-1495 §2 (Exh. A), adopted 01/27/2026, effective 02/26/2026)

Effective on: 2/26/2026

The cost for repairs for any damage incurred as the result of activities related to a special event will be deducted from the event deposit or shall be required to pay the cost of the repair if more than the deposit. (Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)

Tents and other temporary structures or equipment erected in conjunction with a permitted special event may remain overnight; provided, that a security guard is present at all times. (Ord. 16-1370 §6 (part), 2016)