Los Angeles County Municipal Code Part 2 Definitions

"Access service route" means any access roads and/or easements designated or identified by the director and/or harbor master for use by authorized emergency or utility vehicles.

(Ord. 86-0039 § 7, 1986: Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 201, 1967.)

"Alcoholic beverages" means and includes alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, beer or any liquid containing one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume and which is fit for beverage purposes, either alone or when diluted, mixed, or combined with other substances.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 202, 1967.)

"Auxiliary" means any vessel having both sails and either an inboard or outboard motor and which may be propelled by its sails or by its motor, or both.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 203, 1967.)

"Basin" means a naturally or artificially enclosed or nearly enclosed body of water where small craft may lie.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 204, 1967.)

"Beach" means a public beach area bordering the waters of a county harbor, waterway, or maritime facility.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 205, 1967.)

"Bulkhead access route" means the strip of land having a minimum width of 10 feet immediately adjacent and parallel to bulkheads.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 206, 1967.)

"Carrying passengers for hire" means the carriage of a person by vessel for which compensation is received, whether directly or indirectly flowing to the owner, charterer, operator, agent, or any other person interested in the vessel. "Compensation" has the same meaning in this section as it has in Section 19.12.210.

(Ord. 92-0010 § 1, 1992: Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 207, 1967.)

"Channel" means a natural or artificial waterway of perceptible extent which either periodically or continually contains moving water or which furnishes a connecting link between two or more bodies of water; and which body of water is deep enough to be used for navigation by small craft.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 208, 1967.)

"Code enforcement officer" means an employee of the Department of Beaches and Harbors who has been authorized to enforce any and all statutes, ordinances, regulations, or policies pertaining to the harbors, maritime facilities, waterways, or beaches, and who has successfully completed a basic course approved by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training pursuant to California Penal Code section 832(a) to act in this capacity.

(Ord. 2012-0006 § 4, 2012.)

"Commercial sportfishing" means the operation of any boat or vessel for profit which is gained by permitting persons to fish therefrom.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 209, 1967.)

"Commercial vessel" means any vessel used or operated in any type of commercial activity or venture for which compensation is received, including, but not limited to, the carrying of passengers or freight for hire, conducting charter boat trips, or operating a towing, tugboat, water taxi or excursion boat service, or other activity or venture for which compensation is received. "Compensation," as used in this section and Section 19.12.180, means the payment of money in satisfaction of a charge made for the carriage, trip, tow, excursion, activity, or venture by the owner, charterer, operator, agent, or any person interested in the vessel for the purpose of paying for the direct and indirect expenses and earning a monetary gain from the use of the vessel in the carriage, trip, tow, expansion, activity or venture.

(Ord. 92-0010 § 2, 1992: Ord. 10391 § 1, 1971: Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 210, 1967.)

"County" means the county of Los Angeles, state of California.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 211, 1967.)

"County slip" means any slip owned and operated by the county of Los Angeles.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 212, 1967.)

"Department" means the Department of Beaches and Harbors, County of Los Angeles.

(Ord. 2025-0022 § 1, 2025; Ord. 82-0112 § 12 (part), 1982; Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 213, 1967.)

"Director" means the Director of the Department of Beaches and Harbors, their Chief Deputy, or any other person authorized or designated by the Director or the Chief Deputy to act in their stead.

(Ord. 2025-0022 § 2, 2025; Ord. 2012-0006 § 5, 2012: Ord. 82-0112 § 12 (part), 1982; Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 214, 1967.)

"Distress" means a state of disability which if unduly prolonged could endanger life or property.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 215, 1967.)

"District" means the Consolidated Fire Protection District of the County.

(Ord. 2012-0006 § 6, 2012.)

"Divers flag" means "The Divers Flag," as defined in California Administrative Code, Title 14, Article 6.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 216, 1967.)

"Emergency" means a state of proximate danger to life or property in which time is of the essence.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 217, 1967.)

"Entrance channel, Marina del Rey Harbor" means all the portion of the inland waters of the harbor as defined by federal and state law.

(Ord. 86-0039 § 8, 1986: Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 218, 1967.)

"Facilities" means any and all facilities of a county harbor, waterway or maritime facility, either publicly or privately owned, that are intended primarily to be used by or for the service of small craft (including ramps, hoists, parking areas, leased water areas, concessions and service facilities) located on land or in the waters of the county under jurisdiction of the director in either incorporated or unincorporated territory.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 219, 1967.)

"Fairway" means the parts of a waterway kept open and unobstructed for navigation.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 220, 1967.)

"Fire access and harbors utility easement" means any waterside access roads and/or easements related to Marina del Rey and identified as such on the Los Angeles County Assessor's Map No. 88 recorded in Book 1, Pages 53 to 70, inclusive, or such other fire access and harbors utility easements of any county harbor, waterway or maritime facility.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 221, 1967.)

"Fire department" means the county forester and fire warden of the county of Los Angeles.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 222, 1967.)

"Fire Chief" means the Fire Chief of the District or any other person authorized or designated by the Fire Chief to act in his/her stead. For purposes of this chapter, any reference to the Fire Chief, or to the powers and duties of the Fire Chief, pertain only to his/her role as the official responsible for the function, supervision, and control of the ocean lifeguards.

(Ord. 2012-0006 § 7, 2012.)

"Float" means any floating structure normally for passengers used as a point of transfer for passengers and goods and/or for mooring purposes.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 223, 1967.)

"Floating home" means a floating structure that was originally designed and originally built by the original manufacturer to be used as a stationary waterborne residential dwelling with no mode of power for self-navigability of its own and not intended nor insured for ocean use. Except as otherwise specifically provided, any reference in this Title 19 to the term "vessel" shall also be deemed to include a reference to a floating home.

(Ord. 99-0016 § 1, 1999: Ord. 95-0043 § 1, 1995.)

"Harbor" means any water area either naturally or artificially protected so as to be a place of safety for vessels, including the artificially protective works, the public lands ashore, and the structures and facilities provided within the enclosed body of water and ashore for the mooring and the servicing of their crews and passengers, that is owned, managed or controlled by the county or under jurisdiction of the county in either incorporated or unincorporated territory.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 224, 1967.)

"Harbor master" means the sheriff or his authorized representative.

(Ord. 86-0039 § 9, 1986: Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 225, 1967.)

"Harbor Patrol" means a subdivision of the sheriff's department.

(Ord. 86-0039 § 10, 1986: Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 226, 1967.)

"In-Water Hull Cleaning" means the cleaning, by hand or mechanical means, of a recreational or commercial vessel hull up to the waterline while the vessel is in the water. In-Water Hull Cleaning does not include cleaning, by hand or mechanical means, of a recreational or commercial vessel painted with a Non-Biocide Hull Paint, or other in-water maintenance activities such as the servicing of zinc anodes or the maintenance and repair of through-hull drive-shaft components, and similar mechanical or structural maintenance activities.

(Ord. 2018-0021 § 2, 2018.)

"In-Water Hull Cleaning Best Management Practices" or "Hull Cleaning BMPs" means In-Water Hull Cleaning practices generally accepted by the hull cleaning industry to be effective, while having as little negative effect on the environment as practicable, including, without limitation, tools, schedules of activities, housekeeping practices, pollution-prevention practices, training and educational practices, maintenance practices, and other practices and procedures used to prevent or minimize the discharge of pollutants into receiving waters. Hull Cleaning BMPs may include any and all pollution prevention and pollution control measures designed to maintain and improve water quality.

(Ord. 2018-0021 § 3, 2018.)

"License" or "permit" means an entitlement issued by the Director granting permission for the non-exclusive use of any specified public area of the County harbors and other maritime facilities, waterways, and beaches. These entitlements shall include, but not be limited to, right-of-entry permits for construction-related activities, parking permits for parking at any such location, and licenses issued for events or activities of the type described in Section 19.12.1292 or any policy or regulation promulgated thereunder.

(Ord. 2012-0006 § 8, 2012.)

"Live bait receiver" means a water-ventilated container immersed in waters of a harbor or maritime facility, the purpose of which is to confine live bait fish.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 228, 1967.)

"Main channel, Marina del Rey Harbor" means all waters of the harbor northerly of the cross channel line recorded as the centerline of that certain easement having a bearing of S 89* 38' 26" W on Los Angeles County Assessor's Map No. 88.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 229, 1967.)

"Maritime facility" means any facility affecting the use and operations of pleasure vessels concerned with or related to a protected water area that is owned, managed or controlled by the county of Los Angeles, or under the jurisdiction of the county in either incorporated or unincorporated territory.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 230, 1967.)

"Moor" means to secure a vessel other than by anchoring.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 231, 1967.)

"Mooring" means:

A.

A place where vessels are secured;

B.

The equipment used to secure a vessel; and

C.

The process of securing a vessel other than by anchoring.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 232, 1967.)

"Mooring buoy" means a buoy secured to the bottom by anchors and provided with attachments to which a vessel may be secured by use of its anchor chain or mooring lines.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 233, 1967.)

"Navigable waters" means any inland waters and that part of the high seas upon which the county has jurisdiction.

(Ord. 86-0039 § 12, 1986: Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 234, 1967.)

"Non-Biocide Hull Paint" means a hull paint that does not contain any chemical agents capable of killing living organisms.

(Ord. 2018-0021 § 4, 2018.)

"Ocean lifeguard" means a lifeguard employed by the County to provide life-saving services, as described in Chapter 2.20 of this code.

(Ord. 2018-0021 § 5, 2018.)

"Owner" means a person having all the incidents of ownership, including the legal title of a vessel whether or not that person lends, rents, or pledges the vessel; the person entitled to the possession of a vessel as the purchaser under a conditional sale contract; or the mortgagor of a vessel. "Owner" does not include a person holding legal title to a vessel under a conditional sale contract, the mortgagee of a vessel, or the renter or lessor of a vessel to the State or to any county, city, district, or political subdivision of the state under a lease, lease-sale, or rental-purchase agreement that grants possession of the vessel to the lessee for a period of 30 consecutive days or more.

(Ord. 2012-0006 § 10, 2012.)

"Park" means every park, roadside rest, or open space easement to which the public has a right of access and use for park or recreation purposes, and every other recreation facility owned, managed, or controlled by the County in the harbors, maritime facilities, waterways, or beaches, and under the jurisdiction of the Director.

(Ord. 2012-0006 § 11, 2012.)

"Public area" means all areas of any county harbor, waterway or maritime facility except those areas under lease to or ownership by private persons or firms.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 235, 1967.)

"Regulatory marker" means any of the waterway markers defined as "regulatory markers" in the California Administrative Code, Title 14, Article 6, commencing with Section 7000.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 236, 1967.)

"Scuba diving" means any surface or underwater swimming or diving activity that requires the aid of breathing apparatus.

(Ord. 86-0039 § 13, 1986.)

"Shore" means that part of the land in immediate contact with the body of water, including the area between high and low water lines.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 238, 1967.)

"Shall" is mandatory; "may" is permissive.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 239, 1967.)

"Sheriff" means the chief law enforcement officer of the county of Los Angeles or his authorized representative.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 240, 1967.)

"Skin diving" means any surface or underwater swimming or diving activity that does not require the aid of breathing apparatus, other than snorkel.

(Ord. 86-0039 § 14, 1986.)

"Slip" means berthing space for a single vessel alongside a pier, finger float or walkway.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 237, 1967.)

"State" means the state of California.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 241, 1967.)

"Stray vessel" means:

A.

An abandoned vessel;

B.

A vessel the owner of which is unknown;

C.

A vessel moored without permission; or

D.

A vessel underway without a competent person in command.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 242, 1967.)

"To anchor" means to secure a vessel to the bottom within a body of water by dropping an anchor or anchors.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 243, 1967.)

"Underway" means the condition of a vessel not at anchor, without moorings, and not made fast to the shore nor aground.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 244, 1967.)

"Unseaworthy" means either incapable of traveling on the waters within the state of California under its own sailing or mechanical propulsion system, or failing to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to the class and size of vessel in question.

(Ord. 99-0016 § 2, 1999: Ord. 95-0043 § 2, 1995.)

"Vehicle" means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 245, 1967.)

"Vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 246, 1967.)

"Vessel Service or Repair Person" means any person who boards, dives near, or works on any vessel, while the same is berthed, moored, or stored within any County harbor or maritime facility, for the purpose of conducting thereon any maintenance, In-Water Hull Cleaning, service, or repairs for compensation.

(Ord. 2018-0021 § 6, 2018.)

"Waters of a harbor" means all waters of any county harbor or maritime facility that is owned, managed or controlled by the county or under the jurisdiction of the county, whether or not an ordinary or mean high tide line of the Pacific Ocean has been fixed by ordinance, statute, court action or otherwise, and whether or not the lands lying under the water are privately or publicly owned.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 249, 1967.)

"Waterway" means any water area providing access for vessels from one place to another, principally a water area that is navigable which may provide, or is used as, a regular route for water traffic, that is owned, managed or controlled by the county or under the jurisdiction of the county, either in incorporated or unincorporated territory.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 247, 1967.)

"Waterway marker" means any state aid to navigation or regulatory marker as defined in California Administrative Code, Title 14, Article 6, commencing with Section 7000.

(Ord. 9359 Art. 2 § 248, 1967.)