Earlier editions: 2026-07
Title 10 — Recreation and Parks
Santa Maria Municipal Code Ch. 10-4 Open Waterfront Recreational Park Areas
Santa Maria Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Santa Maria
Cite as: Santa Maria Municipal Code Chapter 10-4 · Text as of 2026-10-04
Section 10-4.01. Purpose and goals.¶
Intent-purpose. Provide guidelines and policies for recreational park areas with bodies of water that exceed an acre in size, whether natural or man-made. The City of Santa Maria's Open Waterfront Recreational Park Areas Ordinance is enacted to further the following public purposes:
(a) To realize the optimum public benefits and uses of open waterfront recreational park areas.
(b) To integrate safe water activities with open waterfront recreational areas.
(c) To promote safe and healthy activities in and around open waterfront recreational areas.
(d) To reduce any public hazard in conjunction with water and open waterfront recreational areas.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.02. Definitions.¶
As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, the following words have the following meanings:
"Department"
means the City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department.
"Lake"
means any body of water, man-made or natural, over an acre in size.
"Park"
means any municipal area open to the public for recreational purposes.
"Park Personnel"
means all department personnel charged with the responsibility of maintenance and management of any municipal area open to the public for recreational purposes. "Park Personnel" includes the Director of Recreation and Parks, Service Managers and other Recreation and Park staff.
"Motorboat"
means any vessel propelled by a motor. This includes Jet Skis, Wave Runners, remote controlled boats, or other similar crafts.
"Watercraft"
means any vessel not propelled by a motor and capable of transporting a person.
"Swimming"
means propelling oneself through the water intentionally.
"Wade"
means step in the water.
"Wildlife"
means any living creature native or migrating to a park site.
"Fishing and hunting"
means any attempt to catch, trap, net, or shoot any living fish or other animal native or otherwise.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.03. Authority of park personnel.¶
Park Personnel are authorized to direct the visiting public in its use of a park according to statutes, ordinances and rules and regulations applicable to a park, including but not limited to the following situations: In the event of fire or other emergency; to expedite traffic; to ensure safety of the persons in a park; to ensure against pollution of a lake; and to protect property and facilities in a park.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.04. Restriction of public use parks.¶
Park Personnel, the Chief of Police, and the Fire Chief are authorized to restrict the public use of a park by closing a park or any of its facilities or restricting the hours of operation for good and sufficient reasons, including but not limited to the following:
(a) Sanitary protection of the watershed.
(b) Fire prevention.
(c) Construction.
(d) Dangerous or unsafe conditions.
(e) To prevent damage to the park or its facilities.
(f) Conservation of fish and wildlife.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.05. Eligibility: Permit.¶
No individual, association or organization of any sort may access, use, go in or on any lake in any park for any purpose prohibited in this Chapter unless a permit is obtained from the Director of Recreation and Parks. Permits may be applied for, and will be issued, according to the procedures set forth in Chapter 10-3 of this Title.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.06. Motorboat/Watercraft washing.¶
It is unlawful for any person to wash a motorboat, watercraft or motor vehicle in a lake or park area.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.07. Watercraft/Motorboat operation in prohibited areas.¶
It is unlawful for any person within the park to load, unload or operate a watercraft/motorboat within a prohibited area designated by official standard waterway markers on a lake and waterfront. Such prohibited areas shall be designated by the Director of Recreation and Parks.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.08. Motorboats.¶
It is unlawful for any person to operate any type of motorboat in or on a lake.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.09. Watercraft/Motorboat on shore-designated areas-sleeping in.¶
It is unlawful for any person within a park to do any of the following acts:
(a) To keep any watercraft/motorboat on shore overnight, except in an area designated and posted for such purpose.
(b) To sleep in any watercraft/motorboat during the hours when a lake is closed.
(c) To moor any watercraft/motorboat overnight in a location of a lake.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.10. Unattended Watercrafts/Motorboats.¶
It is unlawful for any person utilizing the area to leave any watercraft/motorboat unattended at any time. Park personnel are authorized to impound any watercraft/motorboat involved in a violation of this section and to charge a reasonable fee or fees for the release of said watercraft/motorboat to the owner. Any such watercraft/motorboat not claimed by the owner within 30 days after written notification of such impounding may be sold by the Director of Recreation and Parks at public auction and any fees imposed shall first be deducted and retained from the amount received, and the remainder, if any, shall be paid to the owner.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.11. Watercraft/Motorboat operation time restriction.¶
Provided that a required permit has been obtained as set forth in section 10-4.05, it is unlawful for any person to operate or occupy any watercraft/motorboat in the lake between the time of 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.12. Watercraft/Motorboat operation by incapable person.¶
Provided that a required permit has been obtained as set forth in section 10-4.05, it is unlawful for the owner of any watercraft/motorboat within a park or any person having such in his/her charge or control to authorize or knowingly permit the same to be operated by any person who is incapable of operating such watercraft/motorboat under the prevailing circumstances for any reason, including, but not limited to, inexperience, or physical or mental disability.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.13. Closure of lake or park.¶
Park Personnel are authorized to close a lake or park or portions thereof for any of the following reasons:
(a) Dangerous water or weather conditions.
(b) Unsatisfactory parking or road conditions.
(c) Construction or special event activities.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.14. Conservation.¶
It is unlawful for any person within a park to receive, bring, or cause to be brought into the recreation area any fish, amphibian, or aquatic plant for the purposes of propagation or use as fish bait without the approval of the Department of Fish and Game of the State of California and the Director of Recreation and Parks.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.15. Swimming, wading, skin diving, SCUBA diving, and snorkeling are not…¶
It is unlawful for any person to intentionally swim, wade, skin dive, SCUBA dive, or snorkel in a lake unless authorized by a required permit as set forth in section 10-4.05.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.16. Fishing.¶
Is allowed in designated areas only. Such areas shall be designated by the Director of Recreation and Parks. All State and Federal fishing laws shall be followed. All persons shall have a current fishing license as required by State and Federal laws. All persons shall clean fish in the posted designated areas only.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
Section 10-4.17. Penalties.¶
Violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of Santa Maria Municipal Code as a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 2005-10, eff. 9/2/05)
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