Torrance Municipal Code Art. 3 Rules and Regulations

A person shall not place, throw, leave, keep or maintain any bottle, glass, crockery, sharp or pointed article or thing in such a manner that any person on the beach is or may be cut, pricked, or in any way injured thereby.

A person shall not throw, place or dispose of any garbage, refuse, waste paper, combustible matter or tin can in any place on the beach other than into a refuse can or other receptacle maintained thereon for that purpose.

A person shall not throw, or otherwise propel, any missile, mud or sand anywhere on the beach.

A person shall not discharge or shoot any firearms, air gun, slingshot or bow and arrow anywhere on the beach.

A person shall not take or transport onto the beach, or have in his possession thereon, or fire or discharge thereon any firecracker, rocket, torpedo or any other fireworks of any nature. However, the City of Torrance or an organization or person authorized by the City Manager and the Director of Beaches may on special occasions put on a fireworks display.

It shall be unlawful for any person to cast, toss, throw, kick, or roll any ball, tube or any light object other than inflated rubber balls not less than ten (10) inches in diameter upon or over any beach regulated by this Chapter or upon or over any waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite such beach.

A person shall not dig, remove, destroy, injure, mutilate or cut any tree, plant, shrub, bloom or flower or any portion thereof growing on the beach.

A person shall not remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel from the beach.

A person other than a duly authorized City or County agent or employee in the performance of his duties shall not:

a) Cut, break, injure, deface or disturb any rock, building, cage, pen, monument, sign, fence, bench, structure, apparatus, equipment or property on the 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 similar device.

A person shall not light or maintain any fire on the beach unless authorized by the City Manager and the Director.

A person shall not lead, ride or bring onto the beach or into the waters of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the beach, any cattle, horse, mule, goat, sheep, swine, dog, cat or other animal of any kind.

If the Director or City Manager finds that at certain times, or under specified restrictions, or at designated places, a person can so operate a motor vehicle so as to not interfere in any way with the use of the beach, he may grant such person permission so to operate such motor vehicle. Otherwise, a person shall not bring to, or operate on the beach any motor vehicle except as permitted by the Director or City Manager 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 Director or City Manager for parking.

A person shall not use any recreation building at any time except between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 12:00 midnight of any day except upon written permit from the Director or City Manager.

A person shall not 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 the beach except when licensed so to do by the City.

(Amended by O-3683)

a) A person shall not enter, be or remain on any beach while consuming an alcoholic beverage.

b) A person shall not enter, be or remain on any beach while in possession of any bottle, can or other receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage which has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed.

c) Any person violating subsection (a) will be guilty of a misdemeanor.

d) Any person violating subsection (b) will be guilty of an infraction as provided in Section 25620 of the California Business and Professions Code.

A person shall not erect, maintain, use or occupy on the 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.

A person shall not fasten or maintain any guy wires, 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.

A person shall not 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 the shore except:

a) 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.

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

c) 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, paddle board or surf board upon which there is a rectangular flag twelve (12) by fifteen (15) inches, orange-red in color with a white diagonal stripe three (3) inches wide running from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner. The flag shall be flown high enough so as not to touch the water.

A person shall not operate any vessel within three hundred (300) yards of the shoreline of the 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.

A person shall not use or possess in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, opposite the beach regulated by this Chapter, any object commonly known as, or used as a surf mat, paddle board, or surfboard, except within two hundred (200) yards from shore or fifty (50) yards beyond the farthest breaking wave, whichever distance is greater, or when used by a skin diver to hold the flag required by Section 44.3.19.(c). A person shall not bring or permit or allow opposite the beach regulated by this Chapter any object commonly known as, or used as, a paddle board or surfboard, within one hundred (100) feet of any person in the waters thereof, who was not at the time using or possessing a similar object. The preceding sentence does not apply to a standard surf mat constructed as described in Sec. 44.3.23.

In Sections 44.3.19., 44.3.20., 44.3.21. and whenever elsewhere a distance from shore is specified, it shall mean 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 the measurement.

A person shall not use in the Pacific Ocean opposite the beach regulated by this Chapter, any inflated equipment of any kind except a standard surf mat which is:

a) Constructed of a durable material with a non-slippery surface.

b) So constructed that, when inflated for use, it will not fold in any direction.

c) Not smaller than twenty-four (24) inches by forty (40) inches.

d) Not larger than thirty (30) inches by sixty (60) inches.

e) Equipped with a safety rope.

Whenever any County lifeguard finds that because of extra high surf, riptide, or other hazardous conditions, it is unsafe to swim, bathe or surf within a certain area of the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite the beach regulated by this Chapter, during the time such hazardous conditions exist such lifeguard may instruct all persons not to swim, bathe or surf in such area. Every person shall comply with such instructions.

a) A person shall not use, possess or operate in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite the beach regulated by this Chapter any object commonly known as a surfboard, paddle board 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 restriction shall be effective when a yellow flag having dimensions of not less than two (2) feet by two (2) feet 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 Department of Beaches. 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 Department of Beaches along the 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 Director. 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.

d) A person shall not use, possess or operate in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite the beach regulated by this Chapter, any object commonly known as a surf mat, paddle board, belly board, surfboard, or similar device except within two hundred (200) yards from shore or fifty (50) yards beyond the farthest breaking wave, whichever distance is greater, or when used by a skin diver to hold a flag required by Sec. 44.3.19.(c).

e) A person shall not bring or permit or allow in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite the beach regulated by this Chapter, any object commonly known as, or used as, a paddle board, or surfboard within one hundred (100) feet of any person in the waters thereof who was not at the time using or possessing a similar object.

f) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Section, the Director of Beaches may from time to time designate certain areas to be used exclusively by persons using surfboards and paddle boards. Such designation may be revoked at any time and the area covered by any such designation may be enlarged or reduced at any time. A person shall not swim or bathe in the waters of the Pacific Ocean included in an area so designated except while using a surfboard or paddle board or as is necessary in order to use a surfboard.

g) A person in violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section shall not fail, refuse or neglect to leave the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite the beach regulated by this Chapter when such restrictions are in force.

(Added by O-3682; Amended by O-3743; O-3827)

a) A person shall not enter, be or remain on any beach while using or consuming any tobacco product.

b) Any person who violates this section is guilty of an infraction and subject to a fine of up to $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation within one year, and $500 for a third or subsequent violation within one year. Punishment under this section does not preclude punishment pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 13002, Section 374.4 of the California Penal Code, or any other provision of law proscribing the act of littering.

c) "Tobacco product" means any of the following:

1. A product containing, made, or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco or snuff.

2. An electronic device that delivers nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe, or hookah.

3. Any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product, whether or not sold separately.