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Beach canopy bans in SoCal: How big is too big?
People sit under umbrellas in Laguna Beach to try to beat the heat.
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Kevin Carter
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Getty Images
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The heat is driving many of us to cool off at Southern California beaches. Some cities are seeing so many people — and their ever-increasing shade structures — that officials say they're worried for safety. That's because lifeguards need to maintain an unencumbered sightline to monitor swimmers and surfers in the water.
Two beach cities — Laguna Beach and Newport Beach — have made the news this year for changing their rules.
Laguna Beach
- Canopies are confined to designated canopy and pop-up canopy zones behind lifeguard towers.
- Elsewhere: Umbrellas only
Laguna Beach officials released maps indicating where beachgoers can use canopies.
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Courtesy Laguna Beach
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At Main Beach, canopies are limited to the back.
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Courtesy Laguna Beach
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Aliso Beach now requires umbrellas only for shade on much of the beachfront.
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Courtesy Laguna Beach
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Newport Beach
- 6 feet by 6 feet canopies and tents only (approved in February). The new rules also prohibit beachgoers from connecting or grouping them together.
Here’s a rundown of other beach regulations
Huntington Beach
- Canopies and tents limited to 10 feet by 10 feet (100 square feet total) with two open sides.
Seal Beach
Seal Beach says no tents allowed.
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Kelly Bourquin/Getty Images
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iStockphoto
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- No tents allowed on the beach.
- Umbrella or “device for shade” must be open on at least two sides.
LA County
Long Beach, LA County beaches, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Malibu
- No canopy bans
- Cities urge beach users not to block lifeguards’ line of sight with the beach.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica now limits the size of shade coverings.
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Apu Gomes
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AFP via Getty Images
)
- No umbrellas, canopies or pop-up tents larger than 20 feet by 20 feet in size (or a total of 400 square feet)
If in doubt about local rules, when you go to the beach be sure to ask the lifeguard. They're the ones who will be enforcing bans.
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