People looking to visit the iconic coastline in Laguna Beach this summer could be banned from using popular shade structures, commonly known as E-Z UPs, along with being barred from using volleyball nets and certain tables.
This week, Laguna Beach City Council members introduced an ordinance banning several types of shade options – like tents and canopies.
“When people bring big shade structures, they also bring a lot of stuff, and part of the problem with all the trash on the beach is that people are bringing a lot of stuff,” Councilmember Sue Kempf said during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
The ordinance is expected to be revisited in two weeks for a final vote, on April 28.
If passed, it will take effect on Memorial Day weekend.
City staff say large shade coverings can make it difficult for lifeguards to see the ocean and maintain access to the beach.
“We don’t have a problem with them coming to the beach, we just want to make sure that everyone on the beach is safe and we have adequate line of sight,” Councilmember Alex Rounaghi said at the meeting.
If the new ordinance is adopted, only shade covers with one point of contact with the sand would be allowed, like a standard beach umbrella.
Additionally, it would also ban tables six feet by three feet and volleyball nets.
However, on Main Beach and Aliso Beach shade coverings measuring eight feet wide by eight feet deep by six feet tall would be allowed in certain zones on the beach, located behind lifeguard towers, in order to maintain a direct line of sight to the ocean.
Different types of parks could also see new regulations for shade structures.
Parks considered to be beach adjacent, including Aliso Beach Park and Main Beach Park, are limited to eight feet wide by eight feet deep by six feet high. Parks that aren’t beach adjacent can have shade covers measuring up to ten feet wide by ten feet deep by ten feet tall.
According to a staff report, Marine Safety Department staff, Police and authorized City staff will enforce the change, moving groups behind the line formed by lifeguard towers. However, there were concerns of time consuming enforcement brought forward.
“The park rangers are so distracted by these giant shade structures that I don’t think they’re necessarily doing as much enforcement as they could,” Kempf said Tuesday.
New rules about where and when swimming, surfing and skimboarding can happen in Laguna Beach could also come into play with the ordinance.
In a January staff report, concerns of swimmers and surfers being in the same area in the ocean stemmed from Aliso Beach because of its popularity. More restrictions to when water activities can take place are being introduced to help “reduce the possibility of accidents and injuries.”
At all beaches in Laguna Beach, 200 yards from the shoreline will be designated as both swimming and surfing areas. However, from June 15 to Sept. 15, Aliso Beach will see surfing-only designated areas from noon to 6 p.m.
Additionally, new formalized regulations could be put in place for permits to hold events and beaches and parks, and introduce a tier system to assist with permitting and pricing.
A Tier I event would have more than 50 attendees and have lower application fees and a Tier II event will exceed 500 people and have a higher application fee, but no specific costs have been given so far.
It would also limit events allowed in busy summer months and whether food and alcohol can be served.
Discussion of the changes started in January of this year, but were sent back to city staff to clarify language and add details about shade bans.
Earlier this year, Newport Beach adopted similar coastal ordinances aimed at shutting down disruptive parties being thrown in the area.
[Read: Newport Beach Bans Most Tents at Coastline Over Resident Concerns]
Newport Beach’s ordinance limits how big shade covers can be, making six feet by six feet the maximum, and banning connecting multiple E-Z UPs for extended shade. Officials also limited how close shade structures can be established to lifeguard towers.
