Take a glimpse of any stretch of sand in Laguna Beach, California during the summer and you’re likely to see very little actual sand. That’s because the popular Orange County beach town is flooded with beachgoers daily. Visitors from neighboring cities and residents alike all converge with easy-up tents, beach umbrellas, and all sorts of things to secure their spot on the beach. Starting on May 26, the city says umbrella-style shade coverings are the only kind that will be permitted.
“Shade coverings larger than standard beach umbrellas, including tents, canopies and easy-ups, will be prohibited on all city beaches except for designated areas at Main Beach and Aliso Beach,” the city announced on Monday. “Violations may result in fines of up to $500.”
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The city’s new ordinance also addresses the use of tables, volleyball nets, and courts. It also mandates that umbrellas and small, single-pole shades must be at least five feet apart from each other.
The purpose of the new legislation is to address safety concerns while ensuring coastal access for more citizens. For lifeguards whose stands are typically set back behind the large crowds, things like large canopies obstruct views of the water and delay emergency response. And anybody who’s set up shop around a group with an easy-up up and tables knows that turning the beach into a personalized camping fort leaves little room for pathways through the sand.
Locals will also tell you that the crowds have gotten so thick during summer weekends that visitors leave the beaches in shambles. The sand is left covered with kids toys, cans, bottles, and more things left behind. Naturally, thinning out the crowds without actually restricting any one person’s access would alleviate some of that problem.
“We can all do better. But until local and state officials actually put more enforcement in place people will continue to leave their trash and junk all over the ground,” Greg Viviani said in a video message last summer. “It’s only getting worse and not getting better.”
