(a) 
The police power to promote the public peace, morals, health, safety and general welfare authorizes the city of Laguna Beach to regulate the use of public property, including beaches and parks, and to impose reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of the use of public property, including beach and park use.
(b) 
In accordance with this authority, the city intends to impose reasonable requirements on the use of public property, including beaches and parks to maintain and maximize: (1) the natural beauty and aesthetic attractiveness of public property, including beach and park areas; (2) the guarantees of freedom of speech and association contained in the Constitutions of the United States and the state of California; (3) the availability of limited beach and park areas for diverse uses; and (4) public safety, including, without limitation, the free flow of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in and around public property, including beach and park areas.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
Unless otherwise reserved pursuant to this chapter, city parks and beaches are available to the public for general active and passive recreational use and constitutionally protected expressive activities in accordance with the design and character of the area being used. No reservations shall be taken for general use of parks or beaches.
(b) 
Except as expressly authorized otherwise in this chapter, parks and beaches are to be used only with the structures, equipment, and other facilities provided by the city.
(c) 
Except as expressly authorized otherwise in this chapter, no additional tables, booths, tents or structures may be erected or installed for general use activities.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, all city beaches and coastal-adjacent parks shall be closed to public use during the times set by city council resolution.
(b) 
Except as otherwise provided in this title, all noncoastal-adjacent parks shall be closed to public use at 10:00 p.m. and shall remain closed until 5:00 a.m.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
It is unlawful for any person to be within the area known as Crescent Bay Point Park between the hours of 12:00 a.m. midnight and 5:00 a.m. of the following day.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
The city manager, or designee, shall post or cause to be posted appropriate signs in conspicuous locations giving notice of closing times and, as applicable, the exceptions provided in this Title 18.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
The provisions of Sections 18.02.015, 18.02.020, and 18.02.025 of this code shall not apply to the following activities, including the most direct safe route available at any given location to conduct such activities as determined by city council resolution, when conducted on wet sand or within twenty feet inland of the wet sand of all beaches:
(1) 
Walking;
(2) 
Jogging;
(3) 
Fishing (by members of the public having on their possession a valid California fishing license);
(4) 
Grunion hunting;
(5) 
Scuba diving;
(6) 
Surfing;
(7) 
Swimming in the ocean.
(b) 
The provisions of Sections 18.02.015, 18.02.020, and 18.02.025 of this code shall not apply to the following activities:
(1) 
Activities as may be expressly permitted by preemption of state law or as may be allowed pursuant to a resolution of the city council.
(2) 
Performance of official business by any city officer or employee or any other person authorized by the city.
(3) 
Any city-sponsored activity, program or special event.
(4) 
Any activity, program or special event for which a city special event permit has been issued.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
In accordance with its legal authority and intent to protect the public peace, morals, health, safety, and general welfare and public property, the city requires special event permits for certain activities and uses on city parks and beaches.
(b) 
No person shall cause a "special event" to occur in any city park, beach, or property without first obtaining a city special event permit.
(c) 
The city requires special event permits for the purposes of:
(1) 
Accommodating and coordinating activities planned by different individuals and groups so that as many people as possible can use and enjoy the natural and existing beach and park environment at the same time;
(2) 
Learning about the proposed activity to minimize or prevent inconvenience or harm to the public and public property or visual blight and degradation of beach and park areas;
(3) 
Requiring appropriate insurance or other measures to relieve the city of liability and reduce unnecessary exposure of the city to personal injury or property damage claims or suits from harm that can occur from the use of, including the use of private structures on, public property; and
(4) 
Ensuring that facilities most suited for the proposed activity are used without unnecessarily restricting the rights of free expression or assembly guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and the state of California.
(d) 
This section is not intended to in any way discriminate against, regulate, or interfere with the rights or content of constitutionally protected freedom of expression or association.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
The city manager or designee shall be responsible for the administration of the special event permit process and shall develop application forms and any further internal city rules, regulations and requirements consistent with this chapter and deemed necessary to administer it.
(b) 
No special event permit will be issued on city beaches or parks beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day unless the special event permit is ultimately approved in advance of the event by the city manager.
(c) 
Special event permit applications must be submitted in writing at least 30 calendar days before the date of the proposed activity on a form approved by the city manager or his/her designee.
(d) 
Special event permit applications will be processed in the order in which they are received and a permit will be issued or denied within 15 calendar days after it is received.
(e) 
Special event permits issued under this chapter may also require a Coastal Development Permit, or may be exempt or excluded from a Coastal Development Permit requirement, as provided in Sections 25.07.007 and 25.07.008A.6.
(f) 
Special event permit applications will be denied only if:
(1) 
The special event permit application is not fully completed and executed or contains a material falsehood or misrepresentation, or the applicant has on prior occasions made material misrepresentations regarding the nature or scope of activity previously permitted or has violated the terms of a previous permit;
(2) 
The applicant has not tendered any required application fee, indemnification agreement, or insurance certificate;
(3) 
A fully executed prior application for a special event permit for the same time and place has been received and has been or will be granted to a prior applicant or the use or activity intended by the applicant would conflict with previously planned activities organized and conducted by the city and previously scheduled for the same time and place;
(4) 
The proposed use or activity intended by the applicant would present an unreasonable imminent danger to the health or safety of the applicant, other users of the park, city employees, or the public, or cause damage to any public or private property, or will create an unreasonable demand upon the city's emergency services personnel and equipment so as to cause potential imminent deficiencies in such services and endanger the public health and welfare;
(5) 
The proposed use or activity is prohibited by law; or
(6) 
Other grounds set forth in this title or as established by the city manager.
(g) 
If a special event permit application is denied, the city manager or designee will notify the applicant in a writing that clearly sets forth the grounds for such denial, and, where feasible, will suggest alternative times or places to conduct the proposed use or activity or propose any measures by which the applicant may cure any defects in the special event permit application.
(h) 
The permittee of activities conducted pursuant to a special event permit under this section shall:
(1) 
Be responsible to monitor the area in which the activity is being conducted, to collect and dispose of all litter generated by the permittee in connection with the activity, to remove all structures used in connection with the activity upon its conclusion, and to otherwise restore the area used to its pre-existing condition if any alteration of the area has resulted from the conduct of the permittee or any person who was or reasonably should have been within the permittee's control.
(2) 
Be required to:
(A) 
To obtain a standard policy of liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured with respect to any liability, loss, damage, or injury incurred by the city, or by any other person and claimed against the city, which is proximately caused by the permittee or its officers, agents, or employees, or any person who was or reasonably should have been within the permittee's control;
(B) 
To agree to reimburse the city for any costs incurred by it in restoring damage to or cleaning public property after the activity as is necessary due to damage or degradation which is proximately caused by the permittee or its officers, agents, or employees or any person who was or reasonably should have been within the permittee's control; and
(C) 
To agree to defend, protect, indemnify, and hold the city free and harmless from and against any and all liability, loss, damage, or injury incurred by the city, or by any other person and claimed against the city, which is proximately caused by the permittee or its officers, agents, or employees, or any person who was or reasonably should have been within the permittee's control.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
Application and use fees established from time to time by the city council in accordance with this section for constitutionally protected expressive activities shall be reasonably related to the city's actual costs incident to the administration of this chapter or the provision of city services.
(b) 
When establishing or requiring payment of application or use fees or the amount of liability insurance coverage, providing a waiver of fees or insurance requirements, establishing or accepting in lieu contributions as an alternative to fees, issuing or denying a special event permit, or otherwise acting in enforcement of this title as applied to constitutionally protected expressive activities, no consideration shall be given as to the identity or associational relationships of the special event permit applicant, the content, subject matter, or viewpoint of any expression or message communicated by or during a proposed activity, or to any assumptions or predictions of the amount of hostility that may be aroused in the public by the content, subject matter or viewpoint of the expression or message conveyed by the applicant or proposed activity.
(c) 
No applicant for or recipient of a special event permit for constitutionally protected activities involving the use of structures shall be required to provide or pay the cost of public safety personnel necessary to provide for the protection of the applicant and its attendees from hostile members of the public, traffic control or general law enforcement in the vicinity of the proposed activity.
(d) 
Except as expressly provided otherwise in this section, in establishing or imposing application and use fees, the amount of liability insurance coverage or premiums, a waiver of fees or insurance requirements, or the acceptance of in-lieu contributions consideration shall be given only to physical attributes of the proposed activity consisting of the type, size and number of any proposed temporary structure(s), the estimated attendees, excluding hostile members of the public or counter-demonstrators, at and duration of the activity, and the reasonably estimated extra city personnel hours anticipated to be used for such activity.
(e) 
No individual or organization applying for a special event permit for the purpose of conducting a constitutionally protected expressive activity for which a special event permit is required shall be required to pay an application or use fee or procure insurance, if the special event permit application includes reasonably satisfactory documentation or other evidence demonstrating the applicant's indigence and financial status, or that payment of fees or procurement of insurance is impossible or so financially burdensome that it would preclude the applicant from using beach or park property. If the city manager or his or her designee determines, after consultation with the city's risk manager, that a particular use, event or activity does not present a substantial or significant public liability or property damage exposure for the city, the city manager or designee may give a written waiver of the insurance requirements of this section.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
Any determination by the city manager or designee regarding a special event permit may be appealed to the city council pursuant to Chapter 2.02 of this code.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
Constitutionally Protected Expressive Activities Involving the Use of Structures.
(1) 
The hard surface cobblestone area located in the southerly portion of Main Beach Park shall be available not more than five days per month on a first-come, first-served basis by reservation through the special event permit process for the conduct of constitutionally protected expressive activities involving the use of structures.
(2) 
Such activities, which shall be sponsored by an individual or organization, may be conducted by the same individual or organization on not more than two days in any consecutive six-month period if conducting such activities more frequently would result in the exclusion of any other individual or organizations from using the cobblestone area to conduct constitutionally protected expressive activities involving the use of structures.
(b) 
Other Special Events Involving the Use of Structures.
(1) 
The hard surface cobblestone area located in the southerly portion of Main Beach Park shall be available not more than two days per month on a first-come, first-served basis by reservation through the special event permit process for the conduct of other special events.
(2) 
Such activities, which shall be sponsored by an individual or organization, may be conducted by the same individual or organization on not more than 14 days in any calendar year.
(3) 
Sales relating to the special event are authorized at the hard surface cobblestone area. Each vendor must have a Laguna Beach business license and shall display the license number.
(c) 
The planning of such activities and location of such structures as are authorized in this section shall:
(1) 
Comply with all applicable public health and safety requirements and shall be coordinated with the city so that the activity is carried on in a manner which will minimize to the greatest practical extent the prevention of or substantial interference with the ordinary and normal public usage of Main Beach Park for active and passive recreational and aesthetic enjoyment and constitutionally protected expressive activities.
(2) 
Not utilize a single structure in excess of 600 square feet in area or in excess of eight feet in height.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
Certain areas designated for informal weddings may be reserved through the special event permit process on a first-come, first-served basis, upon payment of a nonrefundable fee to be established by resolution.
(b) 
No additional tables or chairs or other facilities may be erected for such ceremonies.
(c) 
No alcoholic beverages shall be served and no amplified sound shall be permitted.
(d) 
The maximum number of the wedding party and guests shall not exceed 50 people in the Gazebo at Heisler Park or at Crescent Bay Park.
(e) 
Up to 95 people are allowed per wedding in other locations in Heisler Park.
(f) 
No more than two weddings per day shall be permitted at Crescent Bay Park.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
Any outdoor gathering, concert, festival, art show, or exhibitions involving the use of structures and not otherwise provided for in this chapter or elsewhere in this code shall be held at Irvine Bowl Park.
(b) 
The use of the amphitheater and festival grounds at Irvine Bowl shall be on a first-come, first-served basis by reservation through the special event permit process and is subject to the requirements of any existing or subsequently approved lease of those facilities. Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede the provisions of any such lease. Outdoor gatherings to be attended by more than 2,500 persons require a license pursuant to Chapter 5.68 of this code.
(c) 
If the Irvine Bowl Park is unavailable for an outdoor gathering, concert, festival, art show, or exhibition involving the use of structures, the sponsor of a special event can propose the event at an alternative location. The city manager shall either approve or deny such special event permit application.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
The city council finds and declares that, in consideration of the city-wide ban on the use of fireworks, it is in the interest of public health, safety and general welfare to permit and conduct a public fireworks display at Main Beach on or about July 4th of each year to celebrate Independence Day.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
(a) 
A violation of this chapter may be prosecuted as an infraction in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.04.025 of this code, or alternatively, an administrative citation may be issued pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1.15 of this code.
(b) 
In addition, or as a further alternative, the city may pursue any form of administrative remedy, civil action or other judicial relief against a person, business or enterprise violating the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter, or the application thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby; and, to this end, the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.
(Ord. 1729, 4/28/2026)