STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
April 14, 2026
BUSINESS
16 SUBJECT: FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS
6.16.020 AND 8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING LOCATIONS WHERE SPECIAL
EVENTS ARE ALLOWED AND RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING SPECIAL EVENTS; AND FINDING THE ACTION CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304”; and
2. Waive the full reading and introduce by title only, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE; AND FINDING SUCH ACTION
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304”.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
This report presents an ordinance amending Title 18 (Beaches and Parks) and Sections 6.16.020 and
8.04.010 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code, along with a resolution establishing locations where special events are allowed and rules and regulations governing such events through a Special Event Permit Policy.
Following the Council’s last direction, we have presented both in a manner that would allow the Council to adopt the resolution and introduce the ordinance to streamline the review and approval process for events held at City parks, beaches, and facilities, while addressing operational and public safety considerations.
The proposed Special Event Permit Policy establishes designated event locations, defines event classifications based on size, outlines application requirements, and implements a tiered fee structure to ensure cost recovery.
Additionally, the ordinance includes updates to regulations related to shade coverings on beaches and parks, and clarifies swimming and surfing designations, including operational provisions at Aliso Beach.
As we note the above, we also note that in this staff report, we’ve proposed for your consideration an alternative solely regarding allowing some canopies (of a defined size) at two beaches, and behind the lifeguard tower line of sight. You may or may not wish to consider this alternative.
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the ordinance and resolution; however, the proposed policy is intended to improve administrative efficiency and ensure appropriate cost recovery for City services. This action supports the City Council’s goals of enhancing public safety, improving operational efficiency, and maintaining high-quality recreational experiences.
The proposed actions have been reviewed in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and are categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land), as they involve minor regulatory and operational changes with no potential for significant environmental impact.
DISCUSSION
Background
At the January 26, 2026 City Council meeting, City staff presented a proposed ordinance amending Title 18 (Beach and Parks) and a corresponding proposed resolution establishing locations where special events are allowed and the rules and regulations governing special events through a Special Event Permit Policy to streamline the review and approval of events held at City parks, beaches, and facilities.
Additionally, City staff presented proposed modifications to the municipal code through the same ordinance amending Title 18 to further address shade coverings and to designate surfing and skimboarding locations at Aliso Beach in response to Marine Safety Department challenges when monitoring the ocean from the lifeguard towers due to shade coverings and facilitating mixed uses at Aliso Beach. (See Attachment 1 [January 26, 2026 Staff Report, Resolution, Ordinance, and Matrix of Changes to Title 18].) FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
Following public comments, the City Council directed that staff return to the Council with following proposed changes to the ordinance:
1. Better address that swimming and surfing are allowed in the swimming and surfing area year-round, except during certain periods of time and locations where only surfing is allowed to the exclusion of swimming;
2. Prohibit the use of certain shade coverings (commonly known as tents, canopies, or EZ-ups) on all City beaches; and
3. Allow shade coverings in city parks as long as they meet a certain size requirement.
Following the January 27, 2026 City Council meeting, City staff identified that some provisions from the urgency ordinance adopted by the City Council to ensure continuity in operations of South Laguna Beaches needed to be included in a regular ordinance. Accordingly, City staff updated this ordinance before the City Council to implement the same exact urgency provisions for Section 6.16.020 (Dogs on beaches, in parks and school grounds—when and where prohibited) and for Section 8.04.010 (Drinking or possession in public places) to be adopted by regular ordinance.
We believe that the changes mentioned in the above paragraph can be considered “clean-up” changes.
A redline version of the ordinance implementing the City Council’s direction is included as Attachment 2.
The final, clean versions of the Ordinance Amending Title 18 and Sections 6.16.020 and 8.04.010 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code and the Resolution Establishing Locations for Special Events and Rules and Regulations are attached to this staff Report as Attachments 3 and 4, respectively.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
1. Special Events
The City of Laguna Beach hosts a wide variety of special events each year, including parades, community events, art shows, athletic competitions, and other community activities. Currently, the City relies on a combination of municipal code provisions, departmental procedures, and informal practices to manage these events. The lack of a consistent policy has led to challenges in enforcement, inconsistent requirements for event organizers, and a more complex approval process. The increase in event requests in recent years highlights the need for a standardized, transparent permitting framework. .At the January 26, 2026 City Council meeting, the City Council did not direct any changes to the Resolution Establishing Locations for Special Events and Rules and Regulations. This resolution will guide applicants and members of the public on the process to obtain a special event permit. In short, it defines certain City parks and beaches that are available for special events and further identifies that an event, which will exceed 50 people, will require a Tier I special event permit, and an event, which will exceed 500 people, will require a Tier II special event permit. The Tier I special event permit requires lesser application fees and application requirements than the Tier II special event permit. The proposed event locations include:
• Aliso Beach and Aliso Beach Park
• Alta Laguna Park
• Bluebird Park
• Cobblestones at Main Beach
• Community and Recreation Center
• Heisler Park Picnic Area
• Irvine Bowl (subject to existing lease obligations)
• Lang Park
• Main Beach Park
• Moulton Meadows Park
• Parking Lot 10
• Picnic Beach
• Promenade on Forest Avenue
Key areas of the proposed policy include:
• Event Definition and Classification: Establishes two event categories based on size. • Application Requirements: Creates a checklist of the required documentation for each type of application.
• Permit Fees and Cost Recovery: Establishes a tiered fee structure and requires reimbursement for City services.
• Event Limitation: Establishes rules and regulations for special events. Prohibits special events during peak summer months from Memorial Day to Labor Day unless considered and approved by the City Manager.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
A Resolution Establishing Locations for Special Events and Rules and Regulations is included as Attachment 4. It is proposed to become effective once the Ordinance Amending Title 18 and Sections
6.16.020 and 8.04.010 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code becomes effective.
2. Title 18 – Beaches and Parks
At the January 26, 2026 City Council meeting, the City Council directed the following changes to the Ordinance Amending Title 18:
1. Better address that swimming and surfing is allowed in the swimming and surfing area year-round except during certain periods of time and locations where only surfing is allowed to the exclusion of swimming;
2. Prohibit the use of certain shade coverings (commonly known as tents, canopies, or ez-ups) on all City beaches; amd
3. Allow shade coverings in city parks as long as they meet a certain size requirement.
As more clearly reflected in the redline, City staff made changes to the swimming and surfing provisions to read as follows:
§ 18.20.025. Swimming and Surfing Areas.
a) All waters within two hundred (200) yards from the shoreline are designated as swimming and surfing areas, except that from June 15th and September 15th, both dates inclusive, of each calendar year, there are designated surfing areas to the exclusion of swimming.
1. The following described areas of the Pacific Ocean are hereby designated as surfing areas, and surfing within said areas only during the daylight hours enumerated below shall be permitted:
i. Area No. 1: That area lying between a point one hundred fifty feet south of the southerly extension of Brooks Street and a point one hundred fifty feet north of the northerly extension of Brooks Street only during the hours from sun-up to sundown; ii. Area No. 2: That area lying between a point ninety feet south of the southerly extension of St. Ann's Drive and a point two hundred feet south of the southern extension of Thalia Street only during the hours from sun-up to sundown; iii. Area No. 3: That area lying between Victor Hugo's Point and the stairway entrance below Jasmine Street only during the hours from sun-up to sundown; iv. Area No. 4: That area lying between a point one hundred twenty-five feet south of the southerly extension of Agate Street and a point one hundred feet north of the northerly extension. The hours of surfing to be from sun-up until twelve noon and then five p.m. until sunset;
v. Area No. 5: Surfing is allowed in Area No. 5. Exception: In Aliso Beach, specifically, a zone for surfing shall be set up from 12 pm to 6 pm daily through the posting of signs and flags by Marine Safety Department staff or for increased durations as conditions warrant at the determination by Marine Safety Department staff. If a zone for surfing is not set through the posting of signs and flags by Marine Safety FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
Department staff, the surfing area is hereby established at the South end of Aliso Beach from 12pm to 6pm between June 15th and September 15th (inclusive of those specific days).
2. No person shall wade, bathe, or swim between in any surfing area at any times when surfing is permitted in such area unless such person has in his or her possession and is actually using a surfboard, paddleboard, or other similar device.
3. No person shall engage in the activity of surfing from June 15th to September 15th outside of the designated surfing area unless the city manager, marine safety chief, police chief, or other employee of the city designated by the city manager to enforce surging regulations and control surfing activities, upon careful evaluation, permits surfing in certain swimming areas as follows through the posting of signs and flags.
i. Whenever surfing or weather conditions make swimming or bathing hazardous in the beach area from a point one hundred fifty feet south of the southerly extension of Brooks Street to a point ninety feet south of the southerly extension of St. Ann's Drive, or
ii. When relatively few swimmers or bathers are present. b) No persons shall operate any vessel within swimming and surfing areas except that vessels, other than motorboats, which have been launched from the beach may proceed directly to and from the beach through said designated areas.
c) The launching of any vessels may be prohibited by any police officer or lifeguard at any time it appears to such police officer or lifeguard that such activity would constitute a hazard to persons swimming and surfing in said designated area or to the operators or passengers of said vessels.
Further, as more clearly reflected in the redline, City staff made changes to the shade covering and structures provisions to implement the City Council’s direction, and better address the structures that the City is trying to regulate (i.e., shade coverings, tables, and volleyball courts and nets), to read as follows:
§ 18.04.020. Shade Coverings, Tables, and Volleyball Nets and Courts. (a) Shade coverings
1. Shade coverings, other than umbrellas in a form substantially similar to Figure 1, below, are prohibited on all beaches within the City.
2. Shade coverings are allowed at all parks within the City but cannot exceed six feet in width by six feet in depth by six feet in height.
3. Any authorized shade covering shall be relocated at the request of the Marine Safety Department staff, Police Department staff, or other authorized City personnel. (b) Tables
1. No person shall install, erect, or maintain any table over six feet in length by three feet in width on any beach within the City.
2. No person shall install, erect, or maintain any table over six feet in length by three feet in width on any public park within the City.
3. Any authorized table shall be relocated at the request of the Marine Safety Department staff, Police Department staff, or other authorized City personnel. (c) Volleyball Nets and Courts
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
1. No person shall install, erect, or maintain any volleyball net or court on any beach within the City unless it has been approved by the city manager or designee and has all of the required approvals from the City.
2. No person shall install, erect, or maintain any volleyball net or court on any public park within the City unless it has been approved by the city manager or designee and has all of the required approvals from the City.
3. Any authorized volleyball net and court shall be relocated at the request of the Marine Safety Department staff, Police Department staff, or other authorized City personnel.
Figure 1
(Umbrella)
Later Discussions – Another Option? Following the City Council meeting, City staff, including the Marine Safety Department and Police Department, met regarding the difficulties of enforcing a ban on certain shade coverings (commonly known as tents, canopies, or ez-ups). Specifically, there is concern that members of the public, who travel far distances with such shade coverings will have nowhere to go to beach with sufficient shade covering and Marine Safety and Police Department staff will spend a great deal of time working with such members of the public to explain the rules and explain that there is no beach in Laguna Beach where such shade coverings are allowed.
There is concern that these additional enforcement burdens might interfere with the lifeguards’ main duties, including education, accident prevention, and rescue, and police officers’ main duties, including preventing crime and protecting the public. Beach and ocean conditions often require staff to shift priorities due to accident prevention and life-safety concerns.
In response to these concerns, City staff prepared language reflecting an alternative to an outright ban on certain shade structures at the beach. This alternative is not in the proposed ordinance, but it addresses City staff’s concerns regarding enforcement and line of sight issues while also trying to implement the City Council’s direction and stated goals. It also distinguishes between beach adjacent parks and non-beach adjacent parks, such as sport fields, and authorizes different size shade structures at beach adjacent parks and non-beach adjacent parks. What follows is proposed alternative language for Section 18.04.020:
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
§ 18.04.020. Shade Coverings, Tables, and Volleyball Nets and Courts. (a) Shade coverings
1. Beaches
i. Shade coverings, other than umbrellas in a form substantially similar to Figure 1, below, are prohibited on all beaches within the City except for Main Beach and Aliso Beach.
ii. In the case of shade coverings and structures at Main Beach and Aliso Beach, shade coverings are limited in size to eight feet in width by eight feet in depth by six feet in height and are only allowed in the zones, which are located in line with or behind the lifeguard towers and approved by resolution of the City Council. iii. Any authorized shade covering shall not interfere with a lifeguard's ability to see the water or adjacent lifeguard towers and shall not be located within twenty feet of public and emergency access pathway and not be located within five feet from another shade covering.
iv. Any authorized shade covering shall be relocated at the request of the Marine Safety Department staff, Police Department staff, or other authorized City personnel.
2. Parks
i. Shade coverings and structures are allowed at beach adjacent parks within the City but cannot exceed eight feet in width by eight feet in depth by six feet in height. ii. Shade coverings and structures are allowed at non-beach adjacent parks within the City but cannot exceed ten feet in width by ten feet in depth by ten feet in height. iii. Any authorized shade covering shall be relocated at the request of the Marine Safety Department staff, Police Department staff, or other authorized City personnel. (b) Tables
1. No person shall install, erect, or maintain any table over six feet in length by three feet in width on any beach within the City.
2. No person shall install, erect, or maintain any table over six feet in length by three feet in width on any public park within the City.
3. Any authorized table shall be relocated at the request of the Marine Safety Department staff, Police Department staff, or other authorized City personnel. (c) Volleyball Nets and Courts
1. No person shall install, erect, or maintain any volleyball net or court on any beach within the City unless it has been approved by the city manager or designee and has all of the required approvals from the City.
2. No person shall install, erect, or maintain any volleyball net or court on any public park within the City unless it has been approved by the city manager or designee and has all of the required approvals from the City.
3. Any authorized volleyball net and court shall be relocated at the request of the Marine Safety Department staff, Police Department staff, or other authorized City personnel.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
Figure 1
(Umbrella)
See below for proposed additional definitions to add to Chapter 18.01 (Definitions):
“Beach Adjacent Park” means Aliso Beach Park, Crescent Bay Park Point, Heisler Park, Montage Park, and Main Beach Park.
“Non-Beach Adjacent Park” means Alta Laguna Park, Bluebird Park, Community and Recreation, South Laguna Village Green Center, High School and Community Pool, Indoor Chapel Park, Laguna Beach Dog Park, Lang Park, Moulton Meadows Park, Riddle Field Park, Temporary Skate Ramps, Wilcoxen Park Below are the zones that City staff proposes for certain allowed shade structures at Aliso Beach and Main Beach:
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
Aliso Beach:
Main Beach:
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
The final, clean versions of the Ordinance Amending Title 18 and Sections 6.16.020 and 8.04.010 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code and the Resolution Establishing Locations for Special Events and Rules and Regulations are attached to this staff Report as Attachment 3 and 4, respectively. City staff is open to any additional feedback regarding the proposed ordinance and resolution and the proposed modifications set forth in this staff report, which as noted are not included in the proposed ordinance.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Fees collected for Special Events Permits should offset some or all of the costs associated with the events themselves. There may be modest increases in the amount of time that Park Rangers and others spend addressing canopy violations, but some of that work is being done now.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The action on the ordinance amending Title 18 and resolution establishing locations where special events are allowed and rules and regulations governing special event through the Special Event Permit Policy is exempt from the requirements of the California Environment Quality Act pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land, Class 4) which exempts minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. Examples include but are not limited to minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment, including carnivals, sales of Christmas trees, etc. (14 CCR Section 15304(e).) Here, this action will allow people to use portions of the City’s parks and beaches for special events for a temporary period of time subject to rules and regulations of the City. This action does not authorize permanent infrastructure and merely creates an administrative system to allow persons to coordinate use of the beach, parks, and other City facilities.
Therefore, this action falls within the minor alterations to land exemption.
None of the exceptions to the use of the categorical exemptions identified in State CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply. The Project will not result in a cumulative impact from successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time. Moreover, there are no unusual circumstances surrounding the Project that would result in a reasonably possibility of a significant effect on the environment. Additionally, the Project will not damage scenic resources, including trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources. The Project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
Finally, the Project does not include any hazardous waste sites. Thus, Class 4 exemption applies, and no further environmental review is required.
ATTACHMENTS
1. January 26, 2026 Staff Report, Resolution, Ordinance, and Matrix of Changes to Title 18 (Pgs. 12-70)
2. Redline of Changes to Ordinance Since January 26, 2026 City Council meeting (Pgs. 71-101)
3. Ordinance Amending Title 18 and Sections 6.16.020 and 8.04.010 of LBMC (Pgs. 102-132)
4. Resolution Establishing Locations for Special Events and Rules and Regulations (Pgs. 133-147) FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
April 14, 2026
Submitted By: Alexis Bruan Approved: .David A Kiff
Alexis Braun, Acting Director of
Transit and Community Services
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Alexis Braun, Acting Director of Transit and
Community Services
Kai Bond, Marine Safety Chief
Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney
Andrea Tirnauer, Senior Recreation Coordinator