1 City Council Meeting: June 23, 2026 Santa Monica, California ORDINANCE NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AMENDING CHAPTER 3.04.030 TO ESTABLISH DEFINED BEACH PARKING LOT
OPERATING HOURS
WHEREAS, in 1978, 2012, and 2022, the City adopted and amended ordinances establishing the following: (1) parking permits for beach parking lots; (2) permit requirements during prohibited parking hours; (3) general prohibited parking hours as 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM; and (4) specific prohibited parking hours at 2600 Beach Parking as sunset to sunrise; and
WHEREAS, current beach lot operating hours are 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM (6:00 AM to 8:00 PM during the summer / daylight saving time) in an effort to meet the sunrise to sunset hours while only changing closing times twice a year except for Santa Monica Pier Deck Parking Lot, Parking Lot 1N, and the Annenberg Beach House Parking Lot; and WHEREAS, City staff regularly fields comments from the public stating that the closure hours at the City’s beach parking lots do not allow time to park and watch the sunset; and
WHEREAS, the current hours create several times of the year when the beach parking lots are closed before sunset, during daylight; and WHEREAS, the City desires to create a closing time at Parking Lot 1S that is closely aligned with the closure times of the adjacent Pier businesses and Ocean Front Walk businesses.
2 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 3.04.030 is hereby amended as follows:
3.04.030 Beach parking lot hours and parking permits.
(a) No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle in any beach parking lot, except the Santa Monica Pier Deck Parking Lot, Parking Lot 1N, Parking Lot 1S, and the Annenberg Beach House Parking Lot for any period between 7:00 PM and 6:00 AM (9:00 PM and 6:00 AM during daylight saving time) of the next succeeding day, without a valid parking permit.
(b) Beach parking lot parking permits authorizing parking during times when it would otherwise be prohibited may be issued as follows:
(1) To a City resident living in a designated permit area and to a resident's guest for up to one year;
(2) To a member of the public participating in or attending a regional event within the City, if the City Council determines by resolution that issuing parking permits or parking receipts for beach parking lots will further the City's interests by facilitating the event.
(c) The City Manager or designee shall establish hours of operation for the Santa Monica Pier Deck Parking Lot, the Parking Lot 1N, the Parking Lot 1S, and the Annenberg Beach House Parking Lot.
3 (d) No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle in the Santa Monica Pier Deck Parking Lot during times when it is prohibited pursuant to subsection (c) or without a valid parking permit.
SECTION 2. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30 days after adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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HEIDI VON TONGELN
City Attorney