Officials in Orange County, California, are enforcing new regulations on beachgoers' shade structures, particularly in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. The restrictions aim to address safety concerns and preserve beach accessibility.
Newport Beach has announced that shade structures, canopies, and umbrellas must not exceed 6 feet by 6 feet and cannot be connected. This move, publicized ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, is intended to prevent the sprawling setups that some residents have likened to "living rooms on the beach."
Newport Beach Lifeguard Captain Natalie May stated that large canopies and tents pose a safety hazard by obstructing lifeguards' lines of sight. "Lines of sight allow lifeguards to continuously monitor swimmers and quickly identify someone who may be in distress," May explained. She added that smaller, separated shade coverings also help maintain clear pathways for emergency responders.
Laguna Beach implemented its own ordinance changes earlier this summer, establishing an "umbrellas only" rule at most of its beaches. This ordinance, effective May 26, prohibits any structures larger than standard beach umbrellas unless specifically approved by the city manager. Violators may face fines of up to $500.
At Laguna Beach, tents, canopies, and easy-ups are prohibited except in designated areas at Main Beach and Aliso Beach. For other areas, shade structures must not be wider than 8 feet and taller than 6 feet.
One Laguna Beach resident, Greg Viviani, noted the impact of large coverings, recalling an incident at Aliso Beach where firefighters had to move canopies to reach an injured person due to a lack of space. "It was really shocking," he said.