BEACH RULES

You’re free to play in the sand, swim, take up shore fishing, play volleyball, bike the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, surf, sunbathe, set up a canopy, relax in a beach chair, bring a cooler and have a picnic, visit piers, and more. What you’re not allowed to do: host a big party without a permit.

Yes, the fire pits are open! And, no, you can’t bring your own. Dockweiler State Beach has a limited number of fire pits that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Grills are allowed if they fit within a fire pit. You cannot place a grill directly on the sand.

Personal fire pits or grills placed outside of designated fire pits are never allowed on Los Angeles County beaches or in beach parking lots. Bonfires built directly on the sand are illegal and hazardous to other beachgoers.

Yes!

Absolutely! Please remember to follow our guidelines for court use.

Beach restrooms are open during the day.

While we do our best to maintain our restrooms, some of the septic systems are old and more likely to have issues. Many of these restrooms are located in the Malibu area. We are doing our best to get these restrooms repaired quickly.

Yes! Lifeguards are on the beach and in the towers. Please note that all towers may not be staffed at all times. Staffing decisions are up to the Los Angeles County lifeguards, who are part of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and can be affected by the season, day of the week and even the weather.

Remember, always surf or swim near an open lifeguard tower!

The Department of Beaches and Harbors operates multiple beach parking lots along the L.A. County coast. The cost of parking in these lots depends on the time of day, the day of the week, the season and whether it’s a holiday. Visit our Parking Lots & Fees page for more information.

Note: Some of the parking lots at Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach are closed to the public. These lots are being used for wildfire recovery response.

Some beaches do have street parking. If you plan to park on the street, please check with the local city or municipality that has jurisdiction over the specific beach you plan to visit, as each community may have different rules for street parking. If you find street parking, remember to follow any posted parking restrictions.

All accessways maintained by the Department of Beaches and Harbors are open to the public. Please note that the Department of Beaches and Harbors does not maintain all beach accessways in Malibu. Some are maintained by the City of Malibu, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority or California State Parks. Questions about those accessways should be addressed to their respective entity.