SEC. 63.44. REGULATIONS AFFECTING PARK AND RECREATION AREAS.
(Added by Ord. No. 153,027, Eff. 11/16/79.)
A. Definitions. (Amended by Ord. No. 183,815, Eff. 9/27/15.) As used in this section:
“Beach” shall include public seashore and shoreline areas bordering the Pacific Ocean that are owned, managed or controlled by the City. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,525, Eff. 7/16/22.)
“Board” shall mean the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,525, Eff. 7/16/22.)
“City” shall mean the City of Los Angeles, a municipal corporation.
“Department” shall mean the Department of Recreation and Parks of the City of Los Angeles.
“Donation” shall mean a gift; a voluntary act which is not required and does not require anything in return.
“Electronic Smoking Device” shall mean any device that may be used to deliver any aerosolized or vaporized substances to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an e-cigarette, e-cigar, vape pen, or e-hookah. Electronic Smoking Device includes any component part of or accessory to the device, and also includes any substance that may be aerosolized or vaporized by such device, whether or not the substance contains nicotine. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,525, Eff. 7/16/22.)
“Food” shall mean any type of edible substance or beverage.
“Goods or Merchandise” shall mean any items that are not Food.
“Handcrafts” shall mean objects made either by hand or with the help of devices used to shape or produce the objects through such methods as weaving, carving, stitching, sewing, lacing and beading, including objects such as jewelry, pottery, silver work, leather goods and trinkets. Most handcrafts have more than nominal utility apart from any communicative value they possess. Most commonly, handcrafts do not communicate a message, idea or concept to others, and are often mass produced or produced with limited variation. Handcrafts do not include visual arts.
“Park” shall include every public park, roadside rest area, playground, zoological garden, ocean, beach or other recreational facility area, together with any parking lot, reservoir, pier, swimming pool, golf course, court, field, bridle path, trail, or other recreational facility, or structure thereon, in the City of Los Angeles and under the control, operation or management of the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches, or the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission. “Park” does not include any State Historic Park located within the City of Los Angeles. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,525, Eff. 7/16/22.)
“Perform, Performing, Performance or Performances” shall mean to engage in any of the following activities in a public Park: playing musical instruments; singing; dancing; acting; pantomiming; puppeteering; juggling; reciting; engaging in magic; creating visual art in its entirety; presenting or enacting a play, work of music, work of art, physical or mental feat, or other constitutionally protected entertainment or form of expression. The terms Perform, Performing, Performance or Performances shall not include:
(i) The provision of personal services such as massage, boot camps, yoga classes or dog training;
(ii) The completion or other partial creation of visual art;
(iii) The creation of visual art which is mass produced or produced with limited variation; or
(iv) The creation of handcrafts.
“Performer” shall mean a person who performs. Performer includes the employers, employees and agents of a performer. Indicia of being a performer include, but are not limited to, setting up performance equipment, staging or orienting the performance towards the public, performing in the same location for an extended period of time, performing in public over multiple days, seeking voluntary contributions through the passing around of a hat or leaving open an instrument case or other receptacle, and soliciting donations after a performance.
“Person or Persons” shall mean one or more natural persons, individuals, groups, businesses, business trusts, companies, corporations, joint ventures, joint stock companies, partnership, entities, associations, clubs or organizations composed of two or more individuals (or manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them), whether engaged in business, nonprofit or any other activity.
“Smoke” shall mean the gases, particles or vapors released into the air as a result of combustion, electrical ignition or vaporization, including from an electronic smoking device, when the purpose of the combustion, electrical ignition or vaporization is human inhalation of the gases, particles or vapors. Smoke does not mean the combustion of material solely for olfactory purposes that does not contain any tobacco or nicotine or the emissions from a product specifically approved by the United States Food Drug Administration for use in mitigating, treating or preventing disease. (Added by Ord. No. 184,063, Eff. 3/9/16.)
“Smokeless Tobacco” shall mean any product containing cut, ground, powdered or leaf tobacco that is intended to be placed in the oral or nasal cavity, including but not limited to snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, dissolvable tobacco products and snus. (Added by Ord. No. 184,063, Eff. 3/9/16.)
“Smoking” means inhaling, exhaling, burning, or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, or pipe, or any other lighted or heated product containing, made, or derived from nicotine, tobacco, cannabis, or other plant, whether natural or synthetic, that is intended for inhalation. “(Amended by Ord. No. 187,525, Eff. 7/16/22.)
“Vend or Vending” shall mean to sell or barter food, goods, merchandise or services, or to require someone to pay a fee or to set, negotiate, or establish a fee before providing food, goods, merchandise or services, even if characterized by the vendor as a donation.
“Vendor” shall mean a person who Vends. Vendor includes the employers, employees, and agents of a Vendor.
B. Within the limits of any park or other City-owned Harbor Department designated and controlled property within the City of Los Angeles: (Amended by Ord. No. 174,737, Eff. 9/9/02.)
1. No person under the age of 18 years shall cause, permit or allow any ungelded equine animal to be present in said park.
2. No person shall cause, permit or allow any animal owned or possessed by them or any animal in their care, custody or control to be present in said park except: (Amended by Ord. No. 160,401, Eff. 11/1/85.)
(a) Equine animals being led or ridden under reasonable control upon bridle paths or trails provided for such purposes; or
(b) Equine or other animals which are hitched or fastened at a place expressly designated for such purposes; or
(c) Dogs which have been specially trained and are being used by blind or otherwise disabled persons to aid and guide them in their movements. (Amended by Ord. No. 172,088, Eff. 7/30/98.)
(d) Licensed dogs or cats when led by a leash not more than six (6) feet long, or when confined within the interior of a vehicle, or licensed dogs under the control of a competent person in designated dog exercise and training areas at: (Amended by Ord. No. 180,332, Eff. 12/16/08.)
(i) City parks or portions of City parks approved and designated as dog exercise and training areas by the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners and approved by the City Council by ordinance;
(ii) Laurel Canyon Park from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. until park closing every day of the week;
(iii) Silver Lake Recreation Center, provided, however, that no dogs, whether or not led by a leash, shall be permitted or allowed in any part of the Silver Lake Recreation Center other than the fenced area designated as a dog exercise and training area, except as permitted or allowed by Paragraph (c) hereof;
(iv) A portion of the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area consisting of approximately 10 acres and located on Victory Boulevard near White Oak Avenue, which shall be open at sunrise and closed at sunset every day of the week;
(v) A portion of Runyon Canyon Park consisting of approximately 90 acres located within the area 825 feet north of the Fuller Street entrance, 450 feet east of the Vista Street entrance and 1,850 feet south of the Mulholland Drive entrance. The boundaries of the off-leash dog exercise area described in this subparagraph shall be appropriately designated within the park. A separate portion of Runyon Canyon Park consisting of approximately 21,000 square feet located between the Fuller Street and Vista Street entrances and enclosed by a fence shall be designated a “no dogs or cats allowed” area and no dogs or cats shall be permitted or allowed inside the designated fenced area whether on or off leash;
(vi) A portion of Barrington Park consisting of 1.4 acres as designated on the site plan contained in Council File No. 02-0094 which shall be appropriately designated within the park and enclosed by fencing as indicated on the site plan. No dogs, whether on or off leash, shall be permitted or allowed in any area of Barrington Park other than the fenced area designated as an off-leash dog exercise area, except as provided by Paragraph (c) hereof;
(vii) An enclosed portion of Knoll Hill consisting of approximately three acres as designated on Knoll Hill by the Harbor Department;
(viii) An enclosed area consisting of approximately .84 acres, bounded by the Westminster Senior Center parking lot on the west, Main Street on the east, Westminster Avenue on the south and Clubhouse Avenue on the north, which shall be opened at sunrise and closed at sunset every day of the week;
(ix) A designated fenced area consisting of approximately .86 acres in Hermon Park;
(x) A designated area consisting of approximately 1.6 acres at Griffith Park and located at the north end of the John Ferraro Soccer Field on North Zoo Drive;
(xi) A designated area consisting of approximately 3 acres at Whitnall Park on Whitnall Highway in North Hollywood, including a 50,000 square foot area for large dogs and a 22,500 square foot area for small dogs.
(xii) A designated fenced area consisting of approximately 0.69 acre at the Westwood Recreation Center. (Added by Ord. No. 186,581, Eff. 4/30/20.)
(xiii) A designated fenced area consisting of approximately 0.99 acre at the Eagle Rock Recreation Center. (Added by Ord. No. 186,581, Eff. 4/30/20.)
(xiv) A designated fenced area consisting of approximately 0.35 of an acre in Glen Alla Park. (Added by Ord. No. 186,766, Eff. 10/24/20.)
(xv) A portion of the Joan Milke Flores Picnic Area within Angels Gate Park, specifically the non-paved area of the Joan Milke Flores Picnic Area that is bounded to the west by the Roxbury Street fence line, to the south by the West Paseo Del Mar fence line, to the east by the parking lot, and to the north and northeast by the walking path emanating from the parking lot until said path ends at the access road wherein the access road shall be the boundary. Signage shall be posted in the Joan Milke Flores Picnic Area describing the boundaries of the off-leash dog exercise area. (Added by Ord. No. 187,181, Eff. 10/18/21.)
The exception to Subdivision 2. contained in this Paragraph as it pertains to dogs shall not apply upon any boardwalk, sidewalk or public way immediately adjacent to any beach lands or beach properties adjoining the waterfront of the Pacific Ocean between the southerly boundary of the City of Santa Monica and Washington Street in the City of Los Angeles, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through October 31, and no dogs shall be permitted within the area during those times and days.
3. Vending. Vending in a public Park is governed by Section 42.13, except First Amendment protected vending as specifically allowed below: (Amended by Ord. No. 185,900, Eff. 12/6/18.)
(a) A Person may engage in traditional expressive speech and petitioning activities, and may Vend the following expressive items: newspapers, leaflets, pamphlets, bumper stickers, patches and/or buttons.
(b) A Person may Vend the following items, which have been created, written or composed by the Vendor: books, audio, video or other recordings of their Performances, paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures or any other item that is inherently communicative and is of nominal value or utility apart from its communication.
(c) Although an item may have some expressive purpose, it will be deemed to have more than nominal utility apart from its communication if it has a common and dominant non-expressive purpose. Examples of items that have more than normal utility apart from their communication and thus are subject to the Vending ban under the provision of this section include, but are not limited to, the following: housewares, appliances, articles of clothing, sunglasses, auto parts, oils, incense, perfume, crystals, lotions, candles, jewelry, toys and stuffed animals.
(d) A Vendor only may display items that may be Vended pursuant to this subsection.
(e) A Vendor may not provide free of charge any item that may not be Vended pursuant to this subsection if the purchase of an item that may be Vended lawfully pursuant to this subsection is a condition of receiving the free item.
(f) A Performer may Perform.
(g) The City, by and through its Board or Department, may issue a license, permit or contract with a Person or organization to Vend or to conduct or operate an authorized event, concession, business or trade in a Park.
(h) Any Vendor conducting lawful Vending under this subsection must comply with applicable tax and licensing requirements and comply with all permitting or contract requirements of the City, Department of Recreation and Parks, its Board, Commission or their authorized representatives.
(i) Violations. Violations of Subsection B.3. are governed by Section 42.13 D. of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 185,900, Eff. 12/6/18.)
4. No person shall play or utilize any sound amplifying system except within or upon an area or facility set aside for such purpose by the Board, Department or Commission. For the purposes of this and the next subdivision, “sound amplifying system” shall mean and include any system of electrical hookup or connection, loud speaker system or equipment, sound amplifying system, and any apparatus, equipment, device, instrument, or machine designed for or intended to be used for the purpose of amplifying the sound or increasing the volume of the human voice, musical tone, vibration or sound wave. This subdivision shall not apply to the regular and customary use of portable radios, televisions, record players or tape recorders played or operated in such places and at such times so as not to disturb other persons in their permitted uses of the park.
5. No person shall hold or conduct any musical event or concert in which any sound amplifying system is utilized without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the Board, Department or Commission. The application for such musical event permit shall state:
The name of the person or persons applying for the permit; the particular park and location therein at which the musical event is proposed to take place; the date and time of the event; the number of persons who will perform at such musical event; and the size of the expected audience. A written permit for the musical event shall be issued upon reasonable terms and conditions except when:
(a) The location requested has been previously reserved for the same date and time by another person or organization for a particular activity; or
(b) The size of the audience reasonably expected to attend the musical event will exceed the capacity of the location requested.
6. No person shall play any musical instrument between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. within seven hundred and fifty (750) feet of any structure used for dwelling purposes, except within or upon an area or facility set aside for this purpose by the Board or Department. For purposes of this subdivision, the term “musical instrument” includes but is not limited to drums and other percussion devices.
7. No person shall use any area or facility set aside, used, maintained or designated for a specific recreational or park purpose by the Board, Department or Commission, where reasonable notice of such designation or purpose is given by signs posted thereon, for a purpose contrary to or inconsistent with such specific or designated purpose. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,021, Eff. 1/27/16.)
8. No person shall land, release, take off or fly any balloon, except children toy balloons not inflated with any flammable material, helicopter, parakite, hang glider, aircraft or powered models thereof, except in areas specifically set aside therefor.
9. No person shall engage in any voluntary parachute jump.
10. No person shall use any bow or crossbow, or throw or release any arrows, except as specifically permitted in designated archery areas.
11. No person shall take, seize, disturb or hunt any bird, animal, nest, egg or fish, except that a per- son may search for a lost or escaped dog, cat or horse. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,021, Eff. 1/27/16.)
12. No person shall remove any wood, tree, shrub, plant, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel.
13. No person, without permission from the Board or the Department of Recreation and Parks, shall cut, break, injure, tamper with, deface or disturb any tree, shrub, plant, rock, building, cage, pen, monument, fence, bench, structure, apparatus, equipment or property; or mark, paint, post or write upon any building, monument, fence, bench or other structure. (Amended by Ord. No. 168,219, Eff. 10/4/92.)
14. (a) No person shall enter, remain, stay or loiter in any park between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day. On any public park or recreational facility subject to this section, the supervising employee at such site may extend the 10:30 p.m. closing time for up to one and one-half hours to accommodate any departmentally approved event, except for Griffith Park, for which the supervising employee at such site may extend the 10:30 p.m. closing time for up to only one hour to accommodate any departmentally approved event. (Amended by Ord. No. 180,461, Eff. 2/8/09.)
(b) No person shall enter, remain, stay or loiter in any park which consists of an ocean area, beach, or pier between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 5:00 o’clock a.m. of the following day; except that no person shall remain, stay or loiter on Royal Palms Beach between the hours of 8:00 o’clock p.m. and 5:00 o’clock a.m. of the following day. On any park which consists of an ocean area, beach, or pier subject to this Section, the supervising employee at such site may extend the 12:00 midnight closing time, or in the case of Royal Palms Beach the 8:00 o’clock p.m. closing time, to accommodate special events such as grunion runs and other events approved by the Department of Recreation and Parks or the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches, as applicable.
(c) No person shall enter, remain, stay or loiter in any of the following parks or facilities after their set hours of operation. The closing and opening hours for each of the following parks or facilities shall be as follows: (Amended by Ord. No. 182,547, Eff. 7/8/13.)
Bellevue Recreation Center - closed at 10:00 p.m., open at 5:00 a.m.
Cabrillo Beach pay Parking Lot (Port parking section) - closed at 10:30 p.m., open at 3:00 a.m.
Elysian Park - closed at 9:00 p.m. (except for two parking lots adjacent to it, which shall close at 10:30 p.m.), open at 5:00 a.m.
Gladys Park - closed at 7:00 p.m., open at 9:00 a.m. Monday through Sunday during Daylight Savings Time, and closed at 5:00 p.m., open at 10 a.m. Monday through Sunday during Non-Daylight Savings Time. (Added by Ord. No. 182,581, Eff. 6/24/13.)
Runnymede Park - closed at 8:30 p.m., open at 5:00 a.m. (Added by Ord. No. 187,996, Eff. 11/6/23.)
Stoner Skate Plaza - closed at 7:00 p.m., open at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Sunday during Daylight Savings Time, and closed at 5:00 p.m., open at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Sunday during Non-Daylight Savings Time.
Sunland Recreation Center - closed at 9:00 p.m., open at 5:00 a.m. (Added by Ord. No. 187,454, Eff. 5/5/22.)
Closed one hour after Sunset, open one hour before Sunrise:
Dearborn Park
Ernest E. Debs Regional Park (except to open no earlier than 5:30 a.m.)
Hansen Dam Recreation Center
Runyon Canyon Park
Telfair Park
Closed at Sunset, open at Sunrise:
Abbott Kinney Park
Alma Park (Added by Ord. No. 183,820, Eff. 9/30/15.)
Bell Canyon Park
Carey Ranch Park
Carlton Way Park (Added by Ord. No. 186,456, Eff. 1/15/20.)
Chase Street Park
Colton Street Community Park (Added by Ord. No. 186,456, Eff. 1/15/20.)
Deervale Park
Del Rey Lagoon
El Escorpian Canyon Park
Erwin Street Park
George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon (Added by Ord. No. 187,802, Eff. 5/8/23.)
Greenwood Square Park (Added by Ord. No. 188,390, Eff. 10/22/24.)
Hansen Dam Recreational Lake
Harbor Highlands Park (Added by Ord. No. 185,754, Eff. 10/21/18.)
Harold Henry Park
Jesse Owens Park
Kagel Canyon Park
Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park (except the northern end of the park, as designated by appropriate signage, which shall close at 4:00 p.m. and open at 10:00 a.m.)
Knapp Ranch Park Annex
Liemert Plaza
Linnie Canal Park
Madison Avenue Community Garden and Park (Added by Ord. No. 186,456, Eff. 1/15/20.)
Orcas Park
Orcutt Ranch
Pacific Palisades Park (portions near Via De Las Olas and near Mount Holyoak, as designated by appropriate signage)
Porter Ranch Subparks (Palisades Bridle Trails, Wilbur-Tampa, Eddleston, Limekiln Canyon, Porter Ridge, and Viking)
Reseda Park (north of the flood control channel on Kittridge Street between Reseda Boulevard and Etiwanda Avenue) (Added by Ord. No. 182,959, Eff. 5/7/14.)
Richardson Family Park
Robert Burns Park
Ross Valencia Pocket Park (Added by Ord. No. 185,524, Eff. 6/12/18.)
San Pascual Park
Seily Rodriguez Park (Added by Ord. No. 186,456, Eff. 1/15/20.)
Selma Park (Added by Ord. No. 186,456, Eff. 1/15/20.)
Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area Facilities (Woodley Flight Field, Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, the North Parking Lot of Balboa Park, Lake Balboa Park, Off-Leash Dog Exercise Area)
South Weddington Park
Stoney Point Park
Valley Plaza Park (Laurel Grove and Whitsett Sections)
Verdugo Mountain Park (Added by Ord. No. 188,811, Eff. 3/9/26.)
Villa Cabrini Park
Wilmington Square Park (Added by Ord. No. 184,060, Eff. 2/8/16.)
Yucca Mini Park
15. No person shall ride or pull any horsedrawn vehicle on bridle trails or other areas except as specifically provided for such purposes by the Board.
16. No person shall drive or ride any cycle or vehicle, whether powered by a motor or human power, except on paths, roads or drives designed and provided for such purposes.
17. No person shall make or kindle a fire or cook food, except on a stove or masonry or concrete hearth or fire circle provided for such purpose, or on a portable stove or hearth of an approved type and in areas specifically posted for such use.
18. No person shall erect any barrier or lay, string or join any wires, ropes, chains or place any obstruction on or across any path, trail or area where the public may be expect to make contact with such barrier, wire, rope or chain.
19. No person shall throw, discard or deposit any paper, rubbish, debris, ashes, dirt, bottles, cans, trash or litter of any kind or nature whatsoever, except in receptacles specifically provided therefor.
20. No person shall appear, bathe, sunbathe, walk or be in any public park, playground, beach or the waters adjacent thereto, in such a manner that the genitals, vulva, pubis, pubic symphysis, pubic hair, buttock, natal cleft, perineum, anus, anal region, or pubic hair region of any such person, or any portion of the breast at or below the upper edge of the areola thereof of any such female person, is exposed to public view or is not covered by an opaque covering.
(a) This subdivision shall not apply to children under the age of 10 years.
(b) This subdivision shall not apply to live theatrical performances performed in a theater, concert hall, or other similar establishment located on public land.
21. No person shall carry or discharge any firearms, firecrackers, fireworks, rockets, model rockets, torpedoes, airgun or slingshot.
22. [Suspended until further action by Ord. No. 176,929, Eff. 10/1/05.] No person shall assemble, collect or gather together in any walk, drive- way, passageway or pathway in any park or in other places set apart for the travel of persons or vehicles in or through any park or occupy the same so that the free passage or use thereof by persons or vehicles passing along the same shall be obstructed in any manner.
23. [Suspended until further action by Ord. No. 176,929, Eff. 10/1/05.] No person, without permission from the Board or the Department of Recreation and Parks, shall distribute, display, circulate, post, place or erect any bills, notice, paper, or advertising device or matter of a commercial nature. (First para. Amended by Ord. No. 168,219, Eff. 10/4/92.)
(a) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit sport organizations qualified as nonprofit organizations under State and federal tax laws pursuant to written permit from the Board, from posting and maintaining signs at sport fields where such organizations conduct a sport recreation program or programs acknowledging the sponsorship of such organizations by firms, businesses, or individuals; provided that as to any location where the Board authorizes such signs to be posted the following conditions are met:
(1) The sole or primary purpose of the nonprofit sport organization is to conduct a sport recreation program or programs at the sport field involved.
(2) The nonprofit sport organization is required to maintain the sport field involved at its own cost and expense.
(3) Such signs are posted only during the playing season for that particular sport each year and only for the shorter of either the duration of the season or the period of time that the non-profit sport organization operates that season’s program at that facility, and not at any other time.
(4) The proceeds derived from the sponsorships acknowledged by such signs are expended solely for the maintenance of the sport field involved; except that any surplus after meeting such expenses may be expended to meet the expenses incurred by the non-profit organization in conducting the recreation program or programs at that facility.
(5) The signs are placed only on the perimeter fence of the field, are one-sided, facing the spectator area of the field, and are of a size, number and design as specified by the Board.
(6) Each such sign identifies the sponsor as well as the non-profit organization and contains a statement declaring such sponsorship or support.
(b) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit the County of Los Angeles from conducting a Marketing Program on those beaches which are the subject of that certain “Joint Powers Agreement Between the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles Providing for Lifeguard and Maintenance Services to be Rendered by the County on Beaches Located Within the City” dated May 20, 1975, as amended. The term “Marketing Program” is defined to mean a program whereby the County grants third parties limited advertising rights on the beaches, such as the right to display name or product identification on lifeguard towers, trucks, uniforms, rescue boats, lifeguard equipment, public restrooms, fences, concession buildings, parking lot receipts and other beach facilities, in exchange for financial support in the form of money, equipment or services to be used in performing the obligations assumed by the County in the Agreement. Provided, however, that any such name and product identification shall not directly solicit the sale, use or consumption of any product; that the County shall not permit name and product identification of alcoholic beverage or tobacco products; and that the County shall not display the name of any marketing program sponsor or donor, or of their products on the beaches in any manner other than as is described in this subsection without the prior written approval from the Board. Additionally, such Marketing Program shall be subject to all of the restrictions set forth in Section 2.116.210 of the Administrative Code of the County of Los Angeles, which is incorporated herein by reference as amended from time-to-time.
24. Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited. A violation of this subdivision shall be punishable as an infraction. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,053, Eff. 3/9/16.)
(a) Exception. Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is permitted in the following areas:
(1) City golf courses, except for the following courses where smoking is only allowed in designated areas and not in all areas of the course:
Roosevelt Golf Course
Wilson Golf Course
Harding Golf Course
Tregnan Golf Academy
(2) Those areas within parks that are specified in a permit issued by the Recreation and Parks Film Office authorizing smoking by actors during filming; and
(3) Designated smoking areas at the Autry National Center, the Greek Theater, and the Los Angeles Zoo.
(b) Signage Requirement. The Department shall post and maintain conspicuous signs clearly indicating that smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited. These signs shall clearly state that the use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited, recite the phrase “No Smoking” and/or use the international no- smoking symbol, and shall cite this subdivision of Section 63.44 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
25. No person shall discard, dispose of, or deposit any tobacco product, including cigarette and cigar butts and ashes, except in approved containers specifically placed and designated for receipt of trash, refuse, rubbish, litter or other kind of waste materials. A violation of this subdivision shall be punishable as an infraction. (Added by Ord. No. 182,927, Eff. 4/19/14.)
26. Bulky Items, Tents and Storage of Personal Property in Parks. (Added by Ord. No. 183,761, Eff. 7/18/15.)
(a) Declaration of Legislative Intent – Purpose. Parks should be accessible and available to residents and the public at large for their intended recreational uses. Bringing bulky items into a Park and the unauthorized use of a Park for the storage of personal property interferes with the rights of other members of the public to use Parks for their intended purposes and can create a public health or safety hazard that adversely affects the Park and those who use the Park for recreational activities. The purpose of this section is to maintain Parks in clean, sanitary and accessible condition, to prevent harm to the health or safety of the public, to prevent the misappropriation of Parks for personal use, and to promote the public health and safety by ensuring that Parks remain readily accessible for their intended recreational uses.
(b) Definitions. The definitions contained in this subsection shall govern the construction, meaning and application of words and phrases used in this section.
(1) “Bulky Item” means any item that is too large to fit in one of the City’s 60 gallon trash containers with the lid closed, including, but not limited to, a mattress, couch, chair or other furniture or appliance. Bulky Item does not include a portable, collapsible picnic chair or table.
(2) “Person” means any individual, group, business, business trust, company, corporation, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, entity, association, club or organization composed of two or more individuals (or manager, lessee, agent servant, officer or employee).
(3) “Personal Property” means any and all tangible property, and includes, but is not limited to, goods, materials, merchandise, Tents, tarpaulins, bedding, sleeping bags, hammocks, and personal items such as luggage, backpacks, clothing, documents, medication and household items.
(4) “Store,” “Stored” or “Storing” means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.
(5) “Tent” means any tarpaulin, cover, structure or shelter, made of any material which is not open on all sides and which hinders an unobstructed view behind or into the area surrounded by the tarpaulins, cover, structure or shelter.
(c) Prohibition on Bulky Items in a City Park. No Person shall bring into any Park any Bulky Item without a permit therefor.
(d) Prohibition on Erecting a Tent in a City Park. Except for areas expressly designated for camping, no person shall erect, configure or construct a Tent in any Park.
(e) Ban on Attachments. No Person shall erect any barrier against or lay string or join any wires, ropes, chains or otherwise attach any Personal Property to any of the City’s real or personal property or trees or plants in a Park, including, but not limited to, a building or portion or protrusion thereof, playground equipment, sports equipment, exercise equipment, fencing, netting, trash can, gazebo, pagoda, pole, post, bike rack, drinking fountain, sign, table, bench, tree, bush, shrub or plant, without the City’s prior written consent.
(f) Removal of Stored Personal Property; Discarding of Stored Personal Property.
(1) No Person shall Store Personal Property in any Park.
(2) All Stored Personal Property remaining in any Park after closing may be removed by the City.
(3) Personal Property placed in a Park shall be deemed to be Stored Personal Property if it has not been removed from the Park prior to the daily closure of the Park. Moving Personal Property to another location in the same Park or another Park or any other Public Area as defined in Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 56.11, shall not be considered removing the Personal Property from the Park. The City may remove such Stored Personal Property after providing notice pursuant to Subsection (g) herein. This section shall not apply to Personal Property that remains in the Park after the Park closes pursuant to statute, ordinance, regulation, permit, contract or other authorization by the City.
(4) The City may remove and discard any non-permitted Bulky Item from a Park without prior notice.
(5) In the event Personal Property placed in a Park poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of the public, the City may remove and discard it without prior notice.
(g) Pre-Removal Notice. Notice of the City’s removal of Personal Property will be provided as follows:
(1) By erecting in a Park at least one sign in a conspicuous place providing notice that any Personal Property remaining in the Park after the Park closes may be removed and impounded and may be discarded by the City if not claimed within 90 days of the City’s removal of the Personal Property; or
(2) By placing on or near the Personal Property, a written notice containing the following:
(i) A general description of the Personal Property to be removed;
(ii) The location from which the Personal Property will be removed;
(iii) The date and time the notice was posted;
(iv) A statement that the Personal Property has been Stored in violation of Section 63.44 B.26. and will be removed by the City if the Person who Stored the Personal Property in the Park does not remove the Personal Property from the Park within 24 hours;
(v) The location where the removed Personal Property will be stored, including a telephone number and the internet website of the City through which a Person may receive information as to impounded Personal Property as well as information as to voluntary storage location(s); and
(vi) A statement that the City may discard the Personal Property if not claimed within 90 days after the City’s removal of it.
(h) Post Removal Notice. Upon the City’s removal of Personal Property, written notice shall be placed conspicuously in the area from which the City removed the Personal Property. The written notice shall contain the following:
(1) A general description of the Personal Property removed by the City;
(2) The date and approximate time the Personal Property was removed by the City;
(3) A statement that the Personal Property was Stored in violation of 63.44 B.26.;
(4) The location where the removed Personal Property will be impounded, including a telephone number and internet website of the City through which a Person may receive information as to impounded Personal Property; and
(5) A statement that removed Personal Property may be discarded if not claimed within 90 days of the City’s removal of it.
(i) Failure to Remove Attended Personal Property. It shall be unlawful to fail to remove from a Park attended Stored Personal Property within 24 hours of receiving written notice pursuant to Subsection (f)(2) or after closure of the Park, in any Park with a sign posed pursuant to Subsection (g).
(j) Storage and Disposal.
(1) Except as specified herein, impounded Personal Property shall be moved to a place of storage;
(2) Except as specified herein, impounded Personal Property shall be held by the City for 90 days, after which time, if not claimed, it may be discarded. The City shall not be required to undertake any search for, or return of, any Personal Property held by the City for longer than 90 days;
(3) The City shall maintain a record of the date any Personal Property was discarded.
(k) Repossession. The owner or any other person entitled to the Personal Property removed by the City may repossess the Personal Property prior to its disposal upon submitting satisfactory proof of ownership or entitlement to the Personal Property. A Person may establish proof of ownership by, among other methods, describing the location where and date when the Personal Property was Stored in a Park and providing a specific and detailed description of the Personal Property. Valid, government-issued identification is not required to claim removed Personal Property.
(l) Illegal Dumping. Nothing herein precludes the enforcement of any law prohibiting illegal dumping, including but not limited to, California Penal Code Section 374.3, and Los Angeles Municipal Code Sections 41.14, 63.44 B.13. or 190.02, or any successor statutes proscribing illegal dumping.
(m) Certain Penalties Inapplicable. Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 11.00 shall not apply to violations of this section except as to violations of Subsections (c), (d), (e), (i) and (l).
(n) Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this article is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a 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 adopted this section, and each and every subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof not declared invalid or unconstitutional, without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
C. The Board is hereby authorized to designate particular park roads for commercial trucks and vehicles for park purposes only. No such truck or vehicle carrying any article for trade or commerce shall drive upon any park road except as may be specifically provided or designated for such use. The 1.5 mile walkway surrounding Lake Balboa in Lake Balboa Park shall be designated as a “pedestrian walk only.” No person shall roller blade, roller skate, skate board, or ride or drive any bicycle, scooter or similar vehicle upon the designated walkway. (Amended by Ord. No. 169,113, Eff. 12/4/93.)
D. Within the limits of any park other than beaches, no person shall:
1. Swim, bathe, wade in or pollute the water of any park, fountain pond, lake or stream, except as permitted by the Board or its authorized representative.
2. Enter any municipal swimming pool or dressing room therein at any time when a life guard or dressing room attendant is not present.
3. Roller skate, board skate, or ride or drive any bicycle, scooter, or similar vehicle on the decks surrounding a swimming pool or on tennis courts.
4. Camp or engage in Camping in a Park, except in locations designated for such purposes, or erect, maintain, use or occupy any Tent, excluding Umbrellas or Sun Shades. (Amended by Ord. No. 183,815, Eff. 9/27/15.)
(a) Definitions: For purposes of this subdivision, the following words or phrases shall mean:
(i) “Camp” or “Camping” means using a Park for living accommodation purposes, as evidenced by: (a) remaining for prolonged or repetitious periods of time, not associated with ordinary recreational use of a Park, with one’s personal possessions or belongings (including but not limited to clothing, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, pillow, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, cookware and cooking equipment); and (b) engaging in one or more of the following: sleeping, storing personal possessions or belongings as defined above, making a fire, cooking, or consuming meals. The combined activities of (a) and (b) constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that a person is using a Park as a living accommodation regardless of the person’s intent or the nature of other activities in which the person might also be engaged.
(ii) “Tent” means any shelter or structure, made of any material, that is not open on all sides and which lacks an unobstructed view into the Tent, shelter or structure from the outside.
(iii) “Umbrella or Sun Shade” means any canopy or cover that is open on all sides, consists of pliable tent-like material such as canvas, nylon or other synthetic fabric, and that is maintained in an upright position by one or more supporting metal, plastic, or wooden poles. No Umbrella or Sun Shade shall exceed eight feet in height and ten feet in diameter or length or width. All Umbrellas or Sun Shades shall be dismantled and removed from the Park before the Park is closed.
5. Operate a boat on any pond, lake or waters therein, except as permitted by the Board or its authorized representative.
E. No parent, guardian, or person having the custody of any child under the age of eight (8) years shall cause, permit or allow such child to enter or visit any park, other than beaches, having a lake, pond, stream or swimming pool within its boundaries, unless such child is accompanied by a person of not less than sixteen (16) years of age.
F. No person over eight (8) years of age shall enter or use any restroom in a park designated for persons of the other sex.
G. Every person shall comply with rules promulgated by the Board for the use of golf courses, tennis courts, and dog parks, which rules shall be conspicuously posted at each golf course, tennis court, and dog park. (Amended by Ord. No. 180,332, Eff. 12/16/08.)
H. In parks consisting of beaches and water recreation areas, the Board or the Director of Beaches is hereby empowered and authorized to establish in and upon the beaches and water recreation areas water activity zones restricted as to the following uses:
1. Bathing and Swimming Zones – No person shall use, possess or operate in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this section any object commonly known as a surfboard, paddleboard or similar device (but not including surfmats which are made of a nonrigid material with a non-slippery surface, so constructed that when inflated for use it will not fold in any direction between twenty-four (24) and thirty (30) inches in width and forty (40) to sixty (60) inches in length, and equipped with a safety rope, and belly boards) at such times and in such zone when said waters are restricted for swimming and bathing only.
Such restrictions shall be effective when a yellow flag having dimensions of not less than two feet by two feet and having a solid black circle in the center (commonly known as a “blackball flag”) is prominently displayed from a lifeguard tower, lifeguard station, pier or similar structure under the control of the Department of Beaches.
At such times as the blackball flag is displayed, swimming and bathing only shall be permitted in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite those areas of the beach within 200 yards of the point of display of said blackball flag, provided, however, that where said blackball flag is displayed from consecutive operational lifeguard towers, lifeguard stations and similar structures under the control of the Department of Beaches along a beach regulated by this article then all waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite said beach shall be restricted to swimming and bathing only.
Such restrictions shall also be indicated by pairs of red flags put in place by the Director of Beaches or the Director’s authorized employee. At such times as said red flags are displayed, swimming and bathing only shall be permitted in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite those areas of the beach lying between a given pair of such red flags.
2. Surfboards Zone – Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Director of Beaches may from time to time designate certain areas to be used exclusively by persons using surfboards and paddleboards. Such designation may be revoked at any time and the area covered by any such designation may be enlarged or reduced at any time. A person shall not swim or bathe in the waters of the Pacific Ocean included in an area so designated except while using a surfboard or paddleboard or as is necessary in order to use a surfboard or paddleboard.
I. Within the limits of parks consisting of beaches and water recreation areas:
1. No person shall surf by board or engage in bathing or swimming activities in any area posted as closed.
2. No person shall bathe, swim, surf by board or operate any boat or other device in, or upon, water in violation of any authorized warning signal or device. Any person in violation of any warning signal or device or in violation of any Bathing and Swimming Zone or Surfboard Zone restriction shall not fail, refuse or neglect to leave the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this section.
3. No person shall engage in the sport commonly known as aquaplaning, water skiing, or any derivation thereof unless such activities are permitted by conspicuously posted signs at appropriate places upon the beach and lands abutting and adjacent thereto.
4. No person shall use any spear gun on any beach or in any waters within one thousand (1,000) feet of shore unless otherwise specifically permitted in posted areas.
5. No person shall operate a boat within one hundred (100) feet of any bather or swimmer, or within two hundred (200) feet of a beach used by bathers or swimmers.
6. No person shall beach or launch any boat, except at a place designated for such purposes. The Board or the Director of Beaches may designate any beach area or portions thereof as an area which may be used for the purpose of beaching or launching boats.
7. No person shall use, possess or operate any object commonly known as a surfmat, paddleboard, bellyboard, surfboard, or similar device except within 200 yards from shore or 75 yards seaward of the point at which the average wave breaking, whichever distance is greater, or when used by a skin diver to hold the skin diver’s flag.
8. No person shall bring or permit or allow in the waters of the Pacific Ocean opposite any beach regulated by this section any object commonly known as, or used as, a paddleboard or surfboard, within 100 feet of any person in the waters thereof who was not at the time using or possessing a similar object.
9. No person shall Camp or engage in Camping on a Beach, except in locations designated for such purposes, or erect, maintain, use or occupy any Tent, excluding Umbrellas or Sun Shades. Nor shall any person fasten or maintain any wire, rope or exterior bracing or support of any kind between such Umbrella or Sun Shade or any portion thereof, and any structure, stake, pole, tree, rock, fence, or thing outside of such Umbrella or Sun Shade. (Amended by Ord. No. 183,815, Eff. 9/27/15.)
(a) Definitions: For purposes of this subdivision, the following words or phrases shall mean:
(i) “Camp” or “Camping” means using a Beach for living accommodation purposes, as evidenced by: (a) remaining for prolonged or repetitious periods of time, not associated with ordinary recreational use of a Beach, with one’s personal possessions or belongings (including but not limited to clothing, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, pillow, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, cookware and cooking equipment); and (b) engaging in one or more of the following: sleeping, storing personal possessions or belongings as defined above, making a fire, cooking or consuming meals. The combined activities of (a) and (b) constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that a person is using a Beach as a living accommodation regardless of the person’s intent or the nature of other activities in which the Person might also be engaged.
(ii) “Tent” means any shelter or structure, made of any material, that is not open on all sides and which lacks an unobstructed view into the Tent, shelter or structure from the outside.
(iii) “Umbrella or Sun Shade” means any canopy or cover that is open on all sides, consists of pliable tent-like material such as canvas, nylon or other synthetic fabric, and that is maintained in an upright position by one or more supporting metal, plastic, or wooden poles. No Umbrella or Sun Shade shall exceed eight feet in height and ten feet in diameter or length or width. All Umbrellas or Sun Shades shall be dismantled and removed from the Beach before the Beach is closed.
10. (Added by Ord. No. 163,039, Eff. 1/17/88.) No person shall enter, be, or remain on any beach area unless that person complies with all regulations applicable to that beach and with all other applicable ordinances, rules and regulations.
11. (Added by Ord. No. 163,039, Eff. 1/17/88.) A person exercising any of the privileges authorized by this section does so at that person’s own risk without liability on the part of the City for any injury to person or property resulting therefrom.
12. (Added by Ord. No. 163,039, Eff. 1/17/88.) Except as otherwise provided in this section or as authorized by the Board, no person shall camp on or use for overnight sleeping purposes any beach, or bring a housetrailer, camper or similar vehicle onto any beach.
13. Bulky Items, Tents and Storage of Personal Property in Beach Parks. (Added by Ord. No. 183,761, Eff. 7/18/15.)
(a) Declaration of Legislative Intent – Purpose. Beach Parks should be accessible and available to residents and the public at large for their intended recreational uses. Bringing bulky items into a Beach Park and the unauthorized use of a Beach Park for the storage of personal property interferes with the rights of other members of the public to use Beach Parks for their intended purposes and can create a public health or safety hazard that adversely affects the Beach Park and those who use the Beach Park for recreational activities. The purpose of this section is to maintain Beach Parks in clean, sanitary and accessible condition, to prevent harm to the health or safety of the public, to prevent the misappropriation of Beach Parks for personal use, and to promote the public health and safety by ensuring that Beach Parks remain readily accessible for their intended recreational uses.
(b) Definitions. The definitions contained in this subsection shall govern the construction, meaning and application of words and phrases used in this section.
(1) “Bulky Item” means any item that is too large to fit in one of the City’s 60 gallon trash containers with the lid closed, including, but not limited to, a mattress, couch, chair or other furniture or appliance. Bulky Item does not include a portable, collapsible picnic chair or table.
(2) “Person” means any individual, group, business, business trust, company, corporation, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, entity, association, club or organization composed of two or more individuals (or manager, lessee, agent servant, officer or employee).
(3) “Personal Property” means any and all tangible property, and includes, but is not limited to, goods, materials, merchandise, Tents, tarpaulins, bedding, sleeping bags, hammocks, and personal items such as luggage, backpacks, clothing, documents, medication and household items.
(4) “Store,” “Stored” or “Storing” means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.
(5) “Tent” means any tarpaulin, cover, structure or shelter, made of any material which is not open on all sides and which hinders an unobstructed view behind or into the area surrounded by the tarpaulins, cover, structure or shelter.
(c) Prohibition on Bulky Items in a City Beach Park. No Person shall bring into any Beach Park any Bulky Item without a permit therefor.
(d) Prohibition on Erecting a Tent in a City Beach Park. Except for areas expressly designated for camping, no person shall erect, configure or construct a Tent in any Beach Park.
(e) Ban on Attachments. No Person shall erect any barrier against or lay string or join any wires, ropes, chains or otherwise attach any Personal Property to any of the City’s real or personal property or trees or plants in a Beach Park, including, but not limited to, a building or portion or protrusion thereof, playground equipment, sports equipment, exercise equipment, fencing, netting, trash can, gazebo, pagoda, pole, post, bike rack, drinking fountain, sign, table, bench, tree, bush, shrub or plant, without the City’s prior written consent.
(f) Removal of Stored Personal Property; Discarding of Stored Personal Property.
(1) No Person shall Store Personal Property in any Beach Park.
(2) All Stored Personal Property remaining in any Beach Park after closing may be removed by the City.
(3) Personal Property placed in a Beach Park shall be deemed to be Stored Personal Property if it has not been removed from the Beach Park prior to the daily closure of the Beach Park. Moving Personal Property to another location in the same Beach Park or another Beach Park or any other Public Area as defined in Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 56.11, shall not be considered removing the Personal Property from the Beach Park. The City may remove such Stored Personal Property after providing notice pursuant to Subsection (g) herein. This section shall not apply to Personal Property that remains in the Beach Park after the Beach Park closes pursuant to statute, ordinance, regulation, permit, contract or other authorization by the City.
(4) The City may remove and discard any non-permitted Bulky Item from a Beach Park without prior notice.
(5) In the event Personal Property placed in a Beach Park poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of the public, the City may remove and discard it without prior notice.
(g) Pre-Removal Notice. Notice of the City’s removal of Personal Property will be provided as follows:
(1) By erecting in a Beach Park at least one sign in a conspicuous place providing notice that any Personal Property remaining in the Beach Park after the Beach Park closes may be removed and impounded and may be discarded by the City if not claimed within 90 days of the City’s removal of the Personal Property; or
(2) By placing on or near the Personal Property, a written notice containing the following:
(i) A general description of the Personal Property to be removed;
(ii) The location from which the Personal Property will be removed;
(iii) The date and time the notice was posted;
(iv) A statement that the Personal Property has been Stored in violation of Section 63.44 B.26. and will be removed by the City if the Person who Stored the Personal Property in the Beach Park does not remove the Personal Property from the Beach Park within 24 hours;
(v) The location where the removed Personal Property will be stored, including a telephone number and the internet website of the City through which a Person may receive information as to impounded Personal Property as well as information as to voluntary storage location(s); and
(vi) A statement that the City may discard the Personal Property if not claimed within 90 days after the City’s removal of it.
(h) Post Removal Notice. Upon the City’s removal of Personal Property, written notice shall be placed conspicuously in the area from which the City removed the Personal Property. The written notice shall contain the following:
(1) A general description of the Personal Property removed by the City;
(2) The date and approximate time the Personal Property was removed by the City;
(3) A statement that the Personal Property was Stored in violation of 63.44 B.26.;
(4) The location where the removed Personal Property will be impounded, including a telephone number and internet website of the City through which a Person may receive information as to impounded Personal Property; and
(5) A statement that removed Personal Property may be discarded if not claimed within 90 days of the City’s removal of it.
(i) Failure to Remove Attended Personal Property. It shall be unlawful to fail to remove from a Beach Park attended Stored Personal Property within 24 hours of receiving written notice pursuant to Subsection (f)(2) or after closure of the Beach Park, in any Beach Park with a sign posed pursuant to Subsection (g).
(j) Storage and Disposal.
(1) Except as specified herein, impounded Personal Property shall be moved to a place of storage;
(2) Except as specified herein, impounded Personal Property shall be held by the City for 90 days, after which time, if not claimed, it may be discarded. The City shall not be required to undertake any search for, or return of, any Personal Property held by the City for longer than 90 days;
(3) The City shall maintain a record of the date any Personal Property was discarded.
(k) Repossession. The owner or any other person entitled to the Personal Property removed by the City may repossess the Personal Property prior to its disposal upon submitting satisfactory proof of ownership or entitlement to the Personal Property. A Person may establish proof of ownership by, among other methods, describing the location where and date when the Personal Property was Stored in a Beach Park and providing a specific and detailed description of the Personal Property. Valid, government- issued identification is not required to claim removed Personal Property.
(l) Illegal Dumping. Nothing herein precludes the enforcement of any law prohibiting illegal dumping, including but not limited to, California Penal Code Section 374.3, and Los Angeles Municipal Code Sections 41.14, 63.44 B.13. or 190.02, or any successor statutes proscribing illegal dumping.
(m) Certain Penalties Inapplicable. Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 11.00 shall not apply to violations of this section except as to violations of Subsections (c), (d), (e), (i) and (l).
(n) Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this article is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a 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 adopted this section, and each and every subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof not declared invalid or unconstitutional, without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
J. Within the limits of any park containing a fishing pier:
1. No person shall operate any vehicle on a fishing pier, except as permitted by the Board or its authorized representative.
2. No person shall ride a bicycle, scooter, skate, skateboard, or other wheeled device on any pier. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection shall not apply to the use of wheelchairs by persons whose physical condition necessitates such use.
3. No person shall dive or jump, or cause another to fall, dive or jump from a pier, or climb or be on the outside of the railing of a pier except:
(a) members of the lifeguard service of the Department of Beaches or any other person as may be delegated by the lifeguard service or any of its personnel to assist them in rescuing or saving lives;
(b) members of the lifeguard service during the course of drills and training;
(c) authorized persons involved in the maintenance, repair or construction of the pier or a part thereof; or
(d) as a participant in an aquatic event or activity which is approved and authorized by the Director of Beaches.
4. No person shall swim, operate or otherwise use a surfboard, skindive or use self-contained underwater breathing apparatus within an area described as one hundred (100) feet of either side of the pier except for purposes otherwise authorized by this article.
5. No person shall climb or crawl on the pier railings, pilings or under structures.
6. No person shall do any overhead casting or allow any fishing lure or hook to pass inboard of the pier railing while casting.
7. No person shall clean any fish except at locations provided for that purpose.
8. No person shall use more than one pole or drop line at any one time.
9. No person shall fish or trap sea life for commercial purposes.
10. No person shall use any fishing spear or spear gun.
K. Within the limits of any parking lot located within the limits of any park:
1. No person shall drive a vehicle onto any public parking lot without paying the posted fee to the attendant on duty thereon or by paying the metered fee.
2. No person shall stand or park any vehicle on any metered or unmetered public parking lot between the hours of 10:30 o’clock p.m. and 5:00 o’clock a.m. of the following day or such other hours as the Council may establish for each public parking lot by ordinance, whether said vehicle is occupied or unoccupied. Provided, however, that within the limits of parks consisting of ocean areas, beaches or piers, no person shall stand or park any vehicle on any metered or un- metered public parking lot between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 5:00 o’clock a.m. of the following day or such other hours as the Council may establish for each such parking lot by ordinance. (Amended by Ord. No. 164,209, Eff. 1/8/89.)
3. No person shall refuse to exhibit upon demand of any attendant the driver or operator’s portion of a parking ticket when the driver or operator of any vehicle that is standing, parked or being operated on any unmetered parking lot has been issued a numbered parking ticket.
4. No person shall remove the identifying portion of a parking ticket from any vehicle while on such parking lot.
5. No person shall drive a vehicle onto any public parking lot through a driveway posted with a sign stating “Do Not Enter”.
6. No person shall remove an automobile from public parking lot except through a gateway or driveway marked “Exit”.
7. No person shall park in a parking lot, except entirely within a space indicated by painted lines, said spaces being commonly referred to as a “parking slot” or “parking stall”.
8. No person shall park where there is posted a “No Parking” sign.
9. No person shall drive a truck of more than one (1) ton capacity on any public parking lot.
10. No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon any public parking lot at a speed greater than ten (10) miles per hour, unless otherwise posted.
11. No person shall drive a vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit.
12. No person shall teach another person to drive a motor vehicle or use such parking lot for driving practice.
13. The provisions of Subdivisions 2.,7., and 8. of Subsection K. shall be enforced by civil penalty in the same manner as the provisions of Section 80.76.2 of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 168,782, Eff. 7/12/93.)
L. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 63.44 K.2., where a parking lot is located within any park, including those consisting of beach and water recreation areas, the Director of Beaches, or the Board in the event the City exercises management and control over such park, may post or cause to be posted a sign at the entrance to such parking lot indicating that the lot is closed to public parking at an hour earlier than 1:00 a.m. or later that 3:00 a.m. When such sign is posted, no person shall stand or park an occupied or unoccupied vehicle within the parking lot during the hours wherein parking is prohibited. Any vehicle parked in violation of the provisions of this subsection may be removed from such parking lot in accordance with the provisions of the Vehicle Code of the State of California. (Amended by Ord. No. 164,209, Eff. 1/8/89.)
M. Within the limit of any zoological garden located within a public park, no person other than authorized City employees shall:
1. Feed or throw food to any animal located therein, except in that area of the Children’s Zoo so designated, approved food may be fed to animals located therein.
2. Harass, tease or annoy any animal by means of gestures, movements, throwing of objects, shouting or by any other means.
3. Have within their possession any cans, bottles, skateboards, bats, balls, a knife with a blade longer than three (3) inches, or any other objects which are capable of being thrown at or otherwise used to harm any animal.
N. Skateboard and all-wheel facilities. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,218, Eff. 11/11/21.)
1. Within the limit of any park or portion thereof designated by the Board as a skateboard facility, whether the facility is supervised or unsupervised:
(a) No person shall ride a skateboard unless that person is wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads.
(b) No person shall ride anything other than a skateboard in the skating area.
(c) The opening and closing hours of the park shall be 12:00 noon to sunset Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to sunset on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; however, skate parks shall also be closed during periods of wet weather or when conditions, such as vandalism, make it unsafe to skate.
(d) The Board shall cause signs to be erected at all skateboard facilities providing reasonable notice that any person riding a skateboard at the facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads while skateboarding; that no bicycles or scooters are allowed in the skating area; that the park hours are 12:00 noon to sunset Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to sunset on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays; that the park will be closed during periods of wet weather or when conditions make it unsafe to skate; and that any person in violation of this ordinance will be subject to citation for violation thereof.
2. Within the limit of any park or portion thereof designated by the Board as an all-wheel facility, whether the facility is supervised or unsupervised:
(a) No person shall ride a skateboard or other wheeled recreational device unless that person is wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads.
(b) No person shall ride anything other than a skateboard or other wheeled recreational device in the riding area.
(c) The opening and closing hours of the park shall be 12:00 noon to sunset Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to sunset on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; however, all wheel parks shall also be closed during periods of wet weather or when conditions, such as vandalism, make it unsafe to ride.
(d) The Board shall cause signs to be erected at all all-wheel facilities providing reasonable notice that any person riding a skateboard or other wheeled recreational device at the facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads while riding; that no person shall ride anything other than a skateboard or other wheeled recreational device in the riding area; that the park hours are 12:00 noon to sunset Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to sunset on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays; that the park will be closed during periods of wet weather or when conditions make it unsafe to ride; and that any person in violation of this ordinance will be subject to citation for violation thereof.
3. In addition to the Board’s Charter authority to establish, construct, maintain, operate, and control all property acquired by it or assigned to its jurisdiction for public recreation, for purposes of implementing this subsection, the Board shall have the authority to designate all applicable facilities located on property owned by the City of Los Angeles, but not under the control, operation, or management of the Board, as either skateboard facilities or all-wheel facilities.
4. Definitions. For purposes of this subsection, the following words or phrases shall mean:
(a) “Other wheeled recreational device” means nonmotorized bicycles, scooters, in-line skates, roller skates, and wheelchairs.
(b) “Park” shall include every skateboard facility and all-wheel facility located in a public park or other recreational facility area, owned by the City of Los Angeles, whether or not such facility is controlled, operated, or managed by the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners.
O. Within the limit of any park consisting of beach lands or beach properties adjoining the waterfront of the Pacific Ocean between the southerly boundary of the City of Santa Monica and Washington Boulevard in the City of Los Angeles: (Amended by Ord. No. 183,134, Eff. 7/8/14.)
1. No person shall operate a motorized scooter on any boardwalk, sidewalk, bike path or other public way. For the purpose of this Subsection, the term “motorized scooter” as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 407.5, shall mean any two-wheeled device that has handlebars, has a floorboard that is designed to be stood or sat upon when riding, and is powered by an electric motor. A “motorized scooter” may also have a driver seat that does not interfere with the ability of the rider to stand and ride and may also be designed to be powered by human propulsion. For purposes of this section, a motorcycle (as defined in Vehicle Code Section 400), a motor-driven cycle (as defined in Vehicle Code Section 405), or a motorized bicycle or moped (as defined in Vehicle Code Section 406) is not a motorized scooter. A device meeting the above definition that is powered by a source other than electrical power is also a motorized scooter.
2. No person shall operate an “electric personal assistive mobility device” or “EPAMD” unless specifically exempt under Subdivisions 4.(a) or (b) of this Section, on any boardwalk, sidewalk or other public way. A person may operate an EPAMD on a bike path subject to the safety and operational requirements set forth in California Vehicle Code Sections 21281 and 21281.5. An electric personal assistive mobility device or EPAMD, as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 313, shall mean a self-balancing, non-tandem two-wheeled device that is not greater than 20 inches deep and 25 inches wide and can turn in place, designed to transport only one person, with an electric propulsion system averaging less than 750 watts (1 horsepower), the maximum speed of which, when powered solely by a propulsion system on a paved level surface, is no more than 12.5 miles per hour.
3. No person shall operate a “hybrid, multiple-wheeled motorized scooter-type device” or a “hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device” unless specifically exempt in Subdivisions 4.(a) or (b) of this Section. For purposes of this section, a hybrid, multiple-wheeled motorized scooter-type device shall mean a device that has three or more wheels, has handlebars, has a floorboard that is designed to be stood upon when riding, or a driver seat that does not interfere with the ability of the rider to stand and ride, and is powered by an electric motor, and may also be designed to be powered by human propulsion. For purposes of this section, a hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility- type device shall mean a self-balancing, non-tandem, device containing three or more wheels that can turn in place, designed to transport only one person.
4. Exemptions:
(a) A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the California Penal Code, or a Department of Recreation and Parks employee, when acting in the scope of their duties, may operate an EPAMD or a hybrid, multiple- wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device;
(b) A person who, by reason of physical disability, is otherwise unable to move about as a pedestrian pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 467(b) may operate a self-propelled wheelchair, a motorized tricycle or a motorized quadricycle. A person who, by reason of physical disability, is otherwise unable to move about as a pedestrian may also operate an EPAMD or other power-driven mobility device, such as a hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device, subject to the following safety and operational requirements set forth in California Vehicle Code Sections 21281 and 21281.5:
1. The EPAMD or hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device shall not operate on any boardwalk, sidewalk, bike path or other public way at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, pedestrians, and other conveyance traffic on, and the surface, width, and condition of the boardwalk, sidewalk, bike path or public way.
2. The EPAMD or hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device shall not be operated at a speed that endangers the safety of persons or property.
3. The EPAMD or hybrid, multiple- wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device shall not be operated on any boardwalk, sidewalk, bike path or public way with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
4. The EPAMD or hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians on foot, including persons with disabilities using assistive devices and service animals that are close enough to constitute a hazard.
5. The EPAMD or hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device shall be equipped with front, rear and side reflectors.
6. The EPAMD or hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device shall be equipped with a system that enables the operator to bring the device to a controlled stop.
7. If the EPAMD or hybrid, multiple-wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device is operated between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, a lamp emitting a white light that while the EPAMD or hybrid, multiple- wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device is in motion, illuminates the area in front of the operator and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front of the device.
8. The EPAMD or hybrid, multiple- wheeled electric personal assistive mobility-type device shall be equipped with a sound emitting device that can be activated from time to time by the operator, as appropriate, to alert nearby persons.
(c) Violations. Any Person violating a provision of this section shall be subject to the following penalties:
1. First violation. A first violation of this section shall be an infraction punishable by a fine in the amount of $100.
2. Second and subsequent violations. A second violation and all subsequent violations shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.00 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, including prosecution as an infraction punishable by a fine in the amount of $250, or prosecution as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both a fine and imprisonment.
3. Violations. The following constitutes a violation for purposes of this Section: a conviction for violation of this Section, a conviction under Penal Code Section 853.7 for failure to appear in court to contest a citation for violations of this Section, or a forfeiture of bail.
(d) Severability. If any subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this section is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a 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 adopted this section, and each and every subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof not declared invalid or unconstitutional, without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
P. (New Subsec. P. Added by Ord. No. 179,129, Eff. 8/28/07.) Within the limit of any park designated by this subsection as being in a high fire hazard zone and between April 1 and November 1 of each year:
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, no person shall light, ignite, set fire to, or burn any substance, or maintain an open flame of any kind for any purpose, including but not limited to cooking and barbecuing, except in areas specifically designated and posted to allow open flames.
2. The Department shall post and maintain “No Open Flame” signs in conspicuous locations. These signs shall clearly and conspicuously recite the phrase “NO OPEN FLAMES BETWEEN APRIL 1 AND NOVEMBER 1" and shall cite this subdivision of Section 63.44 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. The General Manager of the Department shall be authorized when fire hazardous conditions are present, to extend the period during which open flames are prohibited in parks designated by this subdivision; provided, if open flames are prohibited prior to April 1 or after November 1, the Department shall modify the signs required by this subdivision to provide notice of the dates that open flames are prohibited.
3. The following parks are located in a high fire hazard zone:
Andres Pico Adobe Park
Aliso Canyon Park
Aliso Triangle
Alizondo Drive Park
Angels Gate Park
Angels Point
Ascot Hills Park
Averill Park
Bandini Canyon Park
Barnsdall Art Park
Bee Canyon
Bell Canyon
Bell Canyon Park
Beverly Glen Park
Bogdanovich Park
Brand Park
Briarwood Park
Bronson Canyon
Browns Creek Park
Carey Ranch
Carlin G. Smith
Castle Peak Park
Chase Park
Chatsworth Oaks Park
Chatsworth Park North
Chatsworth Park South
Cleland Avenue Bicentennial Park
Coldwater Canyon Park
Crestwood Hills Park
De Neve Square Park
Decker Canyon Camp
Deervale-Stone Canyon Park
Eddleston Park
El Escorpion Canyon
El Sereno North Park
El Sereno Park
Elysian Park - All Areas
Elysian Therapeutic Recreational Center
Ernest E. Debs Regional Park
Facility Site House
Fehlhaber-Houk Park
Ferraro Sports Complex
Fryman Canyon
Glassell Park Recreation Center
Grace E. Simons Lodge
Griffith Park - All Areas
Haines Canyon Park
Hansen Dam Golf Course
Hansen Dam Recreation Area
Harbor Regional
Heritage Square
Hermon Park
Hill-Palmer House
Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park
Knapp Ranch Park
Knapp Ranch Park West
La Tuna Canyon
Lake Hollywood Park
Lake View Terrace Park
Laurel Canyon Dog Park
Laurel Canyon Park
Lazy J Ranch Park
Leland Park
Lilac Terrace Park
Limekiln Canyon
Los Angeles Zoo
Los Feliz Pitch & Putt Golf Course
Mae Boyar Park
Mandeville Canyon Park
McGroarty Park
Moon Canyon Park
Moonshine Canyon Park
Mt. Olympus
Mulholland View Site #16
Norman O. Houston Park
O’Melveny Park
Orcas/Gabrieleno Equestrian Park
Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center
Oro Vista Park
Palisades Park
Palisades Recreation Center
Palisades Slide Area
Palisades-Asilomar Park
Pasko Park
Peck Park
Pilsn Property
Porter Ranch Park
Porter Ridge Park
Potrero Canyon Park
Pueblo de Rio Park
Rena Park
Reseda/Rinaldi Park
Richard Alatorre Park
Rivas Canyon Park
Roger Jessup Park
Roosevelt Golf Course
Runyon Canyon
Rustic Canyon
San Vicente Mountain Park
Santa Ynez Canyon
Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area
Serrania Ave Park
Shadow Ranch Recreation Center
Stetson Ranch Equestrian Park
Stoney Point Park
Sullivan Canyon Park
Taxco Trails Park
Temescal Canyon Park
The Homestead Acre/
Tregnan Golf Academy
Vanalden Park
Verdugo Mountain Park
Via De Las Olas Park
Viking Park
Villa Cabrini Park
Warner Center Park
Wattles Garden Park
West Hills Park
White’s Point Nature Preserve
Wilacre Park
Wilbur-Tampa Park
Wilder’s Addition (Point Fermin Park)
Wilson/Harding Municipal Golf Course
Woodbine Park
Woodland Hills Park
Zelzah Park
Q. The provisions of this section shall not prevent nor be construed to limit or prohibit any duly authorized departmental officer, agent or employee, or any duly authorized peace officer, from performing any act within the scope of their official duties. (Subsec. N. Redesignated Subsec. O. by Ord. No. 173,878, Eff. 4/12/01; Subsec. O. Redesignated Subsec. P. by Ord. No. 173,922, Eff. 5/28/01; Subsec. P. Redesignated Subsec. Q. by Ord. No. 179,129, Eff. 8/28/07.)
R. Violations. Except for Subsection 63.44 B.3., a violation of this subsection is subject to the provisions of Section 11.00 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,900, Eff. 12/6/18.)
S. Bathrooms, Locker Rooms and Changing Areas. (Added by Ord. No. 185,367, Eff. 1/27/18.)
1. Notwithstanding Subsection B.14.(b), the Board may allow 24-hour access to the restrooms at Venice Beach.
2. Between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., no individual who is utilizing the facilities in the multi-stall restroom building located on Park Avenue at Echo Park Lake for personal hygiene, or traversing the pedestrian pathway immediately between the Park Avenue sidewalk and the multi-stall restroom building for the purpose of utilizing the facilities for personal hygiene, shall be cited or arrested for violating LAMC 63.44(B)(14)(a). The provisions of this subdivision shall be repealed and terminate six months from the effective date of this subdivision. (Added by Ord. No. 186,592, Eff. 4/23/20.)
T. Severability. (Renumbered by Ord. No. 185,367, Eff. 1/27/18.) If any portion, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this section is for any reason held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such a decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this section and each portion or subsection, sentence, clause and phrase herein, irrespective of the fact that any one or more portions, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
