Beach Rules, Regulations, Safety, and Etiquette
A day at the beach can be a blast, but the ocean can also be very dangerous. Pay attention to signs and flags and make yourself familiar with rules and regulations before you go. Have fun and be safe!
Beach Rules and Regulations
Please abide by the beach rules and regulations. These may vary depending on the operating city as well as those that are county and state run.
City of Newport Beach https://www.newportbeachca.gov/how-do-i-/find/beach-information
City of Laguna Beach: https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/government/departments/marine-safety/visiting-our-beaches
City of Huntington Beach: https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/residents/beach_info/#rules
City of Dana Point: https://www.danapoint.org/visitors/beach-information
City of San Clemente: https://www.san-clemente.org/recreation-community/aquatics/beach-safety
Orange County Parks (includes Aliso Beach, Capistrano Beach, Dana Point Harbor, Newport Harbor, Salt Creek Beach, and Sunset Harbour): https://ocparks.com/beaches
California Parks:
Beach and Ocean Safety
While the majority of beaches have lifeguard stations, most are only staffed during the summer (approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends). Some of the larger beaches have a light lifeguard patrol year-round. Pay attention to the warning flags and the surf marker flags. These let you know current conditions and where you can swim and surf.
Beach Usage
Marine Protected Areas
Many of the beaches in Orange County are protected habitat areas. Be a good citizen and abide by all guidelines so that the next visitor and the next generation may enjoy these beaches like you are.
Beach Access
Every beach in California is open to the public up to the mean high tide level. Basically if you can get there, you are legally allowed to be there as long as you don’t venture onto the land above where high tide would be. The trick is getting to some beaches. There are several in Orange County that land accessibility is through private communities. Which means, if you want to visit them as a non-member/resident, you will have to do via water.
