Vacation hot spot cracks down on beach setups with $500 fines for sun shades, canopies

Vacationers visiting Laguna Beach, California, this summer could face fines of up to $500 under new rules restricting large shade structures along the city’s shoreline.Some residents are applauding the move — while others are blasting it as overly restrictive.

Beginning May 26, tents, canopies, easy-ups and other oversized shade coverings will be prohibited acrossmost of its beaches, the city announced in an Instagram post.

Under the new policy,only single-pole umbrellaswill generally be allowed outside designated canopy areas.

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Beachgoers who still want to use larger shade structures may do so only within specific canopy zones while following size and placement restrictions.

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The city said shade coverings in those areas cannot exceed 8 feet by 8 feet by 6 feet — and must not block lifeguards’ visibility of the shoreline.

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This summer, guests at Laguna Beach, California, may be fined up to $500 for using oversized shade structures on the beach.(Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

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Violators who fail to comply with the new beach shade restrictions could face fines of up to $500.

City officials said the restrictions were designed to improve beach safety and visibility for lifeguards, particularly along Laguna Beach’s smaller coves where large rows of canopies can obstruct views of the water, according to California news publication SFGate.

Beach visitors who wish to use larger shade structures are permitted to do so only in designated canopy areas;they must comply with rules regarding their size and location.(iStock)

Officials also cited overcrowding and excess trash as concerns connected to larger beach setups.

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The move quickly sparked debate online, with some residents praising the changes and others criticizing thegrowing number of beach restrictions.

“About time!” one user commented on Instagram, while several others thanked the city.

“Good!People pack half their house with them fora day at the beach,” a user on Reddit wrote.

City officials said the rules improve safety and lifeguard visibility, especially in smaller coves where large canopies can block ocean views.(Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Not everyone agreed with the decision, however, with some people calling the rules overly restrictive.

“Ridiculous![It’s] a public beach, not aprivate resort,” one person noted.

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Laguna Beach officials said signs and public notices will be posted throughout the city to educate visitors about the new rules before enforcement begins.