Parking Restrictions at Surfrider Beach in Malibu

Surfrider LA encouraged the California Coastal Commission to deny the City of Malibu’s coastal development permit that would implement 30-minute parking limits during the hours of 2:00am and 4:00am between 22878.5 and 23000.5 Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu . To post signs and enforce these parking restrictions would restrict beach access at some of the most popular attractions in Malibu: Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Pier. Such a restriction on parking would illegally deny the public the access to the coast guaranteed to all residents and visitors by the California Coastal Act and the state constitution.

Many of our members live or recreate in Malibu and enjoy exercising their right to low impact enjoyment of the coast at night: taking peaceful beach walks, swimming, exercising, meditating, stargazing, listening to waves crash along the shore, and surfing perfect waves under moonlight at Surfrider Beach First Point.

While city officials in Malibu argue that the restriction would provide more parking for visitors, we disagree. Parking lots nearby Surfrider Beach are closed at night time, so enforcing a parking restriction along both sides of this section of PCH would eliminate all parking within approximately 1/4 of a mile, thus making the public beach inaccessible.

To enforce a limit on what time people can access the public beach in Malibu would not only be contrary to the letter and spirit of the Coastal Act, but would be a loss for Los Angeles County residents and the millions of visitors who seek enjoyment at Malibu beaches each year. Not everyone can access the beach during the day due to work or family or other responsibilities.

The Commission voted not to grant a Coastal Development Permit to the city of Malibu to enforce parking restrictions, thereby leaving coastal access open during all hours on the PCH.