Ocean Front Walk Ordinance

(Approved 12-0, January 31, 2006)

An ordinance amending Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 42.15 to prohibit vending on public beach lands and adjacent public properties, and to impose time, place and manner regulations on expressive activities exempted from the ban.

THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Section 42.15 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code is
amended to read:

SEC. 42.15 Vending on Beaches Prohibited.

No person shall engage in vending activity upon any public beach lands or beach properties adjoining the waterfront of the Pacific Ocean, or upon any immediately adjacent boardwalk, sidewalk or public way between the southerly boundary of the City of Santa Monica and the northerly boundary of the City of El Segundo and between the northwesterly boundary of the City of Santa Monica and the northwesterly boundary of the City of Los Angeles.

(a) Findings and Purpose.

The City Council of the City of Los Angeles finds and declares
as follows:

(1) The Venice Beach Boardwalk is a major tourist attraction in
the City of Los Angeles, historically significant for its performance and visual artists as well as free speech advocates. Unregulated vending adversely affects the historic character of the Venice Beach Boardwalk by deterring tourists from visiting and shopping along the Boardwalk resulting in an economic and cultural loss to City;

(2) Unregulated vending along the Venice Beach Boardwalk from
tables, pushcarts, stands, or by persons impedes the orderly movement of pedestrian traffic and may make the Boardwalk unsafe for pedestrians by limiting the City