Laguna Beach restricts pop‑up canopies to two designated zones to preserve lifeguard sightlines

City officials said Laguna Beach will restrict pop‑up canopies in most locations this summer to preserve lifeguard sightlines, while allowing umbrellas and creating two designated canopy zones at Main Beach and Aliso Beach.

Mayor Oil and Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond discussed the change during a public briefing. Bond said the principal rationale was safety: "It's very difficult when there's a lot of canopies or easy ups in the way for lifeguards to see the water, which is a safety issue," he said. Under the approach described, umbrellas will remain permitted broadly, and two zones will be delineated with signage to indicate where larger canopies are allowed.

Bond said the council discussion included comparisons to neighboring cities with wider beaches, and noted Laguna Beach's narrower sand area makes sightline preservation more critical. He said the zones at Main Beach and Aliso Beach will be marked and that the department will work with rangers and police for enforcement when visitors do not comply after a request for voluntary compliance.

The transcript records a council decision to restrict pop‑up canopies but does not provide an ordinance number, the formal motion text, or a recorded vote tally. Bond and the mayor said the new rules will depend on community outreach and consistent messaging to visitors to ensure compliance.

Officials said they expect enforcing the policy will be an operational challenge during a busy summer and urged residents and visitors to check signage and follow lifeguard direction.