In California, public beaches are free. What will cost you is parking.
Public parking lots at the beach charge an hourly rate (in Orange County) or a flat rate for a block of time (in Los Angeles County). Then there are public and commercial parking lots and street parking farther away from the waves, which, depending on how many carloads of kids and gear you're carrying, may not be a viable option.
While you can find many ways to save money on parking, especially if you're willing to walk a bit, the fees charged at public beach parking lots are used to support the communities that beachgoers visit.
In Los Angeles County, parking revenue helps cover the cost of maintaining about 23 miles of the county's shoreline, said Nicole Mooradian, a spokeswoman for the county's Department of Beaches and Harbors.
In Redondo Beach, meter revenue goes into the city's general fund and supports operating expenses for parks, public works and public safety, including local police and fire departments.
“Every maintenance activity the city performs has a cost, from sweeping the streets to picking up trash on the street or furniture on the sidewalk,” said Redondo Beach City Councilman Zein Obagi.
To support the communities you frequent this summer while saving money and avoiding the hassle of feeding a parking meter (average cost: $1.50 per hour), there is the option of a parking pass.
Some cities and counties offer annual parking permits that allow unlimited use of public parking facilities, including metered spaces in their lot lots. Others offer passes with more limits, but still provide uninterrupted blocks of prepaid parking time.
The price can be high, up to $200. But don't be surprised, and consider that if you paid $200 at the meter, you could enjoy about 133 hours of bodyboarding, lying on the sand and playing beach volleyball. That translates to between 16 and 27 full days on the beach, depending on your level of endurance.
These are the beaches in Los Angeles and Orange County that sell parking permits that can be used at parking meters and, in some cases, in parking garages.
Los Angeles County
He County Department of Beaches and Harbors offers two types of parking permits: the Annual Senior Parking Pass and the Annual Beach Parking Pass.
The Senior Pass costs $25 and is available to California residents age 62 or older. This pass allows parking at all county-operated parking lots on non-holiday weekdays. On non-holiday weekends, the pass allows free parking from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The Senior Pass application can be downloaded online or requested in person at the visitor center located at 4701 Admiralty Way in Marina Del Rey. For more information, call 424-526-7777.
The annual beach parking pass is $150 and is valid at two parking lots at Dockweiler State Beach: the Grand Avenue Parking Lot and the White Point/Royal Palms Parking Lot.
The pass is valid Monday through Friday year-round and on weekends during the off-season. On summer weekends it is valid after 4:00 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through the last Sunday in September.
Annual pass applications can be mailed to 4519 Admiralty Way, Suite B in Marina del Rey. For more information, call 310-821-1081.
Redondo Beach offers an annual metered parking permit for $170. The city's website says the price is $110, but the City Council decided to raise the fee during a June 23 meeting.
The parking permit is valid at any parking meter within the city limits and is valid from the date of purchase through October 31.
Permits can be purchased at Redondo Beach City Hall at 415 Diamond St. or through the online payment portal.
The City is also offering $25 senior parking permits valid from January 1 through December 31 at two parking lots, the one located at 309 The Esplanade and Lot 4 (near the Veteran's Park Senior Center).
Senior permit applications can be downloaded and mailed to the City of Redondo Beach c/o Parking Enforcement Unit, Senior Parking Permits, PO Box 270, along with a check and a copy of your current driver's license. The application can also be dropped off and paid for in person at City Hall.
Santa Monica offers monthly, semi-annual or annual beach parking permits and a seniors permit at a reduced rate. The monthly permit costs $27. The semi-annual, which is valid from now through December, costs $105; the annual permit runs from January through December and costs $155.
All permit options allow you to park in most Santa Monica Beach lots during business hours, excluding Pier Deck, Annenberg Beach House, and all short-term lots.
The $25 senior permit is valid from April 1 to March 31 and allows you to park in most Santa Monica Beach parking lots, excluding Pier Deck and short-term parking areas.
Permits can be purchased online, in person at the Parking Operations Office at 144 4th Street in Santa Monica, or by mailing the required documents to the Parking Operations Office.
Long Beach offers annual day and night parking passes to the public, but the cost depends on which lot you want to use.
An annual overnight parking pass valid from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. at Alamitos Beach, Junipero Beach, Belmont Memorial Pier and La Verne is $336.
Annual daily parking passes for Marina Green, 54th Place, Colorado Lagoon Marina Park and Granada Beach are $155 for non-seniors and $75 for seniors. Permits are valid from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Passes can be purchased through the City's online portal or in person at the Parking Operations Office located at 420 Pine Ave. in Long Beach. For more information, call 562-570-8055.
Orange County
Through from Orange County Parks Department, the public may purchase annual parking passes for Capistrano and Sal Creek beaches, which can be used for all-day (but not overnight) parking in lots that are gated or metered.
A regular pass costs $55 and a senior pass costs $35, and are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
Parking passes can be obtained at Heritage Hill Historical Park, Irvine Ranch Historic Park, OC Sailing and Events Center or Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve. For more information, call the annual pass help desk at 714-619-8057 or email annualpass@parking concepts.com.
Huntington Beach offers a $195 beach parking permit that is valid at the following locations: parking meters along Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard; city beach parking lots from Beach Boulevard to the pier; the Pier Plaza “Pay-by-Plate” lots on 6th Street; the parking lot adjacent to the Warner Avenue fire station and boat ramp; and the Main Promenade parking structure at Walnut and Olive Streets.
A senior pass is available for $100 and is valid at the same locations.
The pass is not valid on Main Street or at residential or commercial parking meters.
Parking passes can be purchased in person at 103 Pacific Coast Highway or online. For more information, call 714-536-5281.
Newport Beach has two parking permit offerings: the Balboa Pier Municipal Lot Overnight Parking Permit and the Annual Parking Permit.
The Balboa Pier permit allows you to park during the day or overnight (3 a.m. to 6 a.m.) without paying a day-use fee. The permit fee varies; if purchased anytime between January 1 and September 30, it costs $300.75. If the permit is purchased between October 1 and December 31, it costs $75.25. It expires December 31.
The annual parking permit can be used in most city parking lots, as well as paid spaces that have an “A” painted on them. There is an online map showing where the designated parking spots are located. The permit costs $209.25 if purchased between January 1 and September 30, or $52.25 if purchased between October 1 and December 31. A senior who purchases either permit will get a 50% discount.
Regardless of the date of purchase, permits expire on December 31.
Permits can be purchased online or in person at the Newport Beach Civic Center at 100 Civic Center Drive.
Saint Clement offers an annual metered parking permit for $50 for residents or $100 for non-residents. This permit can be used at any city-operated metered space in North Beach, Linda Lane, Del Mar Park/Pier Bowl or T-Street. The permit does not apply to state-operated metered spaces in the Calafia State Beach and Trestles State Beach lots.
The permit is valid for 12 months. For more information on how to acquire one, call the City Finance Division at 949-361-8315 or email [email protected].
