Labor Day weekend is typically a very busy weekend at local Ventura and Santa Barbara beaches. This year, because of the heat they are expecting crowds and so they have some new restrictions to try and make them safer for families.
Editor's Note: This is the most up to date info I could find as of 8/28/20. These can change at any time so please check the links for all the latest info.
VENTURA COUNTY BEACHES
City of Ventura
- Active and passive uses allowed if following distancing guidelines at city beaches, the promenade, and the pier
- Gathering and distancing requirements will be enforced
- Overcrowding may lead to temporary beach closures
Ventura Port District
- Active and passive uses allowed if following distancing guidelines at Surfer’s Knoll and Harbor Cove beaches
- Ventura Harbor public launch ramp open with restrictions
Channel Islands Harbor (in City of Oxnard)
Launch ramp reopen with the following restrictions:
- Each vehicle/vessel will be limited to members of the same household.
- When parking a vehicle after launch, maintain as much space as possible between other parked vehicles.
- Comply with the launch lane and vessel wash lane restrictions posted on signage in the launch ramp.
- Masks are recommended at all times when out of your vehicle/vessel in the launch ramp area.
City of Oxnard
- Park restrooms, sports parks, playgrounds, and reservation areas closed
- Beaches open for active and passive uses
- Gathering and distancing requirements will be enforced
City of Port Hueneme
- Active uses such as walking, running, surfing, swimming etc. allowed
- Lounging and sunbathing allowed if following distancing guidelines
- No contact sports or congregating in large groups with people outside household are allowed
- Pier open 6am to 10pm with adjustments to allow distancing
- Restrooms reopened, close at 7pm daily
- Recreational and picnic equipment are closed
- Parking Lot A and walkways are open
- Solo water activities and beach cleanups
For more information on Ventura County beaches visit https://venturacovid19.com/news/beaches-parks/
Malibu Beaches
Beaches open for active and passive uses that follows distancing guidelines
- No parking at various locations along Pacific Coast Highway, Westward Beach road parking, Point Dume Headlands parking on Cliffside Drive, West of 25442 Malibu Road to end of the street and Malibu Bluffs parking lot
- Trancas Canyon Park, Legacy Park, Malibu Bluffs Park, and Las Flores Creek Park and parking lots are closed
- Malibu Pier remains closed
The following beaches have coastal accessways that are closed:
- Lechuza Beach – Bunnie Lane beach accessway closed (East and West Sea Level Drive accessways are open)
- Escondido Beach – Geoffrey’s and Seacliff-Escondido beach accessways closed (Escondido Creek beach accessway open)
- Latigo Beach – Beach accessway closed
- Carbon Beach – East and West beach access ways closed (Zonker Harris beach accessway open)
- Big Rock – Dolphin View coastal overlook and Maritime Rocks beach access closed (Big Rock stairway open)
Source: https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/assets/covid-19/Coastal-Zone-Beach-Restrictions.pdf (Updated 8/27/20)
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BEACHES
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department announced plans for beach restrictions to occur over the Labor Day holiday weekend throughout Santa Barbara County beaches. All beaches will be temporarily closed for stationary activities. Only immediate access to and from the ocean for water sports or beach access for active physical activity will be permitted.
A Health Officer Order has been issued effective Friday, September 4 at 12:01 a.m. and continuing until Monday, September 7 at 11:59 p.m.
In addition, all Waterfront parking lots, except for Harbor Main, Launch Ramp, and Stearns Wharf, will be closed from Friday, September 4 at 2 a.m. through Tuesday, September 8 at 6 a.m.
The following restrictions apply for the duration of the Health Officer Order:
- Sitting, lying, standing, sunbathing, sight-seeing, picnicking, and all other non-exercise, passive, or sedentary activities on beach parkways are prohibited.
- Items for sitting or lying on the beach are prohibited for use of possession on beaches, such as umbrellas, shade structures, tents, barbecue grills, sand or beach toys, coolers and beach chairs.
The reasons for the restrictions this weekend are the anticipation of high volume of visitors at our beaches during the Labor Day weekend, which will impede the practice of safe and necessary social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County," said Dr. Henning Ansorg. "Our community has remained diligent in their efforts and now is the time to protect all the positive outcomes we have accomplished."
For more information about the COVID-19 response locally, visit https://publichealthsbc.org/
