22126 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu 90265 (nearest cross street: Carbon Mesa Rd.)
The Malibu coastline, featured in countless films, television shows, and commercials, is composed of 27 miles of beautiful public beaches.
However, nearly 20 of those miles are lined with private development, creating a wall of buildings (including the homes of many L.A. celebrities and other elites) that block both public access to the beaches and scenic views from the highway. In 1976, the California Coastal Act affirmed that private development must not inhibit public access to the seashore, and the California Coastal Commission has taken proactive steps toward this goal by, for example, creating legal standards for access and opening several access points. The beach access point at this address, known as the Geffen Accessway, was the result of more than 20 years of legal battles and is now maintained by the nonprofit group Access for All. Nonetheless, gaining access to Malibu’s public beaches remains difficult. While the California Coastal Act requires approximately five access points per mile, there are currently only 18 accessways along the 20-mile stretch. Moreover, many of the existing points are sometimes illegally locked, and one has even been “closed for repairs” for more than six years! Wealthy homeowners use illegal tactics such as posting signs that claim the beaches are private or that parking is prohibited (both are usually false), hiring private security guards, and harassing beachgoers.
Sound intimidating? Don’t let it be—you have the right to enjoy Malibu beaches! Here are some guidelines to keep in mind: The public always has the right to walk, sit, stand, sunbathe, and so on from the surf up to the mean high-tide line (the average high-tide line over the last 18 months). Since that line isn’t visible, beachgoers are safe staying below the daily high-water line (where the sand was wet but has now dried). In addition, many (but not all) of the properties have public-private easements that allow visitors to occupy much of the dry sand. To find out where these public-private easements are, check out the California Coastal Commission website (www.coastal.ca.gov) for a photographic map. These beaches are open 24 hours, although the access gates are locked on the street side at sunset (but not the beach side, so you can get out at any hour). Still confused? The Los Angeles Urban Rangers (www.laurbanrangers.org) offer a free downloadable map and guide of the Malibu public beaches, which clearly delineate access points and provide guidelines for using public beaches legally and safely as well as how to protect your rights in the event of resistance or harassment by private homeowners or guards.
Image: A cluster of signs along the Pacific Coast Highway illustrates competing public and private interests, 2009. Photo by Wendy Cheng.