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# Groups of 20 or more children need city permits to enter ocean
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/032806-story-20060328/
- Published: 2006-03-28T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:24:00.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Organized fun at the beach for kids this summer must be permitted. If you are planning a beach activity in Santa Monica that involves a group of 20 children or more — 17 years old and younger — entering the ocean, you must have a permit. The issuing of beach/water activity permits allows City Hall to better manage the increased demand for use of the beach by large groups and assists the Los Angeles County Lifeguards in determining proper staffing of the lifeguard towers.

Examples of activities requiring a permit are surf instruction camps, day camps, school, church or youth groups entering the ocean. A limited number of permits will be issued for the period of July 1, 2006 to May 31, 2007\. Permits are site and time specific and are issued for Monday through Friday only. Permits are not valid on weekends or holidays.

Charging a fee for a service, such as surf lessons or day camp activities, is a form of vending. All non-permitted groups that vend on Santa Monica Beach, regardless of the size of the group or the day of the week, will be in violation of the city’s vending ordinance. Violations of the vending ordinance are punishable as infractions or as misdemeanors.

To request an application for the upcoming season, call Wendy Pietrzak at (310) 458-8974 by March 31.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 28, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/032806.pdf?ref=smdp.com)