Article 4. Beach Access of California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 4.

As used in this article "public beach" means any beach area used for recreational purposes which is owned, operated or controlled by the State, any state agency or any local agency.

Any city, county, or other local agency that owns, operates, or controls any public beach shall allow the use of that public beach by all persons regardless of ancestry, residence, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135. Nonresidents of the city, county, or other local agency shall be permitted to use that public beach upon the same terms and conditions as are residents of the city, county, or local agency.

Any city, county, or other local agency that allows any property owned, operated, or controlled by it to be used as a means of access to any public beach shall allow free access over that property to all persons regardless of ancestry, residence, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135.

The Department of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the state, may acquire by appropriate means easements in property owned, operated or controlled by any city, county or other local agency in order to provide free public access to any public beach. However, any such easement shall terminate if the property is developed by the city, county or other public agency in a manner which would not be compatible with the use of such easement for access purposes and if the city, county or other public agency refunds to the state the amount of money the state paid for such easement.