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October 22, 2009 -

New ‘Clothing-Optional’ Policy Upheld

The California Supreme Court unanimously declined to review a July appellate court decision that upheld the state’s right to overturn the Cahill memorandum, a 1970s era document that created informal clothing-optional beaches in California.

The case arose from a proposed change in policy at San Onofre State Beach.  While the ruling confirms park authorities’ authority to change policy at other parks, including San Diego’s Black’s Beach at the Torrey Pines State Reserve, there’s been no announcement of any intention to do so.

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July 21, 2009 -

Clothes Expensive, Nudity Moreso

A California state appellate court has upheld a change in policy by the state Parks and Recreation Department that allows $500 citations for beach nudity, even in areas that have historically, if informally, been designated ‘clothing optional.’

Non-enforcement of a legal ban on public nudity in state parks has been the practice of the department since the Cahill memo in the 1970s.  That policy limited enforcement to cases where a private citizen complained to law enforcement.  Park officials are now free to patrol and cite violations in those beaches where a clothing optional area has not been designated.

The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit brought by the Naturist Action Committee to preserve the status of a portion of the San Onofre State Beach as clothing optional.  Unless overturned by the California Supreme Court the ruling ends clothing optional sunbathing, swimming and surfing at San Onofre.

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August 1, 2008 -

San Onofre Update

There’s a good update on the status of the state’s efforts to end San Onofre’s clothing optional status and the legal battle to preserve the status quo in an article by Matt Coker at OCWeekly.com. 

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October 17, 2006 -

Nudity, Arrg Matey

Today’s San Luis Obispo Tribune includes a good article by David Sneed on an ongoing effort by San Luis Obispo county to purchase Pirate’s Cove and 120 coastal acres from private owners to be included in a new county park. The article points out that the purchase would include an area currently used as a clothing-optional beach, and that San Luis Obispo County currently has no law prohibiting a nude beach.

If acquired, the property would likely become a county park, but it’s unclear what would happen to the nude beach if the county took over the property, said Pete Jenny, county parks director.

. . . .
“It’s not like grandma would be walking along the beach with the kids and suddenly there are naked people,” Jenny said. “That’s such a priceless piece of the coast; it’s worth trying to get the property and figure out what to do with the nudity issue later.”

In an online poll running with the article, readers were favoring maintaining the site’s status as a nude beach by a three to one margin.

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Interesting Sites

Beachapedia.org Beachapedia
Cal. Coastal Commission Like them or not, they are one of the biggest players around when it comes to coastal access in California.
Howling Point Your moderator’s personal site. He does have a life outside of this, as shown by the occasional gaps in posting.
Surfrider Foundation Activities and campaigns for clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places.