VBSafe SandSign the petition

A Venice community petition

Keep the beach
safe for everyone.

Dogs are routinely brought onto Venice Beach—often off leash—despite laws that already prohibit them. We are asking Los Angeles officials for consistent, coordinated enforcement.

Add your name Read the petition Report an incident
30+dogs counted in one hour
90 daysof accountable enforcement requested
2 lawsalready on the books

This petition does not ask for a new restriction. It asks City and County agencies to enforce the rules that already exist.

LAMC § 53.55 LACC § 17.12.290
01 The petition

Enforce existing dog laws at Venice Beach.

We respectfully ask the City of Los Angeles to take prompt and sustained action to enforce existing laws prohibiting dogs on Venice Beach.

Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 53.55 prohibits dogs on public beaches in the City of Los Angeles, whether leashed or unleashed, with exceptions for qualifying service dogs. Los Angeles County Code Section 17.12.290 also states that a person may not bring or maintain a dog or cat on any beach and authorizes citations for violations.

The number of dogs on Venice Beach has increased to the point that violations are routine. In a single hour on a recent Friday morning, the organizer counted at least 30 dogs passing along the beach. The problem is particularly visible around sunset and south of the Venice Pier.

Residents who report violations are frequently redirected between agencies or told that personnel are occupied with more urgent matters. We recognize competing public-safety priorities. Nevertheless, a law that is almost never enforced effectively ceases to protect the public.

02 Why enforcement matters

A beach that works for all of us.

Consistent enforcement protects people, wildlife, and the shared character of Venice Beach.

01

Public safety

Dogs can jump on, chase, bite, or knock people over. Beach users should not have to accept unwanted contact with unfamiliar animals.

02

Children’s access

Families should be able to play in the sand and enter the water without unfamiliar dogs entering play areas or disturbing belongings.

03

Older residents

A fall or bite that seems minor to one person can cause serious injury to an older adult or someone with limited mobility.

04

Clean sand & water

Dog waste creates a sanitation issue in the same sand where people sit and children play—and can be impossible to retrieve from the surf.

05

Wildlife protection

Dogs can cause shorebirds to abandon feeding and resting areas simply by approaching, even without making physical contact.

06

Fair public space

Clear, consistent rules make a crowded shared beach more predictable and reduce conflict between residents and dog owners.

03 What we’re asking officials to do

Visible. Reliable.
Sustained.

Los Angeles County identifies “Dogs Prohibited on Beach” under LACC 17.12.290 as a citable beach-code violation. Together with LAMC 53.55, the legal authority already exists—the missing element is consistent enforcement.

  1. 01

    Patrol the sand

    Establish routine enforcement during mornings, evenings, weekends, and other peak times.

  2. 02

    Issue citations

    Apply the existing law consistently instead of relying primarily on verbal warnings.

  3. 03

    Coordinate agencies

    Create a clear plan across LAPD, Recreation and Parks, County Beaches and Harbors, and other responsible agencies.

  4. 04

    Create one reporting path

    Tell beach users who to contact and provide a method that produces a timely response.

  5. 05

    Set clear direction

    Instruct authorized personnel to respond when violations are reported or directly observed.

  6. 06

    Report after 90 days

    Publish patrol, warning, and citation totals so residents can see whether the plan is working.

LA County citation rules ↗LA County beach rules ↗

This petition is not anti-dog

Dogs are part of Venice.
The beach is shared space.

Many supporters are dog owners. The issue is whether individual owners may disregard laws governing a crowded public beach.

Respect for dogs and dog owners is compatible with protecting children, older residents, wildlife, sanitation, and public access. Clear enforcement also reduces confrontations by making expectations predictable.

A lawful alternative

Westminster Dog Park

1234 Pacific Avenue
Venice, CA 90291

Open daily, sunrise to sunset
Tuesday maintenance: 6–10 a.m.

View official park details ↗
04 Add your name

Stand up for a safe, clean, accessible Venice Beach.

I support consistent enforcement of existing dog laws at Venice Beach.

+Your name helps show visible community support

Your email is required to sign and will never be displayed publicly. Submissions are stored securely for petition organizing and official delivery.

Help document the pattern

Share an incident.

Have you been bitten, jumped on, knocked over, chased, or otherwise affected by a dog on Venice Beach? Submit an account without making your name public.

Share this direct incident-report link: venice-safe-sand.rwollman.chatgpt.site/report-incident