Southern California Naturist Association Information Center

CONTENTS:

• Federal Land
• California State Law
• California State Parks (Admin Code)
• Santa Barbara County Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Ordinance
• Simi Valley & Thousand Oaks Ordinances
• San Diego County Ordinance
• How/When/Where CA Nudity Laws Are (Not) Enforced
• Jury Instructions - Evidence Needed to Convict
• In re Smith (1972)
• Pryor vs Municipal Court (1979)
• Enforcement in State Parks: Cahill-Harrison (1977)
• Enforcement in State Parks: California vs Bost (1988)
• National Forests: LA County Sheriff Lee Baca Letter (2006)

Federal Land

There is no federal law against nudity but neither is it a guaranteed right. This means that state, county and local laws can take precedence. Federal lands may operate under Concurrent Jurisdiction where state and county laws will be enforced on federal lands within those regions.

As a practical matter, limitations on nudity on federal land is up to the discretion of the Superintendent in charge of each individual National Park, Monument, and Forest. A good example is what happened at Saline Valley a few years ago when the Clothing Optional sign was removed from the Hot Springs area when a new Park Superintendent was appointed. The Golden Rule seems to be whoever is in charge makes the rules so check out your destination with the locals before assuming anything.

California State Law

California Penal Code Sections 314 as of 11/2015):

314. Every person who willfully and lewdly, either:

1. Exposes his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or in any place where there are present other persons to be offended or annoyed thereby; or,

2. Procures, counsels, or assists any person so to expose himself or take part in any model artist exhibition, or to make any other exhibition of himself to public view, or the view of any number of persons, such as is offensive to decency, or is adapted to excite to vicious or lewd thoughts or acts,

is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Every person who violates subdivision 1 of this section after having entered, without consent, an inhabited dwelling house, or trailer coach as defined in Section 635 of the Vehicle Code, or the inhabited portion of any other building, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, or in the county jail not exceeding one year.

Upon the second and each subsequent conviction under subdivision 1 of this section, or upon a first conviction under subdivision 1 of this section after a previous conviction under Section 288, every person so convicted is guilty of a felony, and is punishable by imprisonment in state prison.

California State Parks

Section 4322 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations regarding nudity in the state parks:

No person shall appear nude while in any unit except in authorized areas set aside for that purpose by the Department. The word nude as used herein means unclothed or in such a state of undress as to expose any part or portion of the pubic or anal region or genitalia of any person or any portion of the breast at or below the areola thereof of any female person.

All sections are misdemeanors which carry a maximum punishment of 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine.

Note: While this regulation allows for setting aside specific clothing optional areas, the parks department hasn’t taken advantage of the provision. State Park rangers operated for many years under a now-anulled policy known as the “Cahill-Harrison” policy (see below)."

Santa Barbara County Nudity Ordinance (1977)

It is the intent of the board of supervisors to prohibit nudity in public places, places open to the public, and places open to public view whether such places are publicly or privately owned, even when such nudity is not sexually motivated or otherwise lewd. (Ord. No. 2507, § 1; Ord. No. 2564, § 1)

Sec. 24-15. Nudity --Offenses numerated; penalties

(a) It is hereby declared a public nuisance and unlawful for any person to appear on any beach, park, street or in any other public place or place open to the public or exposed to public view, including specifically a view from any private residence or any portion of the real property in the immediate vicinity of such private residence, whether such place is publicly or privately owned, unclothed or in such a state of undress as to expose, in the case of a female, any portion of her breasts below the areolas thereof or in the case of any male or female, any part of his or her pubic or anal region or genitalia.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any acts which take place wholly within a fully enclosed building or any portion thereof; and nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit any act or acts which are expressly authorized or prohibited by the Penal Code of the state.

(c) Violations of this section shall be an infraction punishable by a fine in the sum of fifty dollars for a first violation; a fine in the sum of one hundred dollars for a second violation of this section within one year after the first violation; and a fine in the sum of two hundred fifty dollars for each additional violation within one year after a second violation and within one year after any subsequent violation of this section thereafter. (Ord. No. 2507, § 1; Ord. No. 2564, § 1; Ord. No. 2931, § 1)

Los Angeles County Nudity Ordinances

As of 2015 Los Angeles County Code of Ordinances has four chapters that specifically address public nudity:
Chapter 13.22 specifically applies to “nude performers and waiters.”
Chapter 13.24 addresses nudity on specific beaches including: Point Dume State Beach, and certain Malibu beaches.
Chapter 17.04.480 applies to nudity in county parks and recreation areas as defined in Chapter 17.04.130
Chapter 17.12.360 applies to nudity at county-controlled beaches as defined in Chapter 17.12.030

The language of these ordnances is generally consistent with the beach ordnance cited below.

Los Angeles County Ordinance 17.12.360, Nudity and Disrobing:

A) No person shall appear, bathe, sunbathe, walk, change clothes, disrobe or be on any beach in such manner that the genitals, vulva, pubis, pubic symphysis, pubic hair, buttocks, natal cleft, perineum, anus, anal region or pubic hair region of any person, or any portion of the breast at or below the upper edge of the areola thereof of any female person, is exposed to public view, except in those portions of a comfort station, if any, expressly set aside for such purpose.

B) This section shall not apply to persons under the age of 10 years, provided such children are sufficiently clothed to conform to accepted community standards.

Local Ventura County Ordinances

Click below to see the ordinances for Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, California. There is no county-wide ordinance and each city is allowed to write its own ordinance to supplement the California State law (see above). The state law is vigorously enforced in this county in the absence of any local city ordinance.

Simi Valley Anti-Nudity Law (2000) PDF file

Thousand Oaks Anti-Nudity Law (2000) PDF file

San Diego County Nudity Ordinance

TITLE 3 PUBLIC SAFETY, MORALS AND WELFARE*
DIVISION 2. POLICE REGULATIONS AND OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC
CHAPTER 10. PUBLIC NUDITY*
*Note--Added by Ord. No. 4574 (N.S.), effective 10-24-75.

SEC. 32.1001. PURPOSE AND INTENT.
The presence of persons who are nude and exposed to public view in or on public rights of way, public parks, public beaches or any other public land, or in or on any private property open to public view from any public right of way, public beach, public park, or other public land, is offensive to members of the general public unwillingly exposed to such persons. Nudity, if it is to be permitted to be exposed to public view, should be confined to a defined area. The provisions of this chapter are enacted for the purpose of securing and promoting the public health, morals and general welfare of all persons in the County of San Diego.

Cross reference(s)--Parks and recreation, § 41.101 et seq.

SEC. 32.1002. NUDITY DEFINED.
Whenever in this chapter the word nude is used, it shall mean devoid of an opaque covering which covers the genitals, vulva, pubis, pubic symphysis, pubic hair, buttocks, natal cleft, perineum, anus, anal region, or pubic hair region of any person or any portion of the breast at or below the upper edge of the areola thereof of any female person.

SEC. 32.1003. PUBLIC PLACE DEFINED.
Whenever in this chapter the words public place are used, they shall mean any public beach, park, street or waters adjacent thereto, or any place open to the public or exposed to public view, including specifically a view from any private residence or any portion of the real property in the immediate vicinity of such private residence, whether such place is publicly or privately owned.

SEC. 32.1004. PUBLIC NUDITY PROHIBITED.
It is hereby declared a public nuisance and unlawful for any person to appear, sunbathe, bathe, walk, disrobe, or otherwise be nude in any public place except in an area expressly set aside for such purpose or in those portions of a comfort location, if expressly set aside for such purpose. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six months, or by both fine and imprisonment.

SEC. 32.1005. [PERSONS TO WHOM CHAPTER SHALL NOT APPLY.]
This chapter shall not apply to persons under the age of 10 years.

SEC. 32.1006. [CHAPTER NOT APPLICABLE TO THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, ETC.]
This chapter shall not apply to persons engaged in a live theatrical performance, in a theater, concert hall or similar establishment which is predominantly devoted to theatrical performances.

SEC. 32.1007. [CHAPTER NOT APPLICABLE TO ACTS AUTHORIZED OR PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW.]
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any act or acts which are expressly authorized or prohibited by the Penal Code of the State of California.

How Nudity Laws Are Enforced in California

In practice state and local nudity laws are unevenly enforced, often based on what is practical for everyone concerned. State and local officials have negotiated and compromised to give the nudists some avenues of expression.

Some examples of places/events where public nudity is accepted (not a complete list):

• Gaviota State Beach, Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo County border
• More Mesa Beach, Santa Barbara (near Hope Ranch, by agreement with the homeowners)
• Avila County Beach (a.k.a. Pirate’s Cove), San Luis Obispo (Official!)
• Los Padres National Forest (Pine Valley), and Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County
• Sespe Creek and Wheeler Hot Springs, Ventura County
• Bare to Breakers Run (San Francisco)
• World Nude Bike Ride Day (Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego)
• Auburn Dam Recreation Area, northern California
• Black’s Beach San Diego
• San Onofre Beach, San Diego
• Saline Valley, near Death Valley
• Anza Borrego State Park, Imperial County
• Numerous hot springs and secluded beaches throughout the state
• Numerous county beaches around San Francisco and Marin Counties

Unofficially, nudity occurs at one time or another on every beach in the state. (Ask the rangers or lifeguards at any beach!) Sometimes it is only a woman tourist with her top off rolling over for a few minutes when nobody is around. Often it is someone dressing or undressing on the sand or in the parking lot alongside their cars. Sometimes it is parents letting their young kids run in the surf without their bathing suits.

Enforcement of the law usually involves someone shouting, hey you, knock it off, and the problem is solved as the last thing they want is to be discovered. Deputies are never called, and the system works.

Warning: If you cross the line from simple nudity to sexual activity, you can (and probably will) be prosecuted under California Penal Code Section 314, and upon conviction will carry a lifetime registration as a sex offender!. You will also put at risk the clothing-optional status of that beach or hot spring so please don't cross that line. Nudists will also aggressively enforce against misbehavior!

The system breaks down when an aggressive peace officer is ignorant of the Smith, Pryor, and Bost court cases (see below), or of the enforcement tradition. The officer just assumes nudity is automatically lewd behavior and writes a ticket without knowing the beach-goer has rights and protections under the law. The remedy begins with educating the local authorities in the in the law and the differentiation of simple nudity from lewd behavior. We can help.

Jury Instructions - Evidence Needed to Convict

If you are tried for simple nudity as indecent exposure under CPC 314, absent agravating circumstances, here are the instructions a judge will likely give to a jury in order for you to be convicted:

These Jury Instructions are excerpted from those published by the Judicial Council of California (CALCRIM 2015) which are strongly recommended to be issued, persuant to Rule 2.1050(e) of the 2015 California Rules of Court.

SECTION 1160. Indecent Exposure (Pen. Code, § 314)

To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that:
1. The defendant willfully exposed (his/her) genitals in the presence of another person or persons who might be offended or annoyed by the defendant’s actions;
[AND]
2. When the defendant exposed (himself/herself), (he/she) acted lewdly by intending to direct public attention to (his/her) genitals for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying (himself/ herself) or another person, or sexually offending another person.

SECTION 1108.
(a) In a criminal action in which the defendant is accused of a sexual offense, evidence of the defendant’s commission of another sexual offense or offenses is not made inadmissible by Section 1101, if the evidence is not inadmissible pursuant to Section 352.

(b) In an action in which evidence is to be offered under this section, the people shall disclose the evidence to the defendant, including statements of witnesses or a summary of the substance of any testimony that is expected to be offered, at least 30 days before the scheduled date of trial or at such later time as the court may allow for good cause.

(c) This section shall not be construed to limit the admission or consideration of evidence under any other section of this code.

(d) As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) "Sexual offense" means a crime under the law of a state or of the United States that involved any of the following:

(A) Any conduct proscribed by Section 243.4, 261, 261.5, 262, 264.1, 266c, 269, 286, 288, 288a, 288.2, 288.5, or 289, or subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 311.2 or Section 311.3, 311.4, 311.10, 311.11, 314, or 647.6, of the Penal Code.
(B) Contact, without consent, between any part of the defendant's body or an object and the genitals or anus of another person.
(C) Contact, without consent, between the genitals or anus of the defendant and any part of another person's body.
(D) Deriving sexual pleasure or gratification from the infliction of death, bodily injury, or physical pain on another person.
(E) An attempt or conspiracy to engage in conduct described in this paragraph.

(2) "Consent" shall have the same meaning as provided in Section 261.6 of the Penal Code, except that it does not include consent which is legally ineffective because of the age, mental disorder, or developmental or physical disability of the victim.

Court Documents

The Court Documents Linked Below Are Important:

These legal documents are in PDF format.

In re Smith (1972)
Mere nudity does not constitute a form of sexual activity.

Pryor v. Municipal Court (1979)
The CA State Supreme Court ruled: We construe the phrase “lewd or dissolute conduct” [section 647] to prohibit only the solicitation or commission of conduct in a public place or one open to the public or exposed to public view, which involves the touching of the genitals, buttocks, or female breast, for purposes of sexual arousal, gratification, annoyance or offense, by a person who knows or should know of the presence of persons who may be offended by the conduct.

State Park System: Cahill Policy (1979)
…so long as the [nude] activity takes place in a traditionally recognized area it is legal unless and until a complaint from a member of the public is received. Further activities of a person so warned are prohibited for the balance of the day, but activities on later days are proscribed only if preceded by a new public complaint and renewed warning.

The Cahill Policy has now been recinded by the parks director and found by the court to be an invalid regulation. At any time nude activities within the State Parks system may be subject to full enforcement of CCR § 4322 (except where designated, simple nudity is a misdemeanor in the State Park system.)

Cahill re-affirmed by Jack V. Harrison (1988)
The Deputy Director for Operations for the California’s State Parks Department wrote:
The ‘Cahill Policy’ has remained the enforcement policy of the State Park System throughout the State of California. The policy has been widely disseminated and is well known within the public, and particularly among those who enjoy nude sunbathing at the state parks.

California vs. Eric John Bost (1988)
This court case interpreted the Cahill policy and established that the public-complaint/warning/compliance process resets daily. Fair notice must be given before a CCR § 4322 citation is issued.With the recision of the Cahill policy, this process may no longer apply and CCR § 4322 citations may be issued without warning.

National Forests: LA County Sheriff Lee Baca Letter (2006)
…Some of our deputies may be misinterpreting the law as it pertains to section 314.1 of the California Penal Code…Simply being nude in the Angeles National Forest is not prohibited by law. Therefore your client appears to be within his legal rights to hike in the forest in the nude.