Main Beach Curfew: Officials Crack Down On Homeless Encampments

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A curfew is now in effect at Main Beach, and officials have already issued many eviction notices to homeless encampments there.

The curfew ordinance was passed by the Santa Cruz City Council, 6-1, on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The Main Beach Public Access Policy allows 24/7 access to wet sand and water, but prohibits loitering, sleeping or camping on dry sand between the hours of midnight and one hour before sunrise.

Complaints from residents and officials prompted the new ordinance. The Santa Cruz Police Department and the city's Parks & Recreation Department noticed "a growing homeless encampment on Main Beach adjacent to the San Lorenzo River Lagoon," according to city documents.

The agencies stated that the increased homeless population has resulted in more "nuisance-related activity during nighttime hours (primarily alcohol abuse, illicit narcotics activity, litter and human waste)." Litter and discarded syringes, human feces, glass and other debris left on the beach have posed public safety and health hazards, according to city documents.

With the curfew ordinance now in place, eviction notices have been handed out to Main Beach campers. Over the weekend, the Santa Cruz Police Department reported that it worked with city staff to post 72-hour eviction notices to the illegal encampments.

The overnight curfew also includes a ban on non-permitted temporary storage structures.

The wet sand portion of Main Beach and the water of Monterey Bay remain open to the public 24 hours a day and can be used by the public for any legal purpose, including fishing, walking, sightseeing, nature observation, meditating, swimming, wading, and launching or landing paddle boards, kayaks and surfboards, according to the documents.