Two viral TikTok videos have set social media ablaze, showing homeowners in Malibu and Laguna Beach clashing with beachgoers over public access to the sand.
With tens of thousands of likes and hundreds of thousands of views, these videos have reignited a fierce debate about who has the right to enjoy California’s iconic beaches.
In the first video, posted last Friday, a heated confrontation unfolds at Laguna Beach’s picturesque Victoria Beach. A homeowner, clearly agitated, yells at a family, including a child, “Get f—ing moving. Get out of here. Now!”
She then proceeds to install a rope barricade, attempting to claim part of the beach as her private property.
The TikTok user who captured the incident wrote, “Karen on Laguna Beach extending the property to a public area.”
Once a hidden gem known only to locals, Victoria Beach has become a hotspot thanks to social media, leading to increasing tensions over access.
The second video, posted on Monday, shifts the spotlight to Malibu’s Lechuza Beach. A sign prominently declares, “This beach is on private lots. Trespassers will be prosecuted.”
The TikTok user who shared this footage vehemently disputes the sign’s claim, calling it “One big-a— lie.”
The sign appears to be placed on wet sand, which should be open to the public under the 1976 California Coastal Act.
This law guarantees public access to the state’s beaches up to the mean high tide line, generally marked by the wet or damp sand.
The California Coastal Commission, tasked with protecting and enhancing public access to California’s coast, is currently reviewing these incidents.
They have not yet taken a side but acknowledge the importance of resolving these disputes. The commission’s decision will be critical in determining whether the homeowners’ actions violate the Coastal Act.
These videos bring to the forefront the long-standing issue of public versus private rights along California’s coastline.
The 1976 California Coastal Act enshrines the public’s right to access the beaches, but the interpretation and enforcement of these rights often lead to heated conflicts, especially in affluent areas where private properties meet the shore.
As beachgoers and homeowners continue to clash, the debate over who can enjoy California’s stunning beaches rages on.
The outcome of the Coastal Commission’s review could set significant precedents for future disputes, highlighting the ongoing struggle to balance public access with private property rights in one of the state’s most cherished natural resources.