Hermosa Beach's Strange Rules

Every city has its own municipal code that lays down the law—from animal control to road rules to licenses and fees. You get the gist.

But looking more closely, some regulations probably wouldn't have crossed residents' minds, until now.

Hermosa Beach Patch scanned portions of the Hermosa Beach municipal code for laws that could be classified as strange, unusual, or just worth mentioning:

Salt on street

Does your commute need some flavor? Need to sprinkle some salt on that street? Well, you can't.

"It is unlawful for any person to spill, pour, drop or place, or to permit the spilling, pouring, dropping or placing upon any asphalt or bituminous pavement... any salt, rock salt, common salt, salt brine, acid, chemical, broken glass," according to the city.

While it might sound silly, the issue here is that salt, "or any injurious or destructive material," according to the law, might damage the pavement.

Other substances you can't place on roadways include "oil, petroleum, kerosene, benzine or other similar oil, or oily substance, or liquid."

Limit on fowls

If you think anyone is going to get you six geese a-laying this Christmas, or seven swans a-swimming, think again.

"In no event shall a permit be issued for the keeping of more than two wild or nonhousehold animals or more than five domestic fowl (chickens, ducks or geese) at any single location," according to municipal code.

Stopping on the Strand

What would happen if someone laid all the way across the Strand? Who knows why, but if they did, it would violate the law.

"No person shall stand, sit, lie or congregate on the Strand in such manner as to interfere with or impede the free flow of travel along the Strand," according to the city.

Keep sand to yourself

Tossing sand on the beach and throwing blankets are against the law in Hermosa—sounds fun, but could be dangerous under municipal code.

"No person shall conduct or participate in any sand throwing, blanket throwing, or any sport that constitutes a hazard to any person on the beach or strand," according to the city.

You're also not allowed to remove sand from the beach. Oh, and wanna throw a missile on the beach? That's against the rules too.

Change clothes

Where in town can you change out of your work clothes into a bathing suit—or out of a bathing suit and into a dry outfit? For starters, definitely not your car.

"No person shall use or permit to be used any vehicle or portion thereof at any place within the city as a room or space for changing clothes before or after bathing in the ocean, or for any other reason," according to municipal code.

No thong song

To top off our list, don't forget that in Hermosa you aren't allowed to wear a thong on the beach (sorry, Sisqo...)

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Do you know of any other weird laws here in Hermosa Beach or nearby towns? Tell us in the comments.