Malibu : New Rules for Boat Owners

The City Council plans to relax Malibu’s boating ordinance to allow private beach residents to launch small motorboats from their properties, but the law will still exclude the use of Jet Skis in most circumstances.

The amendment, due for a final reading on Monday, was approved by the City Council on Jan. 11 over the objections of some residents who feared the change would lead to an increase in boat noise, competition of boaters with swimmers and danger to sea lions and pelicans.

The ordinance prohibits boating within 300 yards of the beach except in authorized areas. It was amended last year to extend the prohibition to include “personal motorized watercraft” such as Jet Skis.

However, the council agreed Jan. 11 to soften the ordinance to allow an exception for private beach residents.

“This is a marine community and people ought to be allowed to do something offshore in a boat,” Mayor Walt Keller said.

The amendment permits boats with motors of no more than five horsepower or an engine displacement of up to 105 cubic centimeters to motor to and from private beaches. The amendment prohibits boats from launching or landing along the stretch of beach from Point Dume to Paradise Cove.

Under the ordinance, residents may still operate a boat within 300 yards of shoreline in an emergency or when necessary to move the boat to or from a legal mooring place.