Playing by the rules

The beach is a great place for swimming, sunning and socializing, but

if you don’t follow the rules, your summer will be a lot less fun.

Here are some of the guidelines to keep your beach behavior within

the rules and regulations:

NEWPORT BEACH

* No smoking, no glass containers, no littering and no alcohol on

the beaches or piers

* No dogs on the beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at all other times

dogs must be on a six-foot leash, and owners must clean up after

their pets

* Fire rings are available on beaches in Balboa and Corona del

Mar, but no fires are permitted outside the designated fire rings

* From May 1 to Oct. 31, no flotation devices are allowed at the

Wedge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and no surfboards are allowed during

those hours between 40th and 44th streets

* The beaches are closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

* No gas grills are allowed on the beach, though the city is

considering changing this rule, so they may be allowed in certain

areas.

* Always swim near an on-duty lifeguard. For ocean conditions,

visit https://www .newportlifeguard.org or call (949)673-3371

LAGUNA BEACH

* No smoking, no glass bottles and no alcohol on the beaches

* No dogs on the beach from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. between June 1 and

Sept. 16

* No fires on the beach and no portable grills; cooking devices

are available in Heisler Park

* It’s OK to catch 27 species of state-designated game fish, but

don’t touch or take any other marine life from the beaches, and leave

all aquatic life alone at Heisler Park, a protected marine area.

* Check signs for designated surfing and skimboarding areas, or

ask a lifeguard. Those are in effect from sunup to sundown from June

15 to Sept. 15

* Beach umbrellas can’t be more than six feet in diameter, and

four-legged shade canopies more than six feet in diameter are not

allowed because of limited beach space

* Scuba divers must have fins, a mask and snorkel, a buoyancy

compensator and a diving buddy

* To check weather and water conditions, call (949)494-6573. For a

list of game fish or other information, visit the lifeguards’ website

at https://www.lblg.org

HUNTINGTON BEACH

* No smoking, no glass bottles and no alcohol on the beach

* No fires except in the designated fire rings

* Motorized scooters are not allowed on the pier or beach service

road; bikes and skateboards must be walked on the pier

* Overhead casting is not allowed when fishing off the pier

* Dogs must be on a leash at all times and are only allowed on the

beach service road and at Dog Beach -- between Goldenwest Street and

the Bolsa Chica State beach border; otherwise, keep dogs off the sand

and the pier

* Don’t sit on or dangle arms or legs through the pier railings

* No surfing when the black ball sign is posted; don’t dive in

shallow water and don’t swim alone