By Jorge Casuso

June 17, 2026 -- Visitors to Santa Monica Beach will have plenty of time to watch the sunset after parking in the public beach lots in summer.

The City Council last Tuesday revised the parking ordinance to permanently extend the parking hours from 8 to 9 p.m. at 12 beach lots and until 11 p.m. at Lot 1 South by the Pier during Daylight Savings Time.

The changes had been administratively implemented on May 1 after the City Attorney’s Office and Police Department staff developed new proposed closure times.

The hours will stay the same for Lot 1 North by the Pier (from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.), the Annenberg Community Beach House Lot (from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and the Pier Lot (from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.).

"For years, Parking staff have received feedback from the public about the early closure times, often from people who want to use the beach lots to see the sunset," staff wrote in a report to the Council.

"The current operating hours create several times of the year where people cannot park in the lots while they are open, see the sunset, and remain until it gets fully dark," staff said.

The hours were especially problematic from the change to Daylight Savings Time in early March, which took place on the 8th this year, to the end of March.

"The sun sets around 7 p.m. after the time change, resulting in roughly three weeks where the lots are fully closed during daylight," staff wrote.

"In June, July, and August, the sun sets close to or after 8 p.m., making people unable to park and see the sunset and remain until it gets dark."

Many of those who park in the beach lots are Santa Monica residents who use "paid parking or beach parking passes or senior beach parking passes," according to staff.

The ordinance approved by the Council also changes the closing time during winter. After the Daylight Savings change, which will take place on November 1 this year, the 12 beach lots will stay open an extra hour, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Annenberg Lot also will stay open an extra hour, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., while Lot 1 South by the Pier will open an extra two hours, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The year-round 11 p.m. closure time for Lot 1 matches the closing time for Pier businesses and those at nearby Ocean Front Walk.

Staff is anticipating "nominal increases in beach parking, Pier parking and Annenberg parking revenue due to the extra parking lot operating hours and extension of the dates that summer hours would be in effect."