Can I go topless at the beach in CA? Wear a bikini at the pool? Learn the rules
The Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in California.
That means warmer weather and more trips to beaches and swimming pools.
Before you head out to your favorite spot, it’s important to know what you can wear in these public spaces — and when you’re allowed to bare it all.
Are thong bikinis and skimpy swims briefs allowed? Can you go topless?
Here’s what California residents and visitors should know:
What’s considered public indecency in California?
Under California law, it’s a crime for a person to expose their “private parts” in any place where there are other persons who could be annoyed or offended by it.
“Private parts” are defined as male and female genitalia, Shouse California Law Group said.
That means a person’s buttocks or breasts are not considered private parts.
According to Kann California Law Group in Valencia, you can be found guilty of indecent exposure if you:
- Willfully intend to break the law
- Expose your genitals or naked body
- Are in the presence of others who might be offended or annoyed by it
- Intend to direct attention to yourself, and
- Intend to sexually gratify yourself or offend someone else by doing so.
Can I wear a thong bikini at the pool? Go topless on the beach?
Wearing revealing swimwear in public does not violate California’s indecent exposure law, according to Los Angeles law firm Eisner Gorin LLP.
Neither does going topless.
Indecent exposure involves “either male or female genitals fully exposed,” Eisner Gorin LLP said. “Female breasts or exposing underwear don’t qualify for prosecution.”
California law protects a woman’s right to breastfeed in public.
Since the California Constitution allows cities and counties to create and enforce local ordinances and regulations within their boundaries, each place can make its own rules regarding what is considered public indecency.
This means full nudity is allowed at some spots, including Pirate’s Cove in Avila Beach, while rules against exposing breasts or buttocks are enforced in other areas.
What are local rules about nudity?
In Pismo Beach, no one is allowed to be nude at beaches or parks.
Nudity “unreasonably interferes with the right of all persons to use and enjoy” these natural resources, the city municipal code says, causing “embarrassment, discomfort and offense” for folks in the vicinity.
Any private area, including “any portion of the female breast” that is exposed is considered a misdemeanor.
The city of Morro Bay also bans people from baring it all at public beaches, parks, playgrounds and other spots, as well as “private property opened to the public view.”
In Sacramento, you can only be nude in a private area that is completely blocked from the public view.
It’s “unlawful to appear in public without sufficient clothing to cover private parts of the body” in Stanislaus County, unless you’re in a building “designated for bathing or changing clothes.”
Public nudity is completely prohibited in the city of Fresno.
What are the penalties of indecent exposure?
Indecent exposure is prosecuted as a sex crime in the state of California.
Penalties for misdemeanor indecent exposure include a six-month jail sentence and a fine of up to $1,000, according to the Kann California Law Group.
A felony conviction for indecent exposure is punishable by up to three years in state prison and $10,000 in fines, the Southern California law firm said on its website.
In both cases, you’re required to register as a sex offender in California for at least 10 years.
Does California have ‘clothing optional’ beaches?
There are 32 beaches legally designated as “clothing optional” along the California coast, according to CaliforniaBeaches.com.
These sandy spots provide people the opportunity to express body positivity and connect with nature, according to the American Association of Nude Recreation.
Where are nude beaches in California?
In California, nude beaches can be found on sandy stretches of shoreline from the San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego.
According to CaliforniaBeaches.com, beaches with clothing-optional areas include:
- Black Sands Beach in Sausalito
- Blacks Beach in La Jolla
- Little Beach at Muir Beach in Sausalito
- North Baker Beach in San Francisco
- Pirate’s Cove in Avila Beach
- Red Rock Beach in Stinson Beach
- San Onofre State Beach in San Clemente
- Sculptured Beach in Point Reyes Station
- Strawberry Beach in Santa Cruz
What are the rules about being naked in public?
Even in clothing-optional environments, you’re expected to follow certain etiquette to “ensure a comfortable and respectful experience for everyone involved,” the American Association of Nude Recreation said.
The naturist group recommends following these tips when visiting a clothing-optional place or event:
- Thoroughly research the rules and guidelines of the location before you go
- Bring essential items such as towels and sunscreen
- Respect personal boundaries and space
- Dress appropriately when required
- Practice good hygiene
- Be mindful of physical contact
- Ask permission before taking photos
- Report inappropriate behavior
This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Can I go topless at the beach in CA? Wear a bikini at the pool? Learn the rules."
