Encinitas Council to vote on changes to surf schools’ permitting process

A proposal to overhaul the system that allows surfing schools to use the beaches for classes will go before the City Council on tonight.

“The proposed changes … are intended to improve operational efficiency, enhance public safety and ensure equitable access to the city’s beach resources,” a staff report produced for Wednesday’s meeting states.

City staff are proposing to streamline the application process, allow for easy multi-year renewals and create “more objectivity in the selection process,” it continues. “These changes also reflect evolving community needs, increased demand for surf instruction and the city’s commitment to maintaining high-quality recreational experiences while safeguarding coastal resources.”

Under the proposed process, applications will be reviewed by a panel of four to six city employees who represent the parks, marine safety and risk management offices. They’ll rank applicants based on the documents they’ve submitted, including their proposed business plan, insurance paperwork and instructor expertise. The panel also will consider whether the applicants have previously held a beach use permit and whether the city has received any complaints about them.

Successful applicants will receive a one-year permit with an option for two one-year renewals.

The surf schools pay the city $5 per student, per day, to use their beach site for classes. City fee revenue ranges from $23,000 to $41,000 a year, and it’s set aside for beach-related projects.

Encinitas began reviewing its permitting system last year after the city had to stop granting surf schools permits to use some beach areas. That action came after state officials, who were looking into landslide issues, reviewed their beach jurisdiction maps and determined that some spots Encinitas thought it controlled actually were under state jurisdiction. Because the city didn’t control those areas, it would face legal liability issues if it granted surf schools permits to use them, city parks and lifeguarding officials have said.

In a nod to the upheaval caused by that situation, city employees are recommending that this year’s surf school permit holders automatically get a permit for the 2026 season. Those permit holders and their proposed beach sites are:

• The YMCA at Swami’s Beach (site A)
• The Maui Surf Academy at Swami’s (site B)
• Wavehuggers at E Street (site C)
• Leucadia Surf School at Moonlight Beach (site D)
• Eli Howard Surf School at Moonlight Beach (site E)
• Buenas Olas Surf School at Moonlight Beach (site F)
• Surfing Fire Surf School at Stonesteps Beach (site G)
• Hang Zen Surf School at Beacon’s Beach (site H)
• Progressive Surf Academy at Beacon’s (site I)

Dan Mori, who received approval for the 2025 season but whose company did not end up using it, also is recommended for a permit in 2026. He is proposed to get a Grandview Beach site, the staff report notes.

“Each operator will have the ability to operate as long as (the parks department) receives the required documents by the required deadline, there are no violations to the permit terms or conditions, the operator remains in good standing with the city, and the operator attends the mandatory pre-summer meeting,” the staff report continues. “Public complaints and inappropriate behavior related to surf instruction, at anytime and at any location throughout the year, regardless of permit season or not, may result in the revocation of an operator’s permit.”