Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors

What Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors does

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH) is a government department within the County of Los Angeles, California, tasked with stewarding 23 miles of county coastline, 16 public beaches (including Zuma, Malibu Surfrider, Venice, Dockweiler, and Manhattan), and Marina del Rey — the world's largest man-made small craft harbor. DBH serves the general public, LA County residents and visitors, the boating community, commercial lessees, and event organizers through a portfolio of physical and digital services that include harbor operations (boat slips, anchorages, guest docks, launch ramp, boat storage, hull cleaning), beach access and amenities (parking, ADA beach mats and wheelchairs, lifeguard coordination, restrooms, fire pits, volleyball courts, bike path), recreational facilities (Dockweiler Youth Center, Dockweiler RV Park, Burton W. Chace Park), seasonal transportation (Beach Shuttle and WaterBus), and event programming (Summer Concert Series, Beach Movie Nights, Drum Circle, Dance MDR, W.A.T.E.R. youth sailing program).

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: (1) Marina del Rey lease agreements with commercial tenants including restaurants (e.g., Gladstone's), hotels (Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn), residential apartment lessees (Mariners Village, Del Rey Shores, Villa Venetia, Tahiti Marina), and yacht clubs (Catalina Yacht Anchorage, California Yacht Club, Santa Monica Yacht Club); (2) parking fees from beach and marina lots including annual beach parking passes, senior passes, and metered parking (Chace Park: $0.25 per 10 minutes); (3) permit fees for special events, beach weddings, film/photo shoots, school field trips (free for LA County public schools), beach cleanups, boat charters, and Right of Entry permits; and (4) concession agreements with food vendors, boat rentals, and recreational service providers. Pricing for permits is structured as one-time license fees with application processing windows (e.g., special event permits 90 days to 3 weeks pre-event); parking runs annual subscription and pay-as-you-go models; lease income is contractual and long-tenured.

DBH distributes through direct physical access (16 beach locations), an online permit application system via ActiveNet and powerappsportals.us, and partner organizations including the Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit MDR for tourism promotion. The department operates within the County's regulatory framework (Title 19 of the LA County Code), under oversight from the Board of Supervisors and the California Coastal Commission, and is funded via County budget allocations, user fees, parking revenues, leasehold income, and grants — not by private capital.

Name

Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors

Legal name

County of Los Angeles - Department of Beaches and Harbors

Website

https://beaches.lacounty.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

10,001+ employees

Short description

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors is a county government department that manages 23 miles of coastline, 16 public beaches, and the Marina del Rey small craft harbor, serving LA County residents, visitors, commercial lessees, and the boating community through beach access, harbor operations, parking, permits, and recreational facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Beach and Harbor Management

NAICS

Marinas (713930), Port and Harbor Operations (488310)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIALAF

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Transportation & Infrastructure Agencies (Roads, Transit, Public Works)

SECONDARYTHAMAJAH

Marina RV & Waterfront Campgrounds

Travel & Hospitality/Vacation Rentals & Short-Term Stays/Campgrounds, Glamping & RV Parks

Keywords

• Public beach management
• Marina harbor operations
• Coastal recreation services
• Beach permitting
• Public parking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Marina del Rey Lease Revenue: Revenue generated from lease agreements with commercial tenants operating businesses within Marina del Rey harbor, including restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, yacht clubs, and retail establishments. The department manages numerous parcels with leasehold interests.
2. Parking Fees: Revenue from beach and marina parking lots throughout LA County. Multiple parking facilities with varying fee structures including metered parking, daily rates, and annual passes for seniors and veterans.
3. Permit and License Fees: Revenue from issuing permits for special events, beach weddings, film/photo shoots, school field trips, beach cleanups, boat charters, and commercial operations.
4. Concession Agreements: Revenue share or fixed payments from concession operators including food vendors, boat rentals, and recreational service providers at beaches and Marina del Rey.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors manages Marina del Rey harbor and 23 miles of public beaches along the LA County coastline. The department provides public beach access, harbor slip rentals and launch ramps, parking services with annual passes, online permitting for events/films/weddings/field trips, and recreational facilities (Dockweiler Youth Center, Dockweiler RV Park, Burton W. Chace Park) along with seasonal beach shuttle and WaterBus services. Revenue is generated through lease agreements with Marina del Rey commercial tenants, parking fees, permits, and concession agreements.

Product overview

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors operates as a government agency managing Marina del Rey harbor and 23 miles of public beaches. The department's offerings include: core harbor and beach management services, an online permit system (via ActiveNet) for special events, weddings, filming, and field trips, parking management services at beach locations, and recreational facilities including Dockweiler Youth Center, Dockweiler RV Park, and Burton W. Chace Park. The department also operates seasonal transportation services including beach shuttle and WaterBus. These services function as distinct operational units within the department rather than an integrated software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marina del Rey Harbor Management Management of the world's largest man-made small craft harbor including boat slips, anchorages, guest docks, boat storage, launch ramps, and commercial marina services. Provides facilities for boating, fishing, charter operations, and waterfront activities in Marina del Rey.
• LA County Beach Access Public beach access and facilities across 23 miles of LA County coastline including 16 beaches (Zuma, Malibu Surfrider, Venice, Dockweiler, Manhattan, Will Rogers, Point Dume, Topanga, and others). Provides restrooms, showers, parking, volleyball courts, fire pits, ADA-accessible beach mats and wheelchairs, and lifeguard/safety programs.
• Permit Services (ActiveNet Portal) Online permit application system processed through the ActiveNet platform for Special Events, Beach Weddings, School Field Trips, Film/Photo Shoots, Beach Cleanups, Right of Entry Permits, Beach Camp Use Permits, Marina Temporary Sign/Tent Permits, and Marina Tree Work Permits. Right of Entry Permits are processed through powerappsportals.us.
• Beach Parking Services Parking management across multiple beach lots including annual beach parking passes, senior parking passes (62+), disabled person parking, veterans parking, metered parking (e.g., Chace Park $0.25 per 10 minutes, 90 min max), daily rates, and overnight parking options. Lot management is operated by contracted provider Modern Parking, Inc.
• Dockweiler Youth Center Youth recreation facility at Dockweiler Beach providing summer programs, the W.A.T.E.R. youth sailing camp, and facility rentals for groups and organizations.
• Dockweiler RV Park Full-hookup RV park at Dockweiler State Beach with beach access, bike path, fire pits, and proximity to the Dockweiler Youth Center.
• Burton W. Chace Park Public park in Marina del Rey offering reservable event spaces, waterfront views, and community programming including the Summer Concert Series and other seasonal events.
• Beach Shuttle Service Seasonal beach shuttle service providing public transportation to LA County beaches during summer months.
• Marina WaterBus Service Seasonal water shuttle service operating in Marina del Rey from June through September, connecting waterfront destinations including parks, shopping, dining, and harbor attractions.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors BureaucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing marketing and promotional partnership to promote Marina del Rey as a tourism destination. The bureau works with hotels, restaurants, and attractions to market the area to visitors.
• U.S. Coast GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at 13871 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey. Coast Guard Station provides maritime safety, search and rescue, and law enforcement for the harbor and coastal waters.
• LA County Fire Department - Station 110coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at 4433 Admiralty Way in Marina del Rey. Provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, and marine rescue capabilities for the harbor area.
• LA County Sheriff - Marina del Rey StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at 13851 Fiji Way. Provides law enforcement services for Marina del Rey and surrounding areas.
• California Coastal CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency with regulatory oversight of coastal development. DBH works with the commission on permits, environmental compliance, and coastal access initiatives including mitigation funding for lower-cost visitor accommodations.
• California State Parks - Division of Boating & WaterwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing grant funding and regulatory guidance for marina improvements, boat launch facilities, and recreational boating programs.
• Gladstone's RestaurantminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCommercial restaurant concession at the beach where LA County holds a financial interest. Managed under County advertising and hotlink policy due to public/financial interest.
• Modern Parking, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContracted parking lot management services at county-operated public beaches and Marina del Rey.
• Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArmed security guard services contract for Marina del Rey and beach facilities.
• LA County Public Library - Lloyd Taber Marina del Rey LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at 4533 Admiralty Way. Public library services for Marina del Rey residents and visitors.
• Visit MDR (Marina del Rey Tourism Board)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial destination marketing organization for Marina del Rey promoting hotels, dining, shopping, and waterfront activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Port of Los Angeles: Larger-scale public port authority operating in the same LA County geography. While focused on commercial cargo rather than recreational marina management, it is a comparable public-sector maritime operator with overlapping jurisdictional footprint and revenue model (leases, fees).
• Port of Long Beach: Adjacent public port authority operating under similar California state governance. Comparable as a public port/harbor operator with lease-based revenue streams, though skewed toward commercial cargo versus recreation.
• California State Parks: State-level public agency managing beaches, parks, and coastal recreation. Comparable as a public entity operating coastal/beach assets with similar revenue mix (parking, reservations, concessions) and Division of Boating & Waterways as a direct funding partner of DBH.

Direct peers

• Ventura County Harbor Department: County-level public agency operating Channel Islands Harbor and Ventura Harbor with comparable responsibilities: marina slip rentals, commercial leases, beach/park management, and concession agreements. Closest direct functional peer as a county harbor authority in Southern California.
• San Diego Unified Port District: Public port district managing waterfront facilities including recreational marinas, hotels, restaurants, and parks. Directly comparable business model combining commercial leases, marina operations, and public recreational access in a Southern California coastal setting.
• King Harbor / Port of Redondo Beach (City of Redondo Beach): Municipal operator of a recreational marina (King Harbor) in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. Directly comparable as a smaller-scale public marina operator with slip rentals, commercial leases, and waterfront recreation.

Regional players

• City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks: Municipal peer operating public parks, beaches (including some within LA County), and recreation facilities within overlapping geography. Comparable as a public-sector provider of beach access, parking, and recreation programming with similar fee-based revenue model.
• Orange County Parks: County-level public parks operator in neighboring Orange County, managing coastal and inland recreation facilities. Comparable as a peer public agency administering beach access, parking, and recreational concessions under similar California regulatory environment.
• San Mateo County Harbor District: Special district operating Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point Marina in Northern California. Comparable as a public-sector harbor/marina operator with slip rentals, leases, and concession revenue, though outside Southern California.

Others

• California Coastal Commission: State regulatory agency with oversight of coastal development along the California coast. Not a direct operator but a key counterparty and ecosystem participant that shapes DBH's permitting, lease, and capital project economics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/lacdbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/lacdbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/lacdbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/los-angeles-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors