San Diego looks to limit beach parties by banning corporate events and bonfires days ahead of spring break and summer tourist season

San Diego is cracking down on beach parties by banning private events, bonfires and even picnics to prevent spring breakers from wreaking havoc. 

A spokesperson for San Diego confirmed the city's decision to ban private companies from staging picnics, corporate events, large parties, bonfires or any other organized event on any beach in the city.

Companies are concerned for effect the strict ruling will have on the tourist industry, especially as spring break looms ahead in the near future and the summer season is fast approaching.

Companies being impacted by the new rules have called it an 'arbitrary crackdown' because they went into place without a City Council vote, according to The San Diego Union Tribune.

The ruling was prompted by complaints from beach-goers and nearby residents who have been inconvenienced and bothered by large beach gatherings, a city spokesperson confirmed.

San Diego is cracking down on beach parties by banning private events, bonfires and even picnics to prevent spring breakers from wreaking havoc

Excited spring breakers gather around a couple of boys wrestling on the sands in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Two girls are seen wrestling on the sands on Fort Lauderdale Beach this week

Groups of guys are seen jostling with one another while being cheered on by friends

Oftentimes, beach-goers are forced to move for big parties to spread out across the sand. The groups are often loud and disrupt the peace of residents' relaxing beach days and go on late into the night. 

Spokesperson Nicole Darling said that some parties are so large that they limit public access to popular beach areas. 

San Diego officials announced in 2022 that they were considering a formal permitting process for businesses that host beach events in an attempt to bring some order to the industry, which can get out of hand at times.

Some companies accepted the idea of a permitting process, even though city officials proposed new requirements like insurance policies and additional fees.

City officials told the companies last fall that they were going to re-evaluate the formal permitting process idea. However, this winter they announced a complete beach ban that would take effect on February 1.

The city announced that larger organized events could still take place at 12 sites in city parks. Five of the sites are in Mission Bay Park, four in shoreline parks and three in Balboa Park. 

San Diego lifeguards said they support the ban, with Lifeguard Chief James Gartland saying, 'unregulated commercial activity on the sand takes up public space, negatively affects the beach, and creates a distraction for lifeguards.' 

San Diego's crackdown comes as beach cities along the East Coast have tried to enforce rules to control the rowdy party scene that erupts during spring break.

Spring breakers party at a bar on Las Olas Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Wednesday

Shots delivered by super-soakers are a popular sight during Spring Break

Police patrol the streets on their bike in South Beach, Florida

Miami Beach is currently bracing for a weekend with the 'most bloodshed' - the one which has traditionally been the rowdiest of the entire Spring Break period. 

College students usually turn the main drag into a huge street party at this time of year, blocking traffic as they drink and dance to thumping music.

But strict new measures mean the Spring Break ritual is a much quieter affair this year. 

The south Florida city has enacted new rules to stamp out partying which has year after year go out of control resulting in violence. This time last March, two people were killed in shootings.

Officers made 488 arrests, including 230 felonies. More than 105 firearms were also seized.

College kids usually transform Miami Beach's main seaside drag into a street party, blocking traffic as they dance to thumping music, but this time the ritual known as Spring Break is a much more muted affair

Bars were packed midweek in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday night

Police have stepped up their presence and are visibly patrolling the streets with the help of other state and federal agencies.

While those who made it to Miami have to go through DUI checkpoints and barricades and there have been around 100 arrests so far this year with the stricter measures.

'So, since the duration of spring break, which has started last weekend, we have a little over 100 arrests so far, which according to the data, we're down about 14 percent,' officer Chris Bess said.

To keep things under control, Miami Beach officials have deployed more police, set up extra drink-driving checkpoints and shut down all public parking lots except one which charges $100 on what will be the busiest weekend of Spring Break. 

Instead, it seems the bulk of partygoers have headed 30 miles north to Fort Lauderdale.

Just like Miami Beach, many seaside cities in south Florida are magnets for students keen to let off steam during their Easter break.