Is Public Nudity Legal in California?
OfficialSimple nudity is not an offence· Checked by Reto Pascal Wyss
Not as a state crime by itself: Penal Code 314 requires exposure that is willful and lewd, and the California Supreme Court held in In re Smith (1972) that nude sunbathing without sexual motivation is not lewd. Nudity is still banned in state park units outside areas the parks department has authorized, and we did not check city or county ordinances.[1][2][3]
Main provision: California Penal Code § 314 (indecent exposure)
Designated nude beaches or tolerance?
State park rules prohibit appearing nude in any park unit except in authorized areas set aside for that purpose by the Department. We found no official list of such authorized areas in the sources we checked.[3]
Private naturist clubs and resorts
AANR's club locator lists California among the states you can search for affiliated nudist clubs and resorts.[6]
Penalties
Indecent exposure is a misdemeanor (generally up to six months in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine); a second conviction, or exposure after entering an inhabited dwelling without consent, can be punished up to state prison. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 314 are listed among the offenses requiring sex-offender registration under Penal Code 290.[1][4][5]
Is going topless legal?
In state park units the definition of nude includes a female's breast below the areola; outside state parks the position is unclear in the sources we found.[3]
Official naturist places in California
Places NudistMap lists as officially designated or naturist-only. Status comes from open data; check each place page.
Frequently asked questions
Is public nudity legal in California?
Not as a state crime by itself: Penal Code 314 requires exposure that is willful and lewd, and the California Supreme Court held in In re Smith (1972) that nude sunbathing without sexual motivation is not lewd. Nudity is still banned in state park units outside areas the parks department has authorized, and we did not check city or county ordinances.
Are there official nude beaches in California?
State park rules prohibit appearing nude in any park unit except in authorized areas set aside for that purpose by the Department. We found no official list of such authorized areas in the sources we checked.
Is nudity allowed at private naturist clubs in California?
AANR's club locator lists California among the states you can search for affiliated nudist clubs and resorts.
What is the penalty for public nudity in California?
Indecent exposure is a misdemeanor (generally up to six months in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine); a second conviction, or exposure after entering an inhabited dwelling without consent, can be punished up to state prison. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 314 are listed among the offenses requiring sex-offender registration under Penal Code 290.
Is going topless legal in California?
In state park units the definition of nude includes a female's breast below the areola; outside state parks the position is unclear in the sources we found.
Sources
- Cal. Penal Code § 314 (FindLaw) (statute)
- In re Smith (1972) 7 Cal.3d 362 (Stanford SCOCAL) (court)
- 14 CCR § 4322 Nudity, state park system (Cornell LII) (statute)
- Cal. Penal Code § 19 (FindLaw) (statute)
- Cal. Penal Code § 290 (FindLaw) (statute)
- AANR Nudist Club Locator (federation)
This page summarises the law for travellers and is not legal advice. Laws, local bylaws and enforcement change; follow local signs and check the sources below. Last checked 31 October 2026.