Is it illegal to tan nude (or partially) in your own backyard in California?
I just bought a house with a pretty secured back yard. We have redwoods that line our fence, the boards on the fences overlap so to see through you have to find a hole and peek or climb the fence. We have neighbors on all sides of us and only today have I seen anyone outside (so I came back in) Is it illegal for me to tan partially nude (no top) in my own private backyard, not visible to the public (unless they FIND a way in) ???
6 Responses
John S
20 Dec 2010
davidmi711
20 Dec 2010
If they can see you without violating the law then you are breaking the law.
wizjp
20 Dec 2010
It’s legal…untill someone complains.
Then it’s public indecency.
DAR
20 Dec 2010
Last I heard, not, but there is always Google earth…. you can see our trampoline on our picture. You might want to check the resolution.
B G
20 Dec 2010
its legal…..better give me your address so I can make sure…(I kidding)….its legal
mariner31
20 Dec 2010
Technically NO… not by STATE law, but your local community or home-owners-association may have differing rules.
California Penal Code, Section 314: Every person who willfully and lewdly, either: 1. Exposes his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or in any place where there are present other persons to be offended or annoyed thereby … is guilty of a misdemeanor.
I figure if they can’t see in, and their aren’t windows over-looking your backyard a little TANNING is kosher… just don’t get "lewd".
Ahhhhh I remember my teen years and Mrs Silverman !!
Even if they could see you, it would not be indecent exposure under California law, since that requires a "lewd intent" not present when somebody is simply sunbathing. There is no state law which is violated by simple nudity absent lewd intent or an intent to annoy. However, it might violate some local ordinance against public nudity. I doubt that even such a local ordinance would apply in a backyard in which precautions were taken to assure privacy.