What is a Children's Camp?
In Los Angeles County, any camp operating in the unincorporated areas of the county is classified as a Children's Camp if:
- The site has programs and facilities attended by 5 or more children ages 3-17
- The primary purpose is providing group experience with social, spiritual, educational, or recreational objectives; and
- The site operates for over 3 hours per day for at least 5 days during any 12-month period.
If the camp offers 2 or 3 overnight stays per season, then it is classified as a Children's Overnight Camp.
If the camp offers no more than 1 overnight stay per season, then it is classified as a Children's Day Camp.
What not is a Children's Camp?
- Programs and facilities that require a license from the California Department of Social Services.
- Any juvenile detention facility.
- Program(s) and facilities commonly referred to as "drop-in" recreation programs in which attendees may participate without signing up or registration by attendees, or their parents or guardians.
- Outdoor education programs and classes offered to students by school districts, county boards of education, or private schools, which are operated under California Education Code requirements.
- Any camp that offers four (4) or more overnight stays anywhere in LA County is classified as an Organized Camp.
On June 28, 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the Elena Matyas Children's Camp Safety Ordinance in honor of Elena Matyas, the mother of 6-year-old Roxie Forbes who drowned at the swimming pool of a children's summer day camp. The ordinance amends the Los Angeles County Code to promote the health and safety of children's camps by:
- establishing counselor-to-camper ratios, background and training requirements for camp counselors and directors
- establishing operational and structural minimum standards
- requiring each camp location to have written operating procedures and plans to address medical and other emergencies, transportation needs, and oversight of swimming and other specialized recreational activities.
The full ordinance can be found in Code of Ordinances Title 11, Chapter 11.08
Requirements
Site Evaluations and Inspections
All Children's Camps will undergo a site evaluation to be completed by Environmental Health within 30 days prior to the start of operations.
Permitted camps will receive an annual inspection to monitor compliance with the Ordinance. Camps with registrations will not be inspected by EH unless complaints are received.
Resources
- Children's Camp Ordinance Implementation Webinar
- Public Health Permit Application
- Children's Camp Supplemental Application
- Children's Camp Registration Application
- Notice of Intent to Operate
- Guidance Document for Camp Permits and Registration
- Children's Camp Staff Training and Qualifications Guideline
- Elena Matayas Children's Camp Safety Ordinance
- List of the Permitted/Registered Camps in Los Angeles County
- Children's Camp Inspection Guide
Report a Problem
If you observe code violations or would like to report an issue, you may contact the Environmental Health Call Center at (888) 700-9995 or File a Complaint Online. In addition, inquiries can also be emailed to campsandschools@ph.lacounty.gov
For further assistance, you can contact the Camps and Schools Program at (626) 813-3428.