'Uncommonly Silly Law' Bans Playing Catch On LA Streets

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to move forward with repealing a city law that could subject residents to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail for playing catch or other sports on public and residential streets or in some parks.

In a 14-0 vote, council members directed the City Attorney's Office to draft an ordinance to repeal Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 56.16, titled "Streets-Sidewalks-Playing Ball or Games of Sport."

Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who introduced the motion in August 2025, was absent during Tuesday's meeting.

In his motion, Blumenfield described the regulation as an "uncommonly silly law."

The section mandates that "No person shall play ball or any game of sport with a ball or football or throw, cast, shoot or discharge any stone, pellet, bullet, arrow or any other missile, in, over, across, along or upon any street or sidewalk or in any public park, except on those portions of said part set apart for such purposes."

While examining Los Angeles Municipal Code city officials came across section, which they believe was enacted in 1945 — the first year documentation referencing the law that could be found.

Any serious activities in the code section, such as firing a weapon or shooting arrows, are already prohibited by other laws, according to the motion.

City officials said the law is outdated and no longer appropriate for a modern city.

City News Service