Plan Your Visit

Jump to:

Garden Rules |  Know Before Your Visit  |  Dottie’s (Food and Beverage)  |  Accessibility  |  Your Ticket  |  Photography

Garden Rules

• Please Respect Our Staff and Visitors. South Coast Botanic Garden will not tolerate inappropriate behavior, including, but not limited to, yelling, violence, intimidation, threats, harassment, aggression, swearing, damage, abuse, or sexual harassment. Individuals who are aggressive toward staff or other visitors will be expelled from South Coast Botanic Garden and escorted off the property.
• Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Picnics and outside food and beverage are welcome at the Garden, though set ups must remain casual without furniture or tents or staked umbrellas. Restrictions on outside food may be limited during special events and/or exhibitions such as GLOW.
• Bespoke Picnics (curated picnic experiences with designed set ups and exquisite bites) may be booked through the Special Events and Filming Department for a fee beginning at $350.
• Private gatherings and celebrations, including weddings, birthday parties, bridal showers and baby showers, are permitted only when organized through the Special Events and Filming Department. Guests may not set up furniture, tents, umbrellas or décor in Garden spaces without a rental agreement.
• Please do not lead private tours of the Garden that are not officially presented by South Coast Botanic Garden and booked through the Garden’s ticketing program.
• Private, unsanctioned, classes hosted by guests or members at the Garden are not permitted. All classes must be presented officially by South Coast Botanic Garden.
• Staff and volunteers visiting the Garden as guests should not act or represent themselves as official staff or volunteers during their visit.
• Clothing is required at all times, including shirts and footwear. We ask that all guests keep their chest covered.
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the Garden unless purchased or consumed during approved permitted events.
• Balloons are not permitted, as they are unsafe for birds and other wildlife in the Garden.
• Sports equipment and kites should be left in the car. (Balls, Frisbees and other objects pose a danger to our collection if caught in the trees or within our plant beds.) Board games and card games are welcome.
• Butterfly nets and lizard catchers are not permitted; we’d like to let our nature enjoy the Garden undisturbed!
• Recreational scooters, skateboards, bicycles are not permitted. We are concerned for the safety of our guests with our settling garbage landfill underfoot. Mobility scooters are welcome though some trails are inaccessible.
• Please refrain from playing in or on fountains, ponds and sculptures, with the exception of the One-on-one sculpture.
• In order to preserve our collections, guests should not climb trees, engrave on trees or walk inside planter beds and should not clip plants for their home gardens. Please do not plant anything in the Garden.
• Distribution of human or animal remains is not allowed. Please do not leave flowers on Garden benches.
• Please leave your radios and musical instruments at home to preserve the sounds of the Garden.
• Strollers are not permitted inside of the butterfly pavilion. Infants under the age of two must be carried. No food or drink is allowed inside the butterfly pavilion. There is no re-entry. Tripods and monopods are not allowed in the pavilion.
• Smoking and vaping are not allowed at the Garden or in the parking lot.
• Tailgating is not permitted.

Things to Know Before Your Visit

• We are a large garden that contains robust wildlife, including occasional coyotes.  Please keep your pets leashed and your children close by.  Do not approach wildlife or feed them and let a ranger or employee know of any sightings.
• South Coast Botanic Garden is a place where photography and video recording may occur. By entering the premises, you consent to photography, audio recording, and video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition or reproduction to be used by South Coast Botanic Garden and its partners for marketing and publicity purposes in all forms. 
• Timed-ticket entry is in place to limit the number of guests. Advance tickets are highly suggested, especially during special events and exhibits.
• Main Entry Restrooms are cleaned at regular intervals. Thank you for your patience while sanitation of these spaces take place.

Dottie’s – Currently Closed

• The Garden has food and beverage available for purchase at Dottie’s, located near the Living Wall, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday. You can see the menu here. Update: Dottie’s is currently closed.
• While you’re welcome to bring your own picnics into the Garden, the seating at Dottie’s is reserved for Dottie’s customers.
• Drinks can be enjoyed throughout our 87 acres, however, alcohol cannot leave the Garden’s gates. 
• No outside alochol is allowed.
• All of Dottie’s foodware is biodegradable. Please use the compost bins located at Dottie’s.
• Dottie’s is cashless so please bring a credit card for purchases.

Accessibility

• An accessibility vehicle is available for those with limited mobility from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily. Weekend accessibility rides will be available throughout the day and pick-up is across the way from the Desert Collection. Weekday accessibility rides are available upon request once you enter the Garden. Please note, the accessibility offer is a non-stop ride around the Garden’s Tram Road.
• Wheelchair rental is not available at the Garden. The use of wheelchairs is limited to the immediate 10 acres surrounding the Administrative buildings. These areas are paved or hard-packed surfaces navigable via wheelchair. The main Tram Road provides a 1 mile paved path around the Garden though there are steep inclines that will make navigation difficult without a fit companion to help push the wheelchair. 
• Generally speaking, walkers can be used around the Garden. Some trails may be too rugged for easy navigation.
• No motorized devices are allowed, unless for mobility purposes.
• Professionally trained service dogs are allowed in the Garden, though Emotional Support animals are not permitted. Service dogs must be in the control of the owner at all times.
• The Garden does host special “Dog Walking” events intermittently throughout the year where guests may bring dogs on leashes for a special walk.

Your Ticket

• Reserved timed tickets are required for entry to the Garden. This helps us manage our capacity while also ensuring ample parking for our guests.
• Tickets are non-refundable.
• COVID-19 makes these times uncertain. Please note that if public health circumstances change, there is some possibility that the Garden will need to cancel your ticket or rebook for another time.

Photography

• Nature photography and professional portrait photography are welcome in the Garden, as long as all equipment is handheld. Nature photography is permitted with general admission.
• Guests planning professional portrait sessions with hand-carried equipment, intended for family photos, maternity shoots, birthday shoots, prom photos, graduation photos and headshots, should reserve a General Photo Pass through the Special Events and Filming Department. General Photo Passes will be booked according to availability and guests will be briefed of all safety rules pertaining to photo shoots in the Garden. The Photo Pass is equivalent to the price of General Admission and free for members.
• Portrait photographers with heavy equipment, furniture, props, tripods and lights are required to book a VIP Photo Pass at $350. Guests wearing bridal and groom attire are also required to book a VIP photo pass to ensure an exclusive experience for our wedding clients at the Garden.  
• Tripods and monopods are allowed for Nature Photography, Nature Viewing and VIP Photo Passes. Tripods and monopods are not permitted inside the SOAR experience.
• Commercial filming and photography must be arranged through the Special Events and Filming Department and must hold a permit via FilmLA.