- Home
- City Government
- Public Safety
Public Safety
The primary mission of the City's Public Safety Department (PSD) is to improve community safety and quality of life by protecting against wildfires, decreasing the occurrence of criminal activities, traffic accidents, and violations, and ensuring an effective City response to emergencies. To accomplish this, the Department oversees a variety of in-house public safety programs and contract services.
CITY OF MALIBU AFTER-ACTION REVIEW OF the FRANKLIN and Palisades FIRES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW – CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS ON MARCH 9
The City of Malibu has completed an independent After-Action Review (AAR) examining how emergency operations were managed during the 2024 Franklin Fire and the 2025 Palisades Fire. The City’s AAR will be presented to Council at the City Council Meeting on March 9, and the Public Safety Commission Meeting on April 1.
The report focuses on the City’s emergency management and Emergency Operations Center processes, including coordination, communication, evacuation, and operations during the emergencies. The AAR is an independent report prepared by Witt O’Brien’s, a nationally recognized emergency management and disaster response firm commissioned as part of the City’s commitment to transparency and accountability, and to continuously apply lessons learned from past disasters to strengthen planning and improve response to future incidents.
Like all After-Action Reviews, the report includes recommendations to help improve emergency operations, some of which are already being implemented, and others will be evaluated through future policy discussions and budget considerations.
This AAR is different from the AAR that the County of Los Angeles released about the Eaton and Palisades Fires in September 2025, and focuses only the City of Malibu’s operations.
Community members are encouraged to review the AAR, attend the City Council meeting to learn more, provide public comment, and ask questions. The meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube for those unable to attend in person: https://www.youtube.com/@CityofMalibu/streams.
The complete AAR is available to view at:
https://malibucity.org/DocumentCenter/View/37295/FINAL_-PUBLIC_Malibu-AAR_-2526
A Q&A sheet about the AAR is available to view at:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TAKE THE EVACUATION PLAN SURVEY
The Department is currently updating the City's Evacuation Plan and is looking for community input. Please take a moment to complete this short survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MalibuEvacPlan
Malibu Speed Safety Program
Conditions on PCH have become increasingly dangerous over the years, with dozens of pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist fatalities and injuries, culminating in the deaths of four Pepperdine students on October 17, 2023. As a result of this horrific incident, Senate Bill (SB) 1297 was created and signed by the Governor on September 27, 2024. SB 1297 authorizes the installation of five speed camera systems along the 21-mile stretch of PCH within Malibu.
Speed cameras detect speeding vehicles using radar or laser technology to measure speed. When a vehicle is detected exceeding the speed limit, the camera takes a picture or video of the vehicle, capturing its license plate, date, time, and location. This information is then checked to confirm the violation, and local authorities decide whether to give a warning or a speeding ticket to the vehicle's registered owner.
The required Speed Safety System Use Policy and Impact Report were approved by the City Council in August 2025. City staff are now reviewing proposals from perspective vendors for the camera systems. The system is expected to be operational by Spring 2026.
- Emergency Management – Maintain the City’s Emergency Operations Center, develop emergency plans and protocols, and conduct emergency training and exercises for city staff.
- Alert and Warning – Conduct regular tests of the City’s alert warning systems and issue alerts during emergencies.
- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program – Coordinate and conduct CERT classes and oversee the Malibu CERT Team.
- Fire Safety and Preparedness – Respond to community fire hazard concerns, provide Home Ignition Zone Assessments, and serve as CAL FIRE Regional Coordinators to assist neighborhoods in attaining Firewise USA recognition.
- Homelessness – Respond to safety concerns associated with unhoused individuals and encampments and coordinate resources to address issues.
- Public Education – Provide public safety education opportunities including an annual Public Safety and Preparedness Fair.
- Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) – The City's primary fire suppression agency and provides education for the Malibu community.
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) – The City's primary law enforcement agency and supports the City's parking enforcement measures alongside LAZ Parking and CHP.
- California Highway Patrol (CHP) – Supports traffic enforcement and suppression along the Pacific Coast Highway and any other state-managed routes throughout the City.
- LAZ Parking - Provides support to the City's parking enforcement measures alongside LASD and CHP.
- Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control (DACC) – Provides animal care support to the Malibu community, including sheltering and licensing of animals.
- The People Concern (TPC) - Provides homelessness outreach services to the unhoused and vulnerable populations within the City.
Public Safety Agency Reports
The City receives regular monthly activity reports from the California Highway Patrol, LA County Fire Department, LA County Fire's Lifeguard Division, and LA County Sheriff's Department.
CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
Most Recent Report | View All Reports
LA County Fire Department Reports
Most Recent Report | View All Reports
LA County FIRE's LIFEGUARD DIVISION Reports
Most Recent Report | View All Reports
LA County Sheriff's Department Reports
Most Recent Report | View All Reports
Contract Safety Services
The City contracts with the County of Los Angeles for certain public safety services:
Services
The City contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for its law enforcement services, which include:
- General law, traffic, and parking enforcement and administration
- Summer beach enforcement
- Specialized community policing services, including Volunteers on Patrol (VOP) and Malibu Search and Rescue
Parking citation processing and hearings are also contracted.
Trespassing
Owners of residences or businesses in Malibu may authorize the Sheriff's Department to remove or arrest individuals trespassing on their property by submitting a Letter of Agency form to the Malibu/Lost Hills Station. Additional details are found on page two of the form (under "Guidelines").
Malibu / Lost Hills Sheriff's Station
27050 Agoura Road
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Phone: 310-456-6652 or 818-878-1808
www.LASD.org
FIRE SERVICES
Fire services within the City of Malibu and the unincorporated Los Angeles County areas around Malibu are provided by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department through four local fire stations.
Fire services provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department include:
- Fire emergency response
- Paramedic services
- Fire prevention and inspections
The City's Fire Safety Liaison also provides assistance to residents and businesses to be prepared for fire season and take steps to protect their homes from fire damage. Visit the Fire Safety page for more information.
LIFEGUARD SERVICES
The public beaches in Malibu are guarded by the Lifeguard Division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The Lifeguards are responsible for providing ocean lifesaving protection for an estimated 11-12 million beachgoers who visit Malibu beaches each year.
During peak summer months, Lifeguard services are supplemented by the Summer Enforcement Team (commonly known as the Beach Team). The City partners with the Sheriff’s Department each summer to ensure a safe and wholesome beach environment for the residents and visitors of Malibu by adding an extremely motivated team of sworn and non-sworn Sheriff’s Department personnel to provide a strong, visible, pro-active police presence at the beach. From the ground and air, the Beach Team ensures enforcement of all applicable laws and assists with crowd control and parking enforcement.
Animal services provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) include:
- Animal rescue
- Pet licensing
- Abuse investigation
- Pet adoptions
The DACC animal shelter in Agoura Hills provides services to the Malibu community:
Agoura Animal Care Center
29525 Agoura Road
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Phone: 818-991-0071
Operating Hours and Directions
Visit the LA County DACC Website for information about licensing, regulations, and shelters, or to submit an Animal Noise Complaint.