REDINGTON BEACH, Fla. — If you’re heading to the beach in one Bay area town, you may want to check and make sure you aren’t breaking the rules by bringing a tent.

Redington Beach city leaders are in the process of amending the current language of an ordinance originally passed in 2018.

The new language would specifically prohibit members of the public from having tobacco, animals and the erection or use of tents on any part of the beach. Exceptions would be given to the town at its parks.

Elena Garcia owns a condo on Redington Beach. She said she learned about the newly enforced ordinance on Mother’s Day weekend when a deputy told her to remove the tent she was using to provide shade to her elderly mother-in-law.

Garcia said since then she has leaned more about the ordinance, but that doesn’t mean she agrees with it.

“The ordinance was created to squelch big parties happening on the beach, but having been here for almost nine years, I can tell you that is a rarity,” Garcia said. “So, I think we’re trying to use a hammer to solve a problem that requires a mallet or less.”

Garcia created a petition to guarantee the right to erect tents on Redington Beach. She included information about the importance of shade and the deadly dangers of getting too much sun.

Redington Beach leaders are set to have a second reading on the amendments to the current ordinance on June 5.