Pickleball Ban: Carmel considering implementing California’s 1st permanent ban on pickleball over noise complaints

CARMEL, Calif. (KGO) — Carmel is considering implementing California’s first permanent ban on pickleball.

Earlier this month, the Carmel City Council paved the way for making a temporary ban permanent at the only public court within Carmel city limits.

While there are other public and private courts on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel’s ban on the city-run court essentially makes it a city-wide ban.

The ban stems from years of noise complaints by residents near Forest Hill Park, located in the center of the ultra-wealthy coastal hamlet south of Monterey.

In response to these complaints, the city council decided to impose a temporary ban on the sport at the public courts. However, that temporary move appears to be moving toward a permanent ban.

While other cities have considered restricted pickleball hours and bans, Carmel’s decision on when the ban would take effect would be the first full ban actually implemented in a California city.