The short answer, the latest from the City of San Diego, and what to do in OB instead.
Checked October 4, 2026 against the City of San Diego project page and recent local reporting. Sources are listed at the bottom.
The pier has been fenced off since high surf damaged it in October 2023. The City has decided to keep it closed while it plans a full replacement. You can't walk, fish or eat on it, but you can still see it from the beach.
The Ocean Beach Pier opened on July 2, 1966. At 1,971 feet it was billed as the longest concrete pier in the world, and it was free to fish from with no license needed. Nearly 60 years of waves, wind and salt took their toll. A 2018 City study found the pier was near the end of its service life, and repairs became more frequent.
Storms closed it from January to July 2023. In October 2023 high surf damaged it again, and it has not reopened since. The City concluded that keeping it closed while it works on a replacement is the safest and most cost-effective option. The Walking on Water Cafe at the end of the pier closed with it.
The City plans to demolish the old pier and build a new one in its place. Here's where things stand, based on the City's schedule as of mid-2026:
The big open question is money. The project is estimated at $170–190 million, and only $8.4 million in state funding has been secured so far. The City says it is pursuing state and federal grants and possibly a public-private partnership. Dates further out are likely to move.
The City posts official updates on its Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project page, and takes questions at obpierrenewal@sandiego.gov. We'll update this page whenever the status changes. Sign up for our weekly OB email on the homepage to hear first.
No. The Ocean Beach Pier in San Diego has been closed since October 2023, and the City plans to keep it closed until it is replaced.
High surf damaged the nearly 60-year-old concrete pier in October 2023. Studies had already found it was near the end of its service life, so the City decided to keep it closed and replace it rather than repair it again.
The City's current schedule targets the start of construction in early 2029 and completion around 2032, but only if funding is secured. The project is still in environmental review.
The City estimates $170–190 million. About $8.4 million in state funding has been secured so far.
Yes. The pier is still standing and fenced off. You can see it and photograph it from the beach, especially at sunset.
No. The cafe at the end of the pier closed along with the pier.
The nearest public fishing piers are the Shelter Island Fishing Pier on San Diego Bay and Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. Check current hours and rules before you go.