Ordinance makes it tougher for sex offenders to get close to potential victims.

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Sex offenders in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will find it harder to have access to children after the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance that strengthens restrictions on where they can reside or congregate.

The new ordinance, which was proposed by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, prohibits offenders from loitering within 300 feet of libraries, public and private schools (K-12), publicly owned and operated parks, businesses with children’s playgrounds, school bus stops and child care centers in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

It also limits the number of sex offenders who can live in single- and multi-family dwellings and at hotels or motels and establishes consequences for property owners and managers who knowingly violate the prohibitions.

According to Antonovich’s office, the ordinance will only apply to convicted sex offenders whose offenses are committed after the ordinance goes into effect. Similar ordinances have already passed in Long Beach , Palmdale, Pomona , West Covina and El Monte . Currently, Santa Clarita follows the restrictions outlined in Megan’s Law and would have to enact a more restrictive ordinance on its own.

“The additional restrictions will strengthen those mandated by the State of California . Reducing the potential dangers associated with multiple registered sex offenders living near families and places where children frequently gather is our priority,” said Antonovich.

There are approximately 1,438 registered sex offenders in the unincorporated areas of the County, 397 of these registered sex offenders are on parole.