Chapter 9.52
CAMPING
Sections:
9.52.050 Storage of personal property in public places.
9.52.060 Public nuisance declared.
9.52.070 Applications of covenants, conventions and restrictions (CC&Rs).
9.52.080 Violations and penalties.
9.52.010 Purpose.
The streets and public property within the City of Galt should be readily accessible and available to residents and the public at large. The use of these areas for camping purposes or storage of personal property interferes with the rights of others to make use of these areas for their proper function. Such activity can constitute a public health and safety hazard that adversely impacts neighborhoods, commercial property and the general welfare of the City. Camping on private property without the consent of the owner, proper sanitary measures and for other than a minimal duration adversely affects private property rights as well as public health, safety, and welfare. The purpose of this chapter is to maintain streets, parks and other public and private property within the City in a clean, sanitary and accessible condition and to adequately protect the health, safety and public welfare of the community, while recognizing that, subject to reasonable conditions, camping associated with special events can be beneficial to the cultural and educational climate in the City.
(Ord. 2014-05, Added, 12/02/14)
9.52.020 Definitions.
A. “Camp” means to do any of the following:
1. To sleep any time between the hours of nine p.m. and nine a.m. in any of the following places:
a. Outdoors with or without bedding, tent, hammock or other similar protection or equipment.
b. In or under any structure not intended for human habitation, whether with or without bedding, tent, hammock, or other similar protection or equipment.
c. In, on or under any parked vehicle, including an automobile, bus, truck, travel trailer or other recreational vehicle.
B. “Setting up campsite” means to, at any time, establish or maintain outdoors or in, on or under any structure not intended for human habitation, at any time during the day or night, a temporary or permanent place for cooking or sleeping, by setting up any bedding, including, but not limited to, a sleeping bag, blanket, mattress, tent, hammock or other sleeping equipment or by setting up any cooking equipment with the intent to use that location for sleeping or habitation.
C. “Camp facilities” means structures, equipment or vehicles used for camping, including, but not limited to, tents, huts, temporary shelters, trailers or vehicles, if the vehicle is being used for habitation.
D. “Camp paraphernalia” means implements and equipment used while camping including, but not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, hammocks, operational cooking facilities, and similar equipment.
E. “Campsite” includes any location used for the purposes of camping.
F. “Habitation” means the intentional use of a space as temporary or permanent living quarters.
G. “Recreational vehicle” means a motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, or camping trailer, with or without motive power, designed for human habitation, for recreational, emergency, or occupancy as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18010.
H. “Store” means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping or to place or leave in a location.
(Ord. 2014-05, Added, 12/02/14)
9.52.030 Unlawful camping.
A. No person shall camp anywhere in the City of Galt, whether on public or private property, except as hereinafter expressly permitted in Section 9.52.040.
B. It shall be an affirmative defense under this chapter for any person, without the purpose of habitation, to temporarily occupy and use a vehicle for emergency reasons such as escape from or avoidance of an abusive person(s), avoidance of driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even though the person may sleep during the period of that use. For purposes of this section, “temporarily occupy” means a duration of twelve (12) hours or less.
C. Camping, although otherwise authorized under this chapter, shall not be permitted when conducted in such a manner as to create noise, inadequate sanitation, or is conducted in a manner that poses a danger to the health, safety and general welfare of the surrounding property; nor where the activity would be prohibited under any other provision of this code concerning the use of mobile homes or recreational vehicles.
(Ord. 2014-05, Added, 12/02/14)
9.52.040 Permitted camping.
Camping is permitted in the City of Galt only under the following circumstances:
A. On public property specifically set aside and clearly marked for public camping purposes.
B. In conjunction with events authorized and expressly provided for in a special event permit issued by the City of Galt. To ensure fair and consistent application of this section, the City Manager or designee may promulgate guidelines defining the criteria for permit issuance contained in this section.
C. In motor homes or travel trailers designed and equipped for habitation while on designated areas on public or private property in conjunction with community or sporting events in which one (1) or more of the occupants is a participant in or organizer of the event. Camping in connection with a community or sporting event shall not exceed three (3) consecutive nights and only in areas identified by the City Manager or his/her designee. The City Manager may promulgate guidelines for designated parking areas for such events.
D. In the rear or side yard of a residence with the consent of the owner or occupant of the residence. Camping in the rear or side yard is only permitted if the campsite is separated from the street by a fence, hedge or other permanent obstruction.
E. Inside a licensed and registered vehicle or travel trailer designed and equipped for habitation while in a residential off-street driveway with consent of the owner and occupant of the residence. No more than one (1) vehicle shall be permitted at any one (1) location. No residential driveway shall be used for camping under this subsection for more than ten (10) days during any one (1) calendar month.
F. Inside a licensed and registered vehicle or travel trailer designed and equipped for habitation while on a public residential street and as guests of owners or occupants of an adjacent residence. No vehicle or travel trailer shall be used for camping under this subsection for more than ten (10) days during any one (1) calendar month.
G. Overnight camping in connection with City-sponsored programs.
H. Inside a licensed and registered vehicle or travel trailer designed and equipped for habitation while on commercial property with consent of the owner or tenant of the property. No commercial property shall be used for camping under this subsection by the same individual(s) for more than ten (10) days during any one (1) calendar month.
(Ord. 2014-05, Added, 12/02/14)
9.52.050 Storage of personal property in public places.
It shall be unlawful for any person to store or leave unattended camp facilities or camp paraphernalia on public property, unless such storage is expressly authorized and in conjunction with a permitted camping activity under this chapter.
(Ord. 2014-05, Added, 12/02/14)
9.52.060 Public nuisance declared.
Any campsite established in the City in violation of this chapter is declared to be a public nuisance, and the Chief of Police is authorized to abate the nuisance and remove camp facilities and camp paraphernalia as authorized by law.
(Ord. 2014-05, Added, 12/02/14)
9.52.070 Applications of covenants, conventions and restrictions (CC&Rs).
Nothing in this chapter is intended to preempt CC&Rs that are more restrictive than the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 2014-05, Added, 12/02/14)
9.52.080 Violations and penalties.
A. Any person that violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any such person commits, continues, licenses, or causes a violation thereof, and shall be punished accordingly.
B. It is unlawful and a public nuisance to violate any of the provisions of this chapter. Any person who engages in conduct prohibited by this chapter may be subject to the following penalties:
1. The first violation of this chapter is an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).
2. A second violation of this chapter within one (1) year, or the continued violation of this chapter after being directed to cease and desist the unlawful activity, is a misdemeanor.
C. The violation of any provision of this chapter shall be and is hereby declared to be contrary to the public interest and shall, at the discretion of the City, create a cause of action for injunctive relief.
D. In addition to the civil remedies and criminal penalties set forth above, any person that violates the provisions of this chapter may be subject to administrative remedies, as set forth in Title 21.
(Ord. 2014-05, Added, 12/02/14)