Chapter 12.50 UNPERMITTED CAMPING AND LODGING ON PUBLIC STREETS, PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTY, AND IN PUBLIC PARKS AND OTHER PROHIBITED PUBLIC PLACES

Chapter 12.50
UNPERMITTED CAMPING AND LODGING ON PUBLIC STREETS, PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTY, AND IN PUBLIC PARKS AND OTHER PROHIBITED PUBLIC PLACES

Sections:

12.50.010 Unpermitted camping and lodging prohibited.

(a) No person shall camp or lodge on a public street (including in a vehicle parked on a public street), on publicly owned property, and other prohibited public places; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit camping in public campgrounds pursuant to a permit or license authorized under Federal, State or local statute or ordinance.

(b) “Camping” means residing in or using any public street, publicly owned property, public park, or other prohibited public place for living accommodation, lodging, or sleeping purposes, as exemplified by remaining for prolonged or repeated periods of time not associated with ordinary use of the street, property, or public place, with one’s possessions or while storing one’s possessions (including, but not limited to, clothing, sleeping bags, bed rolls, blankets, sheets, hammocks, or other sleeping implements, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, cookware, and food or beverages), cooking or consuming meals, or lodging in a parked vehicle. These activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that a person is using the street, property, or place as a living, lodging, or sleeping accommodation regardless of his or her intent, or the nature of any other activities in which he or she might also be engaged.

(c) “Prohibited public places” means any public place not designated as a public campground pursuant to Federal, State, or local statute or ordinance and shall include the following:

(1) Public streets, sidewalks, alleyways, passageways, and rights-of-way;

(2) Publicly owned property;

(3) Public parks;

(4) Public parking lots, whether publicly owned or privately owned;

(5) Public landscaped areas, whether publicly owned or privately owned and maintained pursuant to a public landscape easement;

(6) Private property that is readily accessible to the general public, or is otherwise open to common or general use or view;

(7) Vacant lots;

(8) Drainage culverts and basins. (Ord. 1834 § 1, 4-15-08).

12.50.020 Construction with other laws.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect, supersede, or otherwise prevent private causes of action for trespass, or other public civil, penal, or administrative prosecution for trespass or maintaining a nuisance under State or local law. (Ord. 1834 § 1, 4-15-08).