Chapter 10.85
CAMPING
Sections:
10.85.040 Operating hours and areas not open to public.
10.85.050 Areas not open to public – Violation.
10.85.060 Unlawful camping on public property.
10.85.070 Penalty for violations.
10.85.010 Findings.
People camping and storing personal property on public property and on public rights-of-way, such as streets, sidewalks, and alleys, are engaged in conduct which creates a public health and safety hazard due to interference with use of the rights-of-way and the lack of proper utility and/or sanitary facilities in those places. People without sanitary facilities have urinated, defecated, and littered on public property and on the public rights-of-way. Use of public property for camping purposes or storage of personal property interferes with the rights of others to use the areas for which they were intended. (Ord. 19-24 § 2, 2024).
10.85.020 Purpose.
It is the purpose of this chapter to prevent harm to the health and safety of the public and to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare by keeping public streets and other public property readily accessible to the public and to prevent use of public property for camping purposes or storage of personal property which interferes with the rights of others to use the areas for which they were intended. (Ord. 19-24 § 2, 2024).
10.85.030 Definitions.
The following definitions are applicable in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
“Camp” or “camping” means to pitch, create, use, or occupy camp facilities for the purposes of habitation, as evidenced by the use of camp paraphernalia.
“Camp facilities” include, but are not limited to, tents, huts, temporary shelters, or vehicles.
“Camp paraphernalia” includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, hammocks, or outdoor cooking facilities and similar equipment.
“Public park” means the same as defined in BMC 10.84.020.
“Store” means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location. “Store” does not include storage of personal items by city employees and invitees in the regular course of participating in or working on city functions, events and/or activities unrelated to camping.
“Street” means any highway, lane, road, street, right-of-way, boulevard, alley, and every way or place in the city that is publicly owned or maintained for public vehicular travel.
“Vehicle” means the same as such is defined in RCW 46.04.670. (Ord. 19-24 § 2, 2024).
10.85.040 Operating hours and areas not open to public.
Some city property may be closed to the public at all times. Other city property may be open to the public only during established operating hours and for purposes related to the functions of city government. Operating hours for particular city property may be established by the city administrator and so posted at the property. (Ord. 19-24 § 2, 2024).
10.85.050 Areas not open to public – Violation.
In addition to a violation of other applicable law, it is also a violation of this chapter to enter or remain on any property under the jurisdiction of the city when the area is not open to the public. (Ord. 19-24 § 2, 2024).
10.85.060 Unlawful camping on public property.
(1) In addition to violating other applicable law, it is a violation of this chapter for any person to erect any structure, tent, or other shelter on any city property except as otherwise authorized by the Buckley Municipal Code.
(2) It is a violation of this chapter for any person to camp or to store personal property, including camp facilities (other than vehicles) and camp paraphernalia, in any park, publicly owned or maintained land, parking lot, or street, whether improved or unimproved. It shall also be unlawful for any person to occupy a vehicle for the purpose of camping within these areas for more than 12 hours total within city limits within any calendar month. (Ord. 19-24 § 2, 2024).
10.85.070 Penalty for violations.
Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is a misdemeanor. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction of such violation, be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 19-24 § 2, 2024).