Part 1 — PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS — Arcadia Municipal Code

- PURPOSE.

This Chapter is intended to protect the public health, welfare, and safety by reserving open spaces and facilities within the City limits for their intended purposes. Public property within the City 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 use the areas for their intended purposes and is deleterious to the public peace, health, safety, and welfare. The use of these areas for camping obstructs the intended uses for the public at large, contributes to blight, and can cause damage to public property. This Chapter is intended to avoid unsafe and potentially disorderly conditions, unsanitary and unhealthful conditions, and the degradation or destruction of open spaces and facilities within the City.

(Ord. No. 2374, § 2, 2-16-21)

- DEFINITIONS.

The following words and phrases, when used in this Chapter, shall have the meaning ascribed to them by this section unless it is apparent from the context that another meaning is intended.

(a)

"Camp" or "Camping" means residing in or using any public property for one or more nights for living accommodation purposes, such as sleeping activities or making preparations to sleep (including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping), or using any tents, or storing personal belongings (including but not limited to clothing, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, cookware, and similar material), or making any fire using Bunsen burners or other heating items, or

regularly cooking meals. These activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that a person is using public property as a living accommodation for one or more nights, with the intent to camp.

(b)

"Camp facilities" include, but are not limited to, tents, huts, or similar temporary shelters consisting of any material with a top or roof or any other upper covering or that is otherwise enclosed by sides that is of sufficient size for a person to fit underneath or inside while sitting or lying down and includes the use of a tarp or other material tied or affixed to a structure or bush to create an enclosed area.

(c)

"Camp paraphernalia" includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks, or non-City designated cooking or heating facilities and similar equipment.

(d)

"Landscaped area" means any manicured or natural ground covered areas including but not limited to flower beds, bushes, brush areas, or shrubs.

(e)

"Personal property" means any tangible property and includes, but is not limited to, goods, materials, merchandise, tents, tarpaulins, bedding, blankets, sleeping bags, personal items such as household items, luggage, backpacks, clothing, food, documents, and medication.

(f)

"Public property" means any publicly owned property in the City, whether improved or unimproved, including, but not limited to, any of the following: public alleyways; public parking lots; public passageways; public streets; public rights-of-way; park playgrounds; freeway on-ramps and off-ramps; publicly owned, maintained, or operated parks; publicly owned, maintained, or operated landscaped areas or greenbelts; publicly owned fences, trees, light poles, or equipment boxes; publicly owned, maintained, or operated open spaces including, but not limited to, public facilities or buildings of any kind; public sidewalks, curbs, and gutters; public educational institutions; or other government owned, maintained, or operated properties located within the City.

(g)

"Public utilities" means any outdoor water, sewer, or electrical outlets or fixtures on government owned, maintained, or operated properties located within the City that are not designated for public use.

(h)

"Store" means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.

(Ord. No. 2374, § 2, 2-16-21; Ord. No. 2410, § 1(Exh. 1), 10-21-25)

- UNLAWFUL CAMPING.

It shall be unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities, use camp paraphernalia, or use public utilities on any public property within the City, except as otherwise provided herein or mandated by applicable law. It is a violation of this section to set up provisions for the purpose of camping whether or not a full night is actually spent at the location.

(Ord. No. 2374, § 2, 2-16-21)

- STORAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

It shall be unlawful for any person to store personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, on any public property within the City, except as otherwise provided herein or mandated by applicable law.

(Ord. No. 2374, § 2, 2-16-21)

- OTHER EXEMPTIONS.

The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply in the event of an emergency, including a City declared emergency or natural disaster, such as a fire or earthquake, nor to any persons participating in organized and supervised recreational activities in parks within the City or the Civic Center area, if approved by the City's Director of Recreation and Community Services or City Manager, nor to camping in public areas legally established and clearly designated for camping purposes, nor to any employee of the City or any public utility or governmental agency who is required to enter or be in said areas in the course of their employment.

(Ord. No. 2374, § 2, 2-16-21; Ord. No. 2410, § 1(Exh. 1), 10-21-25)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2410, § 1(Exh. 1), adopted October 21, 2025, repealed §§ 7874, 7875, 7877, and 7878, and in so doing renumbered the existing §§ 7876, 7879, and 7880 as §§ 7874—7876. Former § 7874 pertained to offer of housing, shelter and services and derived from Ord. No. 2374, adopted February 16, 2021. Former § 7875 pertained to exemption for necessity and derived from Ord. No. 2374, adopted February 16, 2021; and Ord. No. 2381, adopted October 5, 2021. Former § 7877 pertained to notices and derived from Ord. No. 2374, adopted February 16, 2021. Former § 7878 pertained to personal property and derived from Ord. No. 2374, adopted February 16, 2021.

Note— Formerly § 7876, see editor's note above.

- ENFORCEMENT.

The prohibition of Sections 7872 and 7873 may be enforced by: (1) the Arcadia Police Department; (2) the City's Code Services and Enforcement Division; (3) Parks and Facilities personnel; (4) or other local law enforcement. The City Manager, or a department designated by the City Manager, may issue regulations or guidelines necessary or appropriate to aid in the enforcement and implementation of this Chapter and may create any additional procedures consistent with this Chapter necessary or appropriate to protect the property rights of individuals whose property is taken into custody pursuant to this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 2374, § 2, 2-16-21; Ord. No. 2410, § 1(Exh. 1), 10-21-25)

Note— Formerly § 7879, see editor's note for § 7874.

- PENALTY.

Violations of Section 7872 may be charged as a misdemeanor and be eligible for referral to any applicable prosecutorial-led diversion program. Violations of Section 7873 are subject to an administrative citation pursuant to Chapter 4A of this Code.

(Ord. No. 2374, § 2, 2-16-21; Ord. No. 2410, § 1(Exh. 1), 10-21-25)

Note— Formerly § 7880, see editor's note for § 7874.