Blythe Municipal Code Ch. 5.20 Campgrounds

A. For the purpose of this chapter certain words and phrases are defined as follows and certain provisions shall be construed as set forth in this section, unless it is apparent from their context that they have a different meaning:

1. "Camp cars and/or trailers" means any unit used for living or sleeping purposes, and which is equipped with wheels or similar devices used for the purpose of transporting said unit from place to place, whether by motive power or by other means.

2. "Campground" means any place, area or tract of land upon which is located any camp car and/or trailer.

3. "Health department" means the health department or the health officer of the city or the county of Riverside.

B. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural and singular. Words used in the present tense include the future.

(Ord. 152 § 1, 1942)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate, maintain or offer for public use within the corporate limits of the city any campground without first applying for and receiving from the health department a permit to do so, in the manner provided in this chapter, or without complying with regulations set forth in this chapter, or any rules and regulations which may be formulated by the health department from time to time, and the laws of the state.

(Ord. 152 § 3, 1942)

A. Each application for the permit required by Section 5.20.020 shall be in writing, upon a form provided by the health department for that purpose.

B. It shall state the name and address of the applicant and a description of the property, whereon or wherein it is proposed to conduct a campground. It shall also contain such other information as the health department may require and it shall be filed by the applicant.

C. It shall be filed with the health department not fewer than five days, nor more than fifteen days, before said campground is made ready for use, and it shall also be accompanied by an inspection fee in the following sum:

1. Campgrounds containing ten trailers or fewer shall pay an inspection fee of one dollar per trailer; and

2. Campgrounds containing more than ten trailers shall pay a maximum inspection fee of ten dollars, irrespective of the number of trailers; for which sum the health department shall issue a receipt.

(Ord. 154 § 1, 1943: Ord. 152 § 4, 1942)

All moneys received by the health department as inspection fees, under provisions of this chapter, shall be paid into the city treasury and placed in the general fund.

(Ord. 152 § 5, 1942)

Upon the filing of the application described in Section 5.20.030, accompanied by the inspection fee, it shall be the duty of the health department or any of its duly authorized representatives to investigate the premises and determine whether the proposed campground or the site selected therefor conforms to the requirements of this chapter, the rules and regulations of the health department and the laws of the state, and no permit shall be issued unless such campground or the site selected therefor complies with such requirements and the approval of the health department; and said department may at its discretion approve or reject any proposed campground site.

(Ord. 152 § 6, 1942)

Any permit granted under this chapter shall be subject to revocation or suspension by the health department in the following manner:

A notice shall be served upon the person holding said permit specifying wherein he has failed to comply with this chapter, and requiring him to appear before the health department, at a day and hour therein specified, not fewer than five days after the personal service of said notice on such permit holder, requiring him to show cause at said time and place why said permit should not be revoked or suspended. At the time and place mentioned in the notice, the person holding the permit shall have the right to appear in person, or by counsel, and to introduce such evidence as he may desire, and the health department shall confront said permit holder with any charges that the health department may have against him; and after the hearing, the health department, at its discretion, may revoke or suspend the permit.

(Ord. 152 § 7, 1942)

The permit provided for in this chapter shall be transferrable upon the written application of the holder of the permit to the health department and with its consent endorsed thereon. A permit may be granted at any time during the year and, unless previously revoked, shall expire one calendar year following the date of issue.

(Ord. 152 § 8, 1942)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to establish, maintain, conduct or carry on any campground unless there is at all times posted in a conspicuous place at said campground the permit obtained from the health department in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 152 § 9, 1942)

The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to every campground within the incorporated area of the city, and it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation maintaining, operating, conducting or carrying on any such campground, any person living or sleeping in any camp car and/or trailer located in any campground, or any other person to violate or to contribute in any way to the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 152 § 10, 1942)

No camp car and/or trailer in any campground existing at the time of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or which may be established thereafter, shall be located within eight feet of any other camp car and/or trailer, nor shall any camp car and/or trailer be located within eight feet of any lot line. Camp cars and/or trailers shall be arranged in rows abutting or facing on a driveway or clear unoccupied space of not less than fifteen feet in width, which space shall have unobstructed access to a public street or alley.

(Ord. 152 § 13, 1942)

Every campground established after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be located on a well drained area and the premises of every such campground or any existing campground shall be properly graded so as to prevent the accumulation of storm or casual waters.

(Ord. 152 § 14, 1942)

An adequate supply of pure water for drinking and domestic purposes shall be supplied to meet the requirements of a camp ground regulated by this chapter. Such water supply shall be obtained from faucets only, conveniently located in the campground, and no dipping vessel or common cups shall be permitted.

(Ord. 152 § 15, 1942)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation owning or operating a camp car and/or trailer located in a campground to remove or to cause to have removed the wheels or any similar transporting devices from said camp car and/or trailer or to otherwise permanently fix it to the ground in a manner that would prevent the ready removal of said camp car and/or trailer without first obtaining a permit so to do, from the building department or building inspector of the city. Any alteration to any camp car and/or trailer as set forth in this section shall be construed as removing it from the requirements of this chapter and converting it into a dwelling and it shall thereupon be subject to the requirements of the building code of the city and the State Housing Act.

(Ord. 152 § 16, 1942)

Dogs at no time shall be permitted to run at large in any campground.

(Ord. 152 § 17, 1942)

There shall be provided in every existing campground, and every campground which may be established after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, one water closet for each sex. One of such water closets shall be distinctly marked "For Men" and one of such water closets shall be distinctly marked "For Women"; and there shall be provided an additional watercloset for each sex for every fifteen or fraction part thereof in excess of fifteen males or fifteen females living in the campground; provided, however, that the health department may exempt any campground existing at the time of the passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter from full compliance with the provisions of this section when, in its discretion, such deviation will not be detrimental to the health of persons occupying the campground or to the proper sanitation of the premises.

(Ord. 152 § 18, 1942)

There shall be provided in every campground established at the time of or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter such number of tight receptacles with close-fitting metal covers for garbage, refuse, ashes and rubbish as may be deemed necessary by the health department; and such garbage receptacles shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

(Ord. 152 § 19, 1942)

There shall be provided in every campground established at the time of or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter one or more slop sinks properly connected with a sewer or cesspool. Such sinks shall be conveniently located at no greater distance than one hundred feet from any camp car and/or trailer.

(Ord. 152 § 20, 1942)

It is unlawful to permit any wastewater or material from sinks, baths, showers or other plumbing fixtures in camp cars and/or trailers to be deposited upon the surface of the ground, and all such fixtures, when in use, must be connected to the city sewer system, or the drainage therefrom must be disposed of in a manner satisfactory to the health department.

(Ord. 152 § 21, 1942)

Every campground established at the time of or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be provided with means of lighting the same at night and all public water closets and bath units shall be provided with sufficient lighting facilities which shall be kept lighted during the time from one half hour after sunset until one half hour before sunrise.

(Ord. 152 § 22, 1942)

Any water faucets, toilets, garbage receptacles or other equipment required by the provisions of this chapter, or which may be required by any rules and regulations of the health department pertaining to campgrounds, shall not be construed to mean water faucets, toilets, garbage receptacles or other equipment located in or adjacent to campgrounds and which may be required at the time of or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter under provisions of other laws or ordinances.

(Ord. 152 § 23, 1942)

Every person owning or operating a campground shall maintain such campground, and any toilets, baths or other permanent equipment in connection therewith, in a clean and sanitary manner and condition and shall maintain said equipment in a state of good repair.

(Ord. 152 § 11, 1942)

It shall be the duty of the health department to enforce all the provisions of this chapter and, for the purpose of securing enforcement thereof, the health officer, or any of his duly authorized representatives, shall have the right and are empowered to enter upon the premises of any campground operated at the time of or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter within the city of Blythe to inspect the same and all accommodations connected therewith.

(Ord. 152 § 2, 1942)

The health department is empowered to formulate from time to time and to enforce any rules and regulations that said department may deem advisable governing the operation of campgrounds or camp cars and/or trailers bearing on any matters of sanitation or housing.

(Ord. 152 § 12, 1942)

A. Every person, firm or corporation violating or contributing in any way to the violation of any provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each day during which such violation continues and shall be punishable therefor as provided in this section.

B. It shall be the duty of every person, firm or corporation owning, leasing, renting or operating a campground in the city to comply with all of the provisions of this chapter, and/or any rules and regulations formulated by the health department governing campgrounds, and any such person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter, or said rules and regulations, or contributing in any way to the violation of this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the city or county jail not exceeding three months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 152 §§ 24, 25, 1942)