Chapter 9.100 — CAMPING

The streets and 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 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. 1043 § 2 (part), 2005)

A. “Camp” means to do any of the following:

1. To sleep any time between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 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. 1043 § 2 (part), 2005)

A. No person shall camp anywhere in the city of Folsom, whether on public or private property, except as hereinafter expressly permitted in Section 9.100.040 of this chapter.

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 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. 1043 § 2 (part), 2005)

Camping is permitted in the city of Folsom 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 Folsom. 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 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 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 vehicle shall be permitted at any one location. No
residential driveway shall be used for camping under this subsection for more than ten days
during any one 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 a
residence within one hundred feet of the location where the vehicle or travel trailer is
parked. No vehicle or travel trailer shall be used for camping under this subsection for more
than ten days during any one calendar month.

G. Overnight camping in connection with city-sponsored programs.
(Ord. 1043 § 2 (part), 2005)

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. 1043 § 2 (part), 2005)

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. 1043 § 2 (part), 2005)

Nothing in this chapter is intended to preempt CCRs that are more restrictive than the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 1043 § 2 (part), 2005)

A. Any person who violates any provision in this chapter is guilty of an infraction, punishable by a one hundred dollar fine.

B. Any person cited for a second violation of the same section within a twelve-month period
is guilty of an infraction, punishable by a two hundred dollar fine.

C. Any person found in violation of any section of this chapter for the third time within a
twelve-month period is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed five
hundred dollars, or imprisonment not to exceed six months.

D. This chapter may also be enforced as an administrative violation under Folsom Municipal
Code Chapter 1.09 and other civil remedies as authorized by law. Violations of this chapter
shall be a Level A violation with a minimal initial monetary sanction of one hundred
dollars.
(Ord. 1043 § 2 (part), 2005)