Garden Grove Municipal Code Ch. 8.96 Camping on Public Places and Interfering with Public Access

The following definitions apply to the use of these terms in this chapter:

"Camp" or "Camping"

means use of space on public places for living accommodation purposes such as sleeping activities, or making preparations to sleep (including the laying down of bedding, cots, beds, sleeping bags, mattresses, or couches for the purpose of sleeping), or storing personal belongings, or using any tents, tarps, hammocks, camp stoves, cooking equipment, buckets, dressers, furniture, shelter or other structure or vehicle for sleeping. The above-listed activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that the participants, in conducting these activities, are using the area as a living accommodation regardless of the nature of any other activities in which they may also be engaging.

"Open space"

means any public property that is held out by the City or used by the public for passive recreational purposes, conservation, habitat preservation, or that maintains or enhances the conservation of natural or scenic resources.

"Park"

means any public property, whether developed or undeveloped, held out by the City or used by the public for active or passive park and recreation uses, including adjacent buffer lands and natural areas of any adjacent parking lots and perimeter sidewalks.

"Public places"

means the locations listed in Section 8.96.020.

(2958, 11/12/2024)

A. Camping on Public Places. It is unlawful for any person to camp in or upon any public property, including any street, alleyway, sidewalk, median, parkway, driveway, right of way, public restroom, public bench, bus bench or bus shelter, park, open space, storm drain, public building or parking lot.

B. Sleeping on Public Places. No person may sleep on a public street, alleyway, sidewalk, median, parkway, driveway, right of way, public restroom, public bench, bus bench or bus shelter, or in any pedestrian or vehicular entrance to public or private property abutting a public sidewalk, or along any railroad tracks, at any time as a matter of individual and public safety.

C. Interfering with Public Access. It is unlawful for any person to camp, sleep, lie, or place personal property where such activity:

1. Obstructs or impedes passage, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act; or

2. Is within 20 feet of an entrance or exit to any building, establishment, retail store, restaurant, office building or other place into which the public is invited; or

3. Is within 20 feet of an automatic teller machine or any door or entrance that provides access to the automatic teller machine; or

4. Is within 250 feet of a public or private school or day care center; or

5. In a manner that unreasonably interferes with the use of the public right-of-way by motor vehicles, pedestrians or bicycles.

D. Unattended Personal Property. No person shall fix in place, store, maintain or leave personal property that is unattended on public property, including any street, alleyway, sidewalk, median, parkway, driveway, right-of-way, park, open space, bus shelter, storm drain, public building or parking lot.

(2958, 11/12/2024)

A. The city council may, by resolution, adopt procedures for the removal and recovery of personal property left upon public places where camping is prohibited per Section 8.96.020. Such procedures need not conform to those provided for in subsection (B), below.

B. Absent the city council's adoption of a resolution per subsection (A) above, personal property left upon public places where camping is prohibited for more than 24 hours may be removed by the city and may be recovered by the owner for up to 90 days.

C. Abandoned Personal Property.

1. Any personal property or possessions located on public property that are unattended and whose owner cannot be readily identified are presumed to be abandoned. Enforcement officers shall make a reasonable effort to ascertain whether the unattended personal property or possessions have been abandoned and, if so, to thereafter cause their removal subject to subsections (A) or (B) above.

2. Unattended personal property or possessions that are unsanitary, soiled, spoiled or verminous may be summarily abated and destroyed.

(2958, 11/12/2024)

Section 8.96.020 shall not apply to either of the following:

A. Any event involving camping that is approved or sponsored by the City.

B. Any person camping or maintaining an encampment on public places designated by City Council resolution for such purposes.

C. Any person while viewing a legally conducted parade, race or procession along the parade, race or procession route.

(2958, 11/12/2024)