Hayward Municipal Code Art. 17 Camping and Storage of Personal Property

City-owned property such as municipal parking lots, municipal parking structures, public sidewalks, public rights-of-way and City parks 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 the purposes for which they were intended. The purpose of this article is to maintain these areas within the City in a clean and accessible condition.

For the purpose of this Article, certain words and phrases are defined, and certain provisions shall be construed as herein set out, unless it shall be apparent from their content that a different meaning is intended:

(a) "Camp" means to pitch or occupy camp facilities; to use camp paraphernalia.

(b) "Camp facilities" include, but are not limited to, tents, huts or temporary shelters.

(c) "Camp paraphernalia" includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks, cooking equipment and similar items.

(d) "City-owned property" includes, but is not limited to, municipal parking lots, municipal parking structures, public sidewalks, public rights-of-way, City parks, and improved or unimproved City-owned land.

(e) "City Park" includes Portuguese Park, Giuliani Plaza, Newman Park, Library Park and City Hall Plaza and any other park or open space within City limits that is not under the management of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. City Hall Plaza includes the pathways, green space and rights-of-way located on the property bounded by "B" Street to the North, Watkins St. to the East, Montgomery Ave. to the West and the City Walk Condominiums to the South.

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

It shall be unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities or use camp paraphernalia on any City-owned property.

It shall be unlawful for any person to store personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia on any City-owned property.

A violation of this Article is declared to be a public nuisance which may be enjoined by civil action or pursuant to the procedures provided in this Code for abatement of nuisances. Additionally, any violation of this Article may be enforced subject to the provisions relating to administrative citations found in Chapter 1, Article 7.

(Ordinance 14-11, adding Article 17 to Chapter 4 of the Hayward Municipal Code regarding Camping and Storage of Personal Property on City-Owned Property, adopted April 15, 2014)