Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 3 Camping Restrictions

The short title of this chapter shall be "The Imperial County Camping Ordinance." (Prior code § 51900)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.00), 10-27-09)

As used in this chapter the following terms are defined.

"Abandoned vehicle" means a vehicle which is inoperative and not currently registered, located other than on the property of its owner, or any other vehicle which is clearly abandoned by its lawful owner.

"Camping" or "camp" means living in, maintaining a residence in, sleeping in or otherwise inhabiting a structure, vehicle or location other than a bona fide residential dwelling or mobile home.

"Recreational vehicle" means a motor vehicle constructed or permanently modified to act as temporary living quarters for human habitation. Only vehicles currently licensed to operate on the highway as recreational vehicles and which are functional shall be considered recreational vehicles.

"Residential dwelling" means a building permanently constructed in full accordance with zoning, building, and health and safety laws for purposes of human habitation.

"Shanty" or "shack" means a building, lean-to or shelter or shack used for human habitation which is made of various materials in such a manner that it does not qualify as a "residential dwelling." (Prior code § 51901)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.01), 10-27-09)

It is unlawful within the jurisdiction of Imperial County to do any of the following:

A. To camp in, dwell in, or inhabit any campsite, area, property or structure other than with the written permission of the lawful owner thereof, however, nothing herein shall authorize a private property owner to operate an unauthorized campground, trailer park or recreational vehicle park or grant permission to anyone to camp on their property when such conduct would violate this chapter or any other provision of law;

B. To construct, maintain, or allow to remain, any shanty, shack or abandoned vehicle used for purposes of human habitation;

C. To camp in, dwell in, or inhabit an abandoned vehicle;

D. In addition to subsection A of this section, to park a vehicle, recreational vehicle or mobile home for purposes of camping in, sleeping in, dwelling in or otherwise inhabiting it in any area or on any property other than a licensed campground, recreational vehicle park, mobile home park or in a governmentally controlled campground or public use area for which camping is a specifically authorized public use;

E. Discharging or depositing any sewage, food refuse or other trash or garbage in or on any lands or waters other than in facilities specifically designated for discharge of human waste or for deposit of such trash and garbage;

F. To camp, or park any vehicle or recreational vehicle within one quarter mile of any posted animal watering hole;

G. To camp, or park any vehicle or recreational vehicle in or near immediately adjacent to any area or property which is:

1. Designated or posted as a hazardous or dangerous area,

2. Designated or posted as a "No Trespassing" area. (Prior code § 51902)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.02), 10-27-09)

Provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any area or property where an act prohibited is specifically authorized for such location by any lawful federal, state, or local law, regulation or license. The county provides both motorized and unmotorized camping opportunities a number of camping locations. Camping is permitted in the following county parks: (Prior code § 51903)

A. Recreational vehicle/ travel trailer camping is permitted at the following county parks only: Wiest Lake, Red Hill Marina, and Palo Verde Park. Sunbeam Lake Park has privately operated recreational vehicle park, therefore there is no recreational vehicle/ travel trailer camping in the public portion of the park.

B. Tent camping is permitted at the following county parks only: Sunbeam Lake Park, Wiest Lake Park, Red Hill Marina, Palo Verde Park, Ocotillo Park. Individual and/or group tent camping shall not exceed seven continuous days.

C. There is no camping of any kind at Pioneers Park.

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.03), 10-27-09)

Vehicles, structures and camping activities operated or owned by any federal, state, or local governmental entity are exempt. Vehicles, structures and camping activities operated by private individuals on public lands without the knowledge and specific approval of the public agency involved shall not be exempt. (Prior code § 51904)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.04), 10-27-09)

A. A violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months or both such fine and imprisonment.

B. Continuance or recurrence of a violation more than twenty-four (24) hours after a previous citation therefore shall be considered a separate violation and shall be cited as such. (Prior code § 51905)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.05), 10-27-09)

A. The director may, by appropriate departmental regulation, establish a system for the issuance of permits for camping for periods of more than fourteen (14) days on public and private lands in Imperial County.

B. Such permit system shall be operated in full conformity with and in support of any federal, state, and local camping, recreation and land use laws and regulations.

C. The regulations for the permit system may establish an appropriate fee for such permits to cover cost of the program's administration and cost of sanitation and recreational support facilities in the county.

D. The regulations for the permit system as promulgated by the director shall be subject to the approval and revision of the board of supervisors.

E. Failure to pay any fee required by the permit system shall be violation of this chapter. (Prior code § 51906)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.06), 10-27-09)

A. Any shanty or other structure found to be involved in or which constitutes a violation of this chapter shall be considered a dangerous building and shall be dealt with in accordance with Chapter 9.272 [91008.00 et seq.] of this code, or other applicable law.

B. Any abandoned vehicle involved in a violation of this chapter shall be dealt with in accordance with the vehicle code, or other applicable law.

C. Abatement of this vehicle or structure found to be in violation of this chapter may be undertaken by county employees or agents twenty-four (24) hours after service of the citation. (Prior code § 51907)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.07), 10-27-09)

A. If personal service on the individual found to be in violation of this chapter is not possible, service of the citation by firmly affixing a notice of citation to a conspicuous object in the campsite, or to a vehicle or structure shall be considered proper service of the citation.

B. A notice of citation under this section shall be a tag of durable paper of a red or orange color not less than twenty-four (24) square inches in size which contains all essential elements of the citation.

C. If service by posting such notice of citation is made, a copy of the citation shall be mailed to any known address, including the registered vehicle address, of the violator. (Prior code § 51908)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.08), 10-27-09)

Violations of this chapter may be enforced by any federal, state, or local peace officer or ranger with peace officer status, or by any officer or employee of the county of Imperial who may be assigned such duty. (Prior code § 51909)

(Ord. No. 1454, § 15(92903.09), 10-27-09)