Lemoore Municipal Code Ch. 10 Unsafe Camping

A. Sitting, Lying Or Sleeping: These activities are prohibited in the public right-of-way when the intent is to occupy the space beyond what is considered normal and reasonable use. This means that temporary, short-term use such as resting briefly on a bench or sitting for a moment is permitted. However, using the area for extended periods in a manner that obstructs or impedes the normal flow of pedestrians or traffic is not allowed.

B. Storing, Using, Maintaining, Or Placing Personal Property: The storage, use, maintenance, or placement of personal property in the public right-of-way is prohibited when it extends beyond normal and reasonable use. This means that personal property should not be left unattended, stored, or arranged in a way that obstructs public access or creates a hazard. Unattended property may be considered abandoned. Normal, brief use of personal items that does not impede public access or safety is permitted.

C. No person shall obstruct a street, sidewalk, alleyway or other public right-of-way:

1. By sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property in a manner that impedes passage, as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended;

2. By sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property within twenty-five (25) feet of any operational or utilizable driveway or loading zone;

3. By sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property within twenty-five (25) feet of any operational or utilizable building entrance or exit;

4. By sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property within ten (10) feet of any fire hydrant, fire plug, or other fire department connection;

5. By sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property within ten (10) feet of a utility meter, utility connection or street light;

6. By sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property within the public right-of-way in a manner that obstructs or unreasonably interferes with the use of the right-of-way for any activity for which the city has issued a permit.

D. No person shall obstruct any portion of any street or other public right-of-way to use by motor vehicles, or any portion of a bike lane, bike path, or other public right-of-way open to use by bicycles, by sitting, lying or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property, anywhere within the street, alley, bike lane, bike path, or other public right-of-way as specified.

E. Except as limited by subsection (d), no person shall:

1. Sit, lie, sleep, or store, use, maintain, or place personal property in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way within the distance stated on the posted signage (up to a maximum of 1,000 feet) of a property designated as sensitive use. For a property to be designated as "sensitive use," the property must be a school (public or private), childcare facility, public park, public library, warming center, cooling center, or City-permitted shelter for the unhoused;

2. Sit, lie, sleep, or store, use, maintain, or place personal property in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way within the distance stated on the posted signage (up to a maximum of 500 feet) of a bridge or pedestrian bridge where the City Council determines, by Resolution, that the public health, safety or welfare is served by the prohibition, including, without limitation, by finding that sleeping or lodging within stated proximity to the designated area is unhealthy, unsafe or incompatible with safe passage;

3. Sit, lie, sleep, or store, use, maintain, or place personal property in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way that has been posted with signage prohibiting sitting, lying, sleeping, or storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property. In order to designate a section of street, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way as prohibited under this subdivision, the City Council shall determine, in a designating resolution, and based on specific documentation, that the circumstances of continued sitting, sleeping, lying or storing or personal property, or otherwise obstructing the public right-of-way.

F. No person shall be found to be in violation of any prohibition set forth in Subsection (c) unless and until (i) the City Council has taken action by resolution to designate specified areas for enforcement against sitting, lying, sleeping, or storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property, otherwise obstructing the public right-of-way; (ii) the City has posted signage at the designated area or areas set forth in the resolution, with such signage including reference to any required findings adopted in the resolution and giving notice of the date after which no sitting, lying, sleeping, or storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property, or otherwise obstructing the public right-of-way will be allowed; and (iii) at least fourteen (14) calendar days have passed from the date on which the signage is posted at the designated area or areas.

G. The City shall adhere to State law as it pertains to mobile and sidewalk vendors. (Ord. 2024-06, 10-15-2024)

A. No person shall use a fountain or other public water feature for bathing. (Ord. 2024-06, 10-15-2024)

A. It is unlawful for any person to defecate or urinate on public property or in any public place.

B. A person who is found defecating or urinating in a public place in violation of Section 4-10-3 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 2024-06, 10-15-2024)

A. No person shall camp, lodge, sleep or tarry overnight on any public property or in any public place.

B. No person shall camp, lodge, sleep, or tarry overnight in a private structure or place without permission of the owner.

C. Unless otherwise permitted in Section 9-4A-5 of the Code, the use of vehicles and other recreational vehicles for human habitation is prohibited.

D. Unless otherwise permitted in Section 6-4-3 of the Code, long-term parking of recreational vehicles, boats and boat trailers on city streets or public ways is prohibited.

E. Unless otherwise permitted in Section 7-11-5 of the Code, overnight camping is prohibited.

(Ord. 2024-06, 10-15-2024)

A. Notwithstanding any other provision within the Municipal Code, violations of this Section may be prosecuted as criminal misdemeanors by the District Attorney or the City Attorney per Govt C §36900(a).

(Ord. 2024-06, 10-15-2024)