Mono County Municipal Code Ch. 7.28 Camping

As used in this chapter:

A. "Camp" or "camping" means the act of occupying any ground or spot upon which tents, vehicles, huts, trailers, semitrailers or any such device for shelter is placed for any period of time between sunset and sunrise.

B. "County park" means all county parks, community centers and recreation facilities and accompanying parking lots.

C. "Paved county road" are those roads maintained by Mono County, listed on the county's maintained road mileage as "paved", and which are generally located within the residential communities of the county.

D. "Semitrailer" means a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property and having one or more axles, and one or more wheels used in conjunction with a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.

E. "Trailer" means a vehicle designed for carrying persons or property on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon any other vehicle.

F. "Vehicle" means a device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be propelled, moved or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

(Ord. 347 §§ 1—4, 1964.)

(Ord. No. 21-09, § 1(Exh. A), 9-7-2021)

A. Camping in County Parks. No person shall camp in any area designated as a "county park," with the exception of temporary camping in support, or as a result, of an emergency incident such as fire or flood. Such temporary emergency use may be approved by the director of public works from time to time, as dictated by emergency needs.

B. Camping on paved County Roads. Camping on, or alongside, a paved county road is strictly prohibited.

(Ord. 88-347-B § 1(part), 1988: Ord. 347 § 5, 1964.)

(Ord. No. 21-09, § 1(Exh. A), 9-7-2021)

A. Not inclusive in this chapter are vehicles, trailers, semitrailers or other wheeled or skidded vehicles authorized by authorized representatives of the county or by law.

B. Camping on land owned or controlled by the county may be permitted through a special event permit, issued pursuant to Mono County Code Chapter 5.50, from time to time.

C. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, the board of supervisors may designate specific county properties, including a county park or paved county road, for overnight use in its discretion.

(Ord. 347 § 6, 1964.)

(Ord. No. 21-09, § 1(Exh. A), 9-7-2021)

Any person or persons who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of an infraction.

(Ord. 88-347-B § 1(part), 1988: Ord. 347 § 7, 1964.)

(Ord. No. 21-09, § 1(Exh. A), 9-7-2021)

Any vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, camp or other item of occupancy found in violation of this chapter shall, upon the presence of signs so notifying campers of the fact of this chapter, be removed, towed away or otherwise taken from the area occupied at no expense to the county or its authorized agents, representatives or departments.

(Ord. 347 § 8, 1964.)

(Ord. No. 21-09, § 1(Exh. A), 9-7-2021)

Enforcement of this chapter shall be by Mono County Code Enforcement, pursuant to Chapter 1.12, as well as any peace officer, special deputy or regular deputy of the Mono County Sheriff's office.

(Ord. 347 § 9, 1964.)

(Ord. No. 21-09, § 1(Exh. A), 9-7-2021)

Appropriate signs and placement thereof shall be the obligation of the Mono County public works department or their agents, representatives or personnel or subclassification.

(Ord. 347 § 10, 1964.)

(Ord. No. 21-09, § 1(Exh. A), 9-7-2021)

A. No person shall discharge sewage or other waste, or the effluent of treated sewage or other waste, in any manner which will result in contamination, pollution or a nuisance.

B. No person shall cut, deface or harm any standing tree, dead or alive, within the campground area.

C. No person shall start or maintain a campfire within any county-operated campground if the Mono County sheriff, board of supervisors, or the county public works director has determined in writing that fire danger in the area is extreme and a notice informing the public of the prohibition has been posted at the campground fee station.

1. For purposes of this section, and except as provided in subsection 2, the determination of whether fire danger is extreme shall be made based on factors including, but not limited to, climate, precipitation, and wind forecasts, and may include consultation with the chief of the fire protection district in which the campground is located (if any) and/or with the National Forest unit for the region.

2. If fires are prohibited at campgrounds within the National Forest for the region, then it shall be presumed that fire danger is extreme and, upon written declaration by the sheriff, board of supervisors or public works director that fire danger is extreme in the area, signs shall be posted informing the public of the prohibition.

3. A violation of this section is punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in county jail for up to six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

D. No person shall litter or leave a campsite without placing all refuse, trash, cans and bottles having been placed in appropriate refuse containers.

E. Vehicles, trailers and/or other personal property shall not be left unattended for more than seventy-two hours in a county campground. Any such vehicles or personal property left unattended for more than seventy-two hours may be cited or removed by county.

F. No person shall have any animal or pet within a county campground except on a leash, not to exceed ten feet in length. No animal or pet shall be left unattended within a county campground.

(Ord. 85-347-A § 1, 1985.)

(Ord. No. 16-06, § 2, 9-6-16; Ord. No. 21-09, § 1(Exh. A), 9-7-2021)