Napa County Municipal Code Ch. 12.02 Camping and Storage of Personal Property

The public sidewalks, accessways and streets, including but not limited to rights-of-way underneath or adjacent to said sidewalks, accessways and streets, and other public areas within jurisdictional boundaries of the unincorporated area, should be readily accessible and available to residents, the public at large, and county maintenance and emergency crews. The use of these areas for camping purposes or storage of personal property interferes with the rights of others to use the areas for which they were intended, and also subjects those persons using such areas to substantial health and safety risks. Many persons, including families with young children, have been camping in automobiles and other public places in the unincorporated area in unsafe conditions, with no running water, toilets, cooking or sanitation facilities, even though accommodations in shelters are available to them, resulting in increased disease, illness and crime. The purpose of this chapter is to maintain public streets and areas within the unincorporated area in a clean and accessible condition and to diminish problems such as disease, illness and crime by encouraging the use of appropriate shelter facilities and designated campgrounds.

(Ord. 1295 § 1 (part), 2007)

As used in this chapter:

"Camp" means one or more of the following: pitching or occupying camp facilities; using camp paraphernalia; and sleeping in, on or under any parked vehicle.

"Camp facilities" means and includes, but is not limited to, tents, huts, temporary shelters and, when used for the purpose of sleeping, vehicles.

"Camp paraphernalia" means and includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, bedding, cots, beds, shopping carts, sleeping bags, hammocks, or other storage containers or similar equipment.

"Motor vehicle" means vehicle as defined in the California Vehicle Code.

"Sidewalk" means the same as defined in Section 1.04.010 of this code.

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

"Street" means the same as defined in Section 1.04.010 of this code.

Whenever in this article terms, conditions or phrases are used which are not defined herein, but which are defined in the Vehicle Code of the state, the definition and meaning shall be applied as set forth and contained in the provisions of the Vehicle Code, and amendments thereto.

(Ord. 1295 § 1 (part), 2007)

Except as expressly indicated, it shall be unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities or use camp paraphernalia in the following areas, except as otherwise provided:

A. Any street, sidewalk or park, or any right-of-way, shoulder or other publicly owned or controlled area under, near or adjacent to any street, sidewalk or park;

B. Any public parking lot as identified in Chapter 10.12 of the Napa County Code, or any public area, improved or unimproved, enclosed or open; or

C. Any publicly owned or controlled areas, including but not limited to those areas under, near or adjacent to, or which provide access to, any street, right-of-way, sidewalk, park, bridge, shoulder, stream, creek, river or waterway.

(Ord. 1295 § 1 (part), 2007)

It shall be unlawful for any person to store personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, in the following areas, except as otherwise provided by resolution of the board of supervisors:

A. Any street, sidewalk or park, or any right-of-way, shoulder or other publicly owned or controlled area under, near or adjacent to any street, sidewalk or park;

B. Any public parking lot as identified in Chapter 10.12 of the Napa County Code, or any public area, improved or unimproved, enclosed or open; or

C. Any publicly owned or controlled areas, including but not limited to those area under, near or adjacent to, or which provide access to, any street, right-of-way, sidewalk, park, bridge, shoulder, stream, creek, river or waterway.

(Ord. 1295 § 1 (part), 2007)

Unless otherwise provided, a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, other than provisions relating to the parking of vehicles, may be charged as an infraction pursuant to Section 17 et seq. of the California Penal Code, and Government Code Section 25132. Violation of any provision of this section relating to the parking of vehicles shall not be a criminal violation but shall instead be subject to civil penalty in accordance with Vehicle Code Section 40200 et seq. and Chapter 10.32 of this code.

(Ord. 1295 § 1 (part), 2007)