Port Hueneme Municipal Code Ch. 11 Camping Prohibitions

This chapter is adopted in accordance with California Constitution Article XI, § 7 and Article I, § 1.1 of the City Charter for the purpose of regulating camping in certain areas. Nothing in this chapter is intended to, nor does it, restrict recreational activities at the times and places available for such use.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)

Unless the contrary is stated or clearly appears from the context, the following definitions govern the construction of the words and phrases used in this chapter:

"Camp" means to erect, maintain, or occupy a camp facility for the purpose of human habitation.

"Camper" means a structure designed to be mounted on a motor vehicle and to provide facilities for human habitation or camping purposes.

"Camp facilities" includes one or more of the following items: tents, huts, other temporary physical shelters, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks, or bedrolls.

"City Manager" means the City Manager or designee including, without limitation, the Police Chief.

"Encampment" means a location consisting of camp facilities, cooking facilities, and other evidence of human habitation.

"Entrance" means the entire area between the outer edge of an entrance to a building and the exterior door and includes the entry way, doorway or vestibule.

"House car" means a motor vehicle originally designed or permanently or temporarily altered and equipped for human habitation, or to which a camper is permanently or temporarily attached.

"Personal effects" means personal property consisting of the following items:

(1) Medication, eye glasses, or other medical devices;

(2) Sleeping bag or bed roll which is sanitary and non-verminous;

(3) Tents in usable and good condition;

(4) Clothes stored in a manner protecting them from the elements, which are not unsanitary, soiled, or verminous; and

(5) Personal property with an individual value of fifty dollars ($50.00).

"Public right-of-way" means any city street, sidewalk, pedestrian path, bike path or any other "public way," as defined by Streets and Highways Code § 18609.

"Restricted public property" means any public right-of-way and public property including, without limitation, parks and parking lots.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)

(a) It is unlawful for persons to use, occupy, or allow the use or occupancy of any house car for human habitation within the city.

(b) It is unlawful for any person to sleep, camp, or store personal property, including camp facilities and paraphernalia, in or on restricted public property.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)

(a) This chapter does not apply to registered guests, campers, or residents at mobile home or recreational vehicle parks validly existing in accordance with this code. Further, sleeping in a parked vehicle for a limited time, not to exceed four (4) hours, under bona fide conditions of emergency, or in the interest of public safety, does not constitute a violation of this chapter.

(b) This chapter does not apply to persons sleeping, camping, or storing personal property in areas designated for such purposes that are permitted by a governmental entity or in a caretaker's residence.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)

The City Manager is authorized to construct, maintain, and post such markings and signs as are determined necessary or desirable to give public notice of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)

(a) Unless otherwise authorized in this chapter, any personal property, including camp facilities and paraphernalia, stored or found in restricted public places or as part of an encampment is deemed abandoned property.

(b) The City Manager is authorized to remove personal property on restricted public places or in encampments in accordance with this chapter.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)

The City Manager may remove personal property from restricted public places or from an encampment as follows:

(a) The location of any personal property including camp facilities and paraphernalia, must be tagged and dated with a notice stating the following:

"It is illegal to store personal property in this area. If this personal property is not removed by (specify date at least 3 days from posting), THIS PERSONAL PROPERTY WILL BE DEEMED INTENTIONALLY ABANDONED AND SUBJECT TO REMOVAL AND POSSIBLE DESTRUCTION."

(b) The City Manager may remove any personal property still stored or remaining in restricted public places or from an encampment three (3) or more days after posting notice.

(c) Except for personal effects, the City Manager may dispose of such abandoned personal property in any reasonable manner including, without limitation, destruction.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)

(a) The City Manager must conspicuously post and date a notice either at the exact location from which the personal effects were removed or at another nearby location giving the following information:

(1) A list of personal effects removed;

(2) A telephone number for information on retrieving personal effects; and

(3) The length of time during which the personal effects may be claimed.

(b) The City Manager must maintain an inventory identifying personal effects as follows:

(1) The approximate location of the property;

(2) The nature of items removed; and

(3) The reasonable value of each item.

(c) Removed personal effects must be placed in containers labeled in a manner facilitating identification by the City Manager and owner and which reasonably protects such property from damage or theft.

(d) Removed personal effects must be stored in an area designated by the City Manager for a period of ninety (90) days.

(e) If personal effects are claimed within ninety (90) days from removal, unless the property is connected to a crime or is illegal to possess, the City Manager must release the stored property to the owner upon the person claiming ownership identifying the property and approximate location where the property was left.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)

(a) Personal effects remaining unclaimed at the end of ninety (90) days from removal may be dedicated public use and may be given for charitable use to a local nonprofit agency or placed for sale pursuant to this code.

(b) All other personal property is deemed intentionally abandoned and may be summarily abated and destroyed.

(Ord. No. 715, § 2, 6-2-14)