Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 12 — Vehicles and Traffic
Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code Ch. 12.06 Sleeping In Vehicles
Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Rancho Santa Margarita
Cite as: Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code Chapter 12.06 · Text as of 2026-10-04
Sec. 12.06.010. - Purpose.¶
The act of persons sleeping in vehicles in public areas within the City is hereby determined to be detrimental to the general health, safety, and welfare of the community in that such activity tends to cause degradation of neighborhoods, cause an increase in problems related to refuse and sanitation, and to increase the likelihood of a rise in crimes of opportunity. Therefore, the act of persons sleeping in a vehicle in a public area as expressed in this Chapter is hereby declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance.
(Ord. No. 12-02, § 1, 3-14-2012; Ord. No. 25-01, § 4, 6-25-2025)
Sec. 12.06.020. - Sleeping in vehicles prohibited.¶
It shall be unlawful for any person to sleep in any vehicle (as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 670), which is stopped, parked, or left standing upon any public area within the City between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. For purposes of this section, "public area" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code Section 6.13.020.
(Ord. No. 12-02, § 1, 3-14-2012; Ord. No. 25-01, § 4, 6-25-2025)
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