San Anselmo Municipal Code Ch. 5 Trailers, Camp Cars, and Camping

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— The title of Chapter 5, formerly entitled "Trailers and Camp Cars", amended by Ordinance No. 792, effective December 25, 1980.

For the purposes of this chapter, "camp car" or "trailer" shall mean any unit used for living or sleeping purposes which is equipped with wheels or similar devices used for the purpose of transporting such unit from place to place, whether by motive power or other means. "Trailer" includes any camp trailer, camper, house car, trailer coach, manufactured home, mobilehome, or recreational vehicle as defined in Vehicle Code Sections 242, 243, 362, 635 or California Health and Safety Code Sections 18007, 18008 and 18010. "Camp" shall mean any place used as a temporary abode. "Vehicle" shall mean any motor vehicle used or maintained for the transportation of persons. The term "vehicle" shall not include trailers.

(§ 1, Ord. 272, as amended by Ord. 792, eff. December 25, 1980; Ord. 1106, § 2, 5-20-2016)

It shall be unlawful for any person to camp or use or occupy any trailer or camp car for living or sleeping purposes upon any lot, piece, or parcel of land or private street or way in the Town or upon any public street, lane, alley, thoroughfare, parking lot, or any other public place or property in the Town, except as provided in Section 5-5.04 or Title 5-5.05 of this chapter.

(§ 3, Ord. 272, as amended by § 1, Ord. 605, eff. December 10, 1970, and Ord. 792, eff. December 25, 1980; Ord. 1106, § 2, 5-20-2016)

It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee, or occupant of any lot, piece, or parcel of land within the Town, for gain, hire, reward, or gratuity, to permit such premises to be occupied by any trailer or camp car used for living or sleeping purposes.

(§ 4, Ord. 272, as amended by Ord. 792, eff. December 25, 1980; Ord. 1106, § 2, 5-20-2016)

Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prohibit:

(a) The parking or storage of any trailer or camp car on the property of its owner provided that the unit is screened as viewed from off-street and adjacent sites by a solid fence that conforms to the permitted height limits, vegetation, structures or topography and provided that the trailer or camp car or any required screening does not obstruct the view of pedestrians and vehicles on the adjacent sidewalk and/or street and does not otherwise constitute a nuisance; or

(b) Backyard camping or sleeping in a vehicle that does not meet the definition of a trailer in Section 5-5.01 on developed property with the permission of the owner, lessee, or occupant.

(§ 5, Ord. 272, as amended by Ord. 792, eff. December 25, 1980; Ord. 1106, § 2, 5-20-2016)

(a) Permit Required. A property owner of a site developed with one (1) single-family residence may obtain a permit to use one (1) trailer as a temporary residence when permitted construction or a disaster precludes use of his/her primary residence, subject to the requirements, restrictions, limitations and standards in this section.

(b) Review and approval procedures.

1. Application. An application for a temporary trailer permit shall be filed with the Building Official on forms prescribed by the Building Official, along with any plans or additional information required and a fee as established by a resolution of the Town Council. The application shall include, in part, evidence supporting the requirements of this section and all applicable state statutes.

2. Review and Approval Authority. The Building Official shall review and approve, conditionally approve, or deny a temporary trailer application administratively with no public meeting.

(c) Criteria for Permit. A temporary trailer permit shall be issued if the structure complies with all of the following criteria. The Building Official shall have the authority to impose other reasonable conditions and restrictions on the permit in order to protect the peace, health, safety and general welfare of any person or persons or of the general public. Additional conditions may include the provision of off street parking and increased setbacks.

1. The property is owned and occupied as the owner's principal residence.

2. The proposed location for the trailer complies with applicable provisions of the San Anselmo Zoning Code, including setbacks. However, if the property owner adjacent to the side or rear setback where the trailer will be located has consented in writing to the installation of the trailer in the setback, an exception will be made to the setback requirements. This subsection may be waived in the event of a disaster to permit a trailer in a front, rear or side setback.

3. No other habitable units exist at the site.

4. A building permit has been issued and is in full force and effect on the same site, or on adjacent lots under the same ownership, for construction or remodeling that will render the residence substandard under the Uniform Housing Code, 1997 Edition, published by the International Conference of Building Officials, as amended from time to time. If the permit request is associated with a residence that has been made substandard by disaster, the Building Official may issue the permit after the disaster and prior to issuance of a building permit.

5. The trailer contains four hundred (400) square feet or less of gross floor area, excluding loft space, and is less than fourteen (14) feet in height.

6. The trailer shall be connected to a water supply and an electrical outlet approved by the Building Department. A backflow prevention device may be required.

7. The trailer must have built-in toilet facilities or on site access to toilet facilities.

8. Any plumbing facilities shall be connected to a sewage disposal system approved by the Ross Valley Sanitary District for the structure under construction and approved by the Building Department. In the event of a disaster that precludes connection to the sanitary sewer system, the Building Official may approve equivalent facilities.

9. If the site is in a Special Flood Hazard Area identified on the Town Flood Insurance Rate Map, the Town Floodplain Administrator has verified in writing that the trailer placement will comply with applicable requirements for a development permit under Title 7 Chapter 11, Protection of Flood Hazard Areas.

10. The temporary use shall not involve mechanical equipment that generates noise, such as a generator, unless the operation of the equipment will comply with any applicable noise regulations.

11. The use shall comply with any applicable Fire Code Standards, including access, fire suppression, setbacks and addressing.

12. The trailer will not be located where there would be any undue hazard to the safety or health of the inhabitants of the trailer, or where the parking and maintenance of the trailer would constitute a hazard or detriment to the peace, health, safety or welfare of other persons in the vicinity or of the general public.

13. The applicant has submitted a financial security to cover the removal expense and has granted the Town the right to remove the trailer and to store it at the sole cost and expense of the applicant upon expiration or revocation of the permit.

(d) Expiration and Extension.

1. The property owner shall cease using the trailer as a dwelling unit, disconnect it from the water supply and sewage disposal system, and remove it from the site within thirty (30) days after one (1) of the following events, whichever occurs first: (1) The building permit has expired; (2) Clearance for occupancy is issued by the Building Official for the primary residence; (3) Final inspection clearance on the building permit; or, (4) Twelve (12) months have passed since temporary trailer permit approval.

2. Permit Extension. A permittee with a valid permit for a temporary trailer may, at least thirty (30) days prior to expiration, apply to the Building Official for a six-month time extensions for the use of the temporary trailer. The Building Official may approve up to two (2) six-month time extensions if the permittee remains in compliance with the original approval and the owner is making substantial progress toward completion of the primary structure. An application for renewal shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount established by resolution of the Town Council.

(Ord. 1106, § 2, 5-20-2016)

(a) Any violation of the provisions of this chapter is hereby declared a public nuisance and shall be subject to abatement in the manner set forth in Title 1 Chapter 2.

(b) Any person violating provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to penalties pursuant to Section 36900 of the California Government Code, as amended.

(c) Each and every day that any violation of this chapter continues, is committed or is permitted to continue shall be regarded as a new and separate offense.

(d) The remedies provided in this section shall be cumulative and not exclusive.

(Ord. 1106, § 2, 5-20-2016)

(a) Storage Restrictions. It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to store personal property on any public property, except as provided in subsection (c).

(1) Notice. The Town shall provide reasonable notice to anyone that stores personal property on public property that such storage violates this Code and that the property will be removed if left unattended. Such notice may be provided by posting the personal property with a written notice or by any other reasonable means.

(2) Removal and Storage of Seized Property. Personal property left unattended for twenty four (24) hours may be removed from the public property and held by the Town at the corporation yard or similar facility for a minimum of ninety (90) days.

(3) Reclaiming Property. The owner of the private property may reclaim his/her property within ninety (90) days of its removal.

(b) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply.

(1) Public property. All public property including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, alleys, improved or unimproved land, public buildings, parks and open space.

(2) Store. To put aside or accumulate for use when needed; to put for safekeeping; to place or leave in a location.

(c) Exceptions.

(1) Exempt personal property. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any personal property owned by the Town that is stored in conjunction with activities sponsored or supported by the Town, any political subdivision of the state, or special district that are being held on property owned or controlled by the Town, political subdivision of the state, or special district.

(2) Immediate Hazard. Where the personal property constitutes an immediate hazard or threat to the safety of person or property, such as a fire danger, the Town may seize the property immediately.

(d) Enforcement. The Town Manager or the Public Works Director or their designee may enforce provisions of this section.

(Ord. No. 1121, § 2, 4-24-2018)