San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Ch. 8.64 Temporary Camps

The following terms shall have the following meanings when used in this chapter:

"Board of supervisors" means the board of supervisors of the county.

"County clerk" means the county clerk of the county.

"County engineer" means the county engineer of the county.

"County environmental coordinator" means the environmental coordinator of the county.

"County fire warden" means the county fire warden of the county.

"Health officer" means the health officer of the county.

"Planning director" means the planning director of the county.

"Sheriff" means the sheriff of the county.

"Temporary camp" means a site where camping activity occurs for more than forty-eight consecutive hours and less than thirteen consecutive days, and where said camping activity involves one hundred or more people at any time. The terms "temporary camp" does not include "labor camp," "organized camp" "mobilehome park," "travel trailer park," "recreational trailer park," "temporary trailer park," "incidental camping areas," or "tent camp" all as described and regulated by the California Health and Safety Code and other laws enacted pursuant thereto. The term "temporary camp" also does not include a penal or correctional camp or any camping activity on publicly owned or controlled land.

"Vehicle parking space" when required by this chapter means any permanently maintained space with not less than one hundred forty-four square feet of usable area, and not less than eight feet wide at any place, so located and arranged as to permit the parking of, and be readily accessible under its own power to, a passenger vehicle of average size.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

(a) It is unlawful for any person to maintain, permit, allow or conduct a temporary camp, as defined in this chapter, in the unincorporated area of the county, unless said person shall first obtain a permit from the health officer to maintain, permit, allow or conduct such a temporary camp.

Application for a permit to maintain, permit, allow or conduct a temporary camp shall be made in writing to the health officer, accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee in an amount established by resolution of the board of supervisors.

No such permit shall be issued, however, until all of the conditions required by this chapter as a prerequisite to the issuance of such a permit have been fully complied with.

(b) The fact that a permit may or may not be required pursuant to this chapter does not relieve those maintaining, permitting, allowing or conducting a temporary camp from obtaining all necessary permits and licenses required elsewhere in this code and by state law. A person who maintains, permits, allows, or conducts a temporary camp activity for a period of more than twelve consecutive days must comply with the requirements of Section 22.08.072(a) of this code.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

(a) An application for a permit for a temporary camp and the required accompanying documents shall show:

(1) The owner, lessee (if applicable), location, description, and area of the premises on which it is planned to conduct the temporary camp;

(2) The owner, lessee (if applicable), location, description, and area of all lands to be used for parking or other uses incidental to the temporary camp activity;

(3) The dates when the temporary camp activity is to be conducted;

(4) An estimate of the minimum and maximum numbers of campers and other persons expected and proposed to be present at the temporary camp site;

(5) A description of the applicant's program and plans for water supply and facilities, food supply and facilities, sanitation facilities (including but not limited to sewage, garbage and rubbish), medical and first aid assistance, vehicle parking space, vehicle access, and compliance with all conditions and regulations set forth in this chapter;

(6) If loudspeakers or sound equipment are to be used, an estimate of the intensity of the sound, in decibels, at the property line of the premises;

(7) Provisions for cleanup of the premises and removal of litter after the temporary camp has concluded;

(8) The name, age, residence, mailing address and telephone number of the applicant, the applicant's legal nature, such as individual, partnership, corporation, or other appropriate legal description. If the application is made by a partnership, the names and addresses of all partners both general and limited shall be included. If the applicant is a corporation, the application shall be signed by the president or authorized representative of the corporation and shall contain the names and addresses of all corporate officers. If the application is by a joint venture, the names and addresses of each member of the joint venture shall be included;

(9) A copy of white background print of a map drawn to scale, showing the location of the property on which the temporary camp is planned to occur, the location of the parking areas, the location of areas to be used for other uses incidental to the temporary camp, and points of access to the property;

(10) An agreement in writing signed by all owners or lessees permitting such use of the premises to be used for both the temporary camp and for parking. (If the applicant owns or leases said premises, a document showing that the applicant is the owner or lessee thereof will suffice.)

(b) The applicant or permittee shall notify the health officer in writing of any change in the facts set forth in the application and accompanying documents within five days after such change.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

An application for a permit for a temporary camp accompanied by the required fee and the required accompanying documents shall be filed with the health officer not less than sixty days prior to the beginning of such temporary camp or not more than five days after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter whichever is later.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

After receipt of a complete application, required accompanying documents and the application fee, the health officer shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application. Before making his determination, the health officer shall consult with the sheriff, the planning director, the county engineer, the county fire warden, and the county environmental coordinator who shall communicate to the health officer their appropriate recommendations and determinations concerning the proposed temporary camp activity. In making his determination, the health officer shall make the findings listed in this section and such other findings he deems appropriate. The health officer shall approve the application or approve the application with conditions consistent with the requirements and standards of this chapter and other applicable laws if he makes all of the following findings in favor of the proposed temporary camp activity:

(1) That all information required by this chapter is in the application and all documents and other material required by this chapter have been filed with the health officer;

(2) That the applicant, his employee, agent or any person connected or associated with the applicant as a partner, director, officer, associate or manager, has not knowingly made any false, misleading or fraudulent statement of material fact in the application for a permit or in any report, record, or document required to be filed with the health officer pursuant to this chapter;

(3) That the issuance of the temporary camp permit with the conditions prescribed by the health officer complies with and meets all of the health, fire, and safety requirements and standards of the laws of the state and ordinances of this county applicable thereto;

(4) That the temporary camp activity will not generate a volume of traffic beyond the safe capacity of all roads providing access to the temporary camp activity;

(5) That the proposed temporary camp location is within a land use category that allows "temporary events" as defined by the land use element of the San Luis Obispo County General Plan; and

(6) That the applicant has submitted adequate evidence that he will comply with the requirements set forth in Section 8.64.070 of this chapter.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

(a) The applicant for the temporary camp permit shall be mailed notification of the health officer's decision to approve, approve with conditions, or deny within three days of the decision being made. If the decision of the health officer is to approve or approve with conditions, the subject premises shall be posted by the health officer with a "notice of temporary camp" within three days of the decision being made. The "notice of temporary camp" shall describe the temporary camp activity and explain how interested people may obtain additional information about the temporary camp activity and the procedure for appealing the health officer's decision. Notice of the health officer's decision shall also be placed on the first available agenda of the board of supervisors. The decision of the health officer made pursuant to Section 8.64.050 may be appealed to the board of supervisors by an applicant or any aggrieved person or reviewed by the board of supervisors on its own motion. Such appeal or review shall be scheduled for consideration and public hearing at a regular meeting of the board of supervisors. An appeal, accompanied by an appeal fee in an amount established by resolution of the board of supervisors, shall be filed with the health officer within seven days from the date the board of supervisors first considers the health officer's decision on its agenda. An appeal shall be filed in the form of a letter setting forth the reasons for the appeal. When an appeal has been filed, or the board of supervisors has voted to review his decision, the health officer shall prepare a report on the matter. When an appeal has been filed, the health officer shall schedule the appeal for consideration and public hearing by the board of supervisors at a regular meeting of the board of supervisors not more than twenty days from the date the health officer receives the appeal letter. When an appeal is filed or the board of supervisors orders a review of the health officer's decision, the county clerk shall mail not less than ten days before the hearing written notice of the time and place of the consideration and public hearing by the board of supervisors to all applicants and also to all aggrieved persons who have filed appeals. The county clerk shall also serve notice of time, place, and general description of the subject matter of such hearing by publishing once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county, at least five days before the hearing and consideration.

(b) After complying with the requirements of Section 8.64.060(a), the board of supervisors may affirm, affirm in part, or reverse the decision of the health officer that is the subject of the appeal based on findings of fact regarding the particular case. Such findings shall identify the reasons for the action on the appeal, and verify the compliance or noncompliance of the subject of the appeal with the provisions of this chapter including but not limited to the required findings (1) through (6) set forth in Section 8.64.050. The decision of the board of supervisors shall be final.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

The following health, safety, and welfare requirements are prerequisites to the issuance of a temporary camp permit:

(1) Drinking Water. The applicant shall provide a potable water supply from a source approved by the health officer in accordance with county and state law;

(2) Toilet Facilities. The applicant shall provide toilet facilities on the basis of one toilet for every forty persons attending the temporary camp activity. Toilets shall be located within a radius of four hundred feet of each campsite. Toilet facilities shall be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times and shall be cleaned at least once each day;

(3) Parking Area. Every premises on which a temporary camp activity is conducted shall have on such premises or in an area approved by the health officer vehicle parking spaces equal to one-fourth of the maximum number of persons which the temporary camp permit allows to attend the temporary camp unless the health officer finds that a smaller number is sufficient. Said parking area shall be free of flammable material;

(4) Access Ways. The applicant shall provide all exterior and interior access ways at the temporary camp site and parking area which the health officer finds necessary for the use of temporary camp and emergency vehicles and participants at the temporary camp activity;

(5) Solid Waste Disposal. The applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the health officer that the applicant has an adequate plan for the proper storage, collection and disposal of garbage, trash, and refuse. All solid waste material shall be disposed of by the sanitary landfill method, or shall be hauled to an approved dump site, and the area where the temporary camp activity and parking occurred shall be returned to a litter-free condition within seventy-two hours after the temporary camp activity is concluded, all to the satisfaction of the health officer;

(6) Guarantee of Site Restoration. Where the temporary camping will involve five hundred or more people at any time, a bond or cash deposit shall be required for approval of a temporary camp permit to guarantee litter abatement after use. The guarantee is to be posted with the health officer, with the County of San Luis Obispo named as beneficiary. The guarantee is to be of an amount established by the health officer equal to an estimate of the actual cost to remove and dispose of litter caused by the temporary camp activity at the temporary camp site, parking area, and any adjacent areas. The guarantee shall be released by the health officer after the expiration of the temporary camp permit if the temporary camp site, parking area, and adjacent areas are free from litter caused by the temporary camp activity;

(7) Dust Control. The applicant shall use such methods of dust control as approved by the health officer. The health officer shall approve such methods if he finds that such methods will prevent the arising of dust to an extent which may endanger the public health or safety;

(8) Medical Coverage. The applicant shall be responsible for making adequate plans for medical coverage of the temporary camp participants and any other persons attending the temporary camp activity; and

(9) Noise. The exterior noise standards of Section 22.06.040 of this code shall apply to the temporary camp activity.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

(a) Upon determining that the requirements of Section 8.64.070 have been complied with and that all conditions and regulations that are a prerequisite to the issuance of a temporary camp permit have been fully complied with, the health officer shall thereupon issue a temporary camp permit to the applicant for the specific location authorized for the temporary camp activity and for the specific days for which the temporary camp activity is authorized to be conducted, including any conditions imposed by the health officer or the board of supervisors.

(b) A permit for a temporary camp activity shall state the maximum number of participants permitted consistent with the requirements and standards of this chapter and other applicable laws. In deciding this maximum, the health officer and the board of supervisors may consider, but are not bound by, the estimate stated in the application for a permit.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

No permit granted under the provisions of this chapter shall be transferable to another location, another person or entity, or another set of dates.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

Prior to doing any construction, excavation, grading or encroachment required for the temporary camp activity, the applicant or permittee shall obtain from the county all necessary permits therefor.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

It is unlawful for any person to knowingly aid or abet the maintenance or conduct of a temporary camp activity as defined in this chapter which is being conducted or maintained without a permit required by the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)

Any use of land, buildings, or premises maintained, permitted, allowed or conducted contrary to the provisions of this chapter is a public nuisance.

(Ord. 2129 § 1 (part), 1983)