San Mateo County Municipal Code Ch. 7.96 Prohibition on Use of Vehicle for Human Habitation

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors finds that substantial public health, safety, and quality-of-life concerns are posed by persons who sleep, during evening hours, in vehicles, campers, and trailers parked on public streets, on public easements, in public parks, and in off-street parking lots located in the unincorporated area of the County. Residents of the unincorporated area of the County have informed this Board of litter and unsanitary conditions related to individuals who sleep in vehicles, campers, and trailers. Further, County residents have expressed to this Board that allowing people to sleep in vehicles, campers, and trailers in these places is incompatible with the character of communities within the unincorporated area of the County. Moreover, the presence of individuals sleeping in vehicles, campers, and trailers creates anxiety for some County residents, who contact law enforcement personnel to report suspicious vehicles. Likewise, this Board finds that persons sleeping in vehicles, campers, and trailers are at a heightened risk of being the victim of assault, robbery and other criminal activity. It is the purpose and intent of the Board of Supervisors to regulate the use of motor vehicles for sleeping in order to prevent the effects described above.

(Ord. 4239, 11/02/04)

For the purpose of this chapter 7.96, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section:

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

"Trailer" means a vehicle or moveable structure constructed, designed, and intended for use, used, or capable of being used, as a residence, place of abode, domicile, or shelter or enclosure for human habitation, whether mounted permanently upon a moveable chassis, whether equipped with permanent or temporary wheels, tires, or running gear, or whether susceptible of being hauled, towed, moved, or transported from place to place.

"Vehicle" means a device, conveyance, or other artificial contrivance, whether operable or inoperable, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on land, excepting a device used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

(Ord. 4239, 11/02/04)

Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. of any day and 6:00 a.m. of the next ensuing day, no person shall sleep in any vehicle, camper or trailer located on any public street, on or in any public easement, in any public park, or in any off-street lot designated for parking, within the unincorporated area of San Mateo County. The prohibition against sleeping in vehicles, campers, or trailers in off-street lots designated for parking shall not apply to any person possessing written authorization from the owner of the lot authorizing the person to sleep in the lot.

(Ord. 4239, 11/02/04)

Violation of this chapter 7.96 shall constitute an infraction.

(Ord. 4239, 11/02/04)