San Ramon Municipal Code Ch. IX Living in Vehicles

The Council finds that the City is committed to protecting the life, health, and safety of all people in the City and that certain public lands within the geographical boundaries of the City pose significant health and safety hazards to the people who make shelter or stay overnight in these areas. Additionally, the Council finds that some of these public lands are environmentally sensitive and may be significantly damaged by unregulated human activity. The Council is committed to protecting the rights of individuals related to their personal property and to treating such property with respect and consideration. It is the purpose of this Chapter to set standards for the preservation and protection of human life, health, and safety, to further the preservation and protection of sensitive public lands to prevent destruction of these assets, and to establish a process for the collection, storage, and disposal, recycling, or reuse of personal property found in encampments on public property. Ord. No. 527, § 1, 01/14/2025

Effective on: 2/13/2025

As used in this article: Abatement means the process of documenting and collecting eligible items for storage, and removing and disposing of, recycling, or reusing of waste at an encampment according to the process outlined in section B6-226. Camp means to pitch, erect, or occupy an encampment, or to use camp paraphernalia or both, for the purpose of, or in a way that facilitates outdoor sheltering for living accommodation purposes or for remaining outdoors overnight.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 192

Camp paraphernalia means personal property used to facilitate occupancy of an area, including, but not limited to, personal property typically associated with camping such as tarps, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks, bedding, camp stoves, cooking equipment, buckets, mattresses, couches, dressers, or other furniture. Encampment means one or more temporary, makeshift, or hand-built structures not intended for long- term continuous occupancy, including tents, that are used to shelter one or more persons or their belongings and that are not authorized by the property owner. Encampment includes any camp paraphernalia and personal property associated with or located in or around the structures or tents. Open space has the same definition as in the Glossary of the San Ramon General Plan. Park facility has the same definition as in San Ramon Municipal Code section B5-1. Shelter means any structure provided where individuals or families experiencing homelessness can access beds and other services, or an area designated by the City Manager for use by individuals or families experiencing homelessness. Waste means material of any nature that constitutes rubbish, solid waste, liquid waste, human or animal waste, or medical waste. Waste also includes abandoned or unidentified personal property that is left unattended on public sidewalks and rights-of-way or other public property for a period exceeding 8 hours. Waterway means all the portions, including riparian corridors or associated vegetated areas, of creeks, intermittent streams, perennial streams, or lakes found within the boundaries of the City of San Ramon. (Ord. No. 527, § 1, 01/14/2025)

Effective on: 2/13/2025

A. It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following: 1. Build or erect a structure of any type along the banks of any waterway, or drive a nail or other object into any tree or other natural area vegetation for the purpose of building an encampment or any other structure, or to affix an object to any tree or other natural vegetation; 2. Move boulders or large rocks, destroy vegetation, paved roads or paths created by the City, or otherwise reconfigure the natural landscape in the waters of or along the banks of a waterway; 3. Drive, park, or bring any vehicle along the banks of a waterway, except in places specifically provided and designated for vehicular use; 4. Dig on the banks of a waterway; or 5. Discharge or store waste, including garbage, refuse, or human or animal waste, into any waterway, including the banks, the waters, the riparian corridors, or associated vegetated areas of a waterway. B. Nothing in section B6-223 is intended to prohibit the activities of an owner of private property or other lawful user of private property that are normally associated with and incidental to the lawful and authorized use of private property; and nothing is intended to prohibit the activities of a lawful user if such activities are expressly authorized by the City Manager or by any law, regulation, permit, order or other directive from a regulatory authority. (Ord. No. 527, § 1, 01/14/2025)

Effective on: 2/13/2025

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 193

A. It is unlawful for any person to camp or to maintain an encampment in or upon any public property, including in any street, sidewalk, park facility, beach, open space, waterway, and banks of a waterway, unless permitted under a temporary use permit or encroachment permit, whichever may be appropriate, or as specifically authorized by the City Manager. B. At all times, regardless of the availability of shelter space or beds, it is unlawful for any person to camp or to maintain an encampment where such activity poses: 1. an immediate threat or an unreasonable risk of harm to any natural person, 2. an immediate threat or an unreasonable risk of harm to public health or safety, or 3. disruption to vital government services. C. At all times, regardless of the availability of shelter space or beds, it is unlawful for any person to camp or to maintain an encampment in the following locations: 1. Within 500 feet of a school that offers instruction on those courses of study required by the California Education Code or that is maintained pursuant to standards set by the State Board of Education, provided that signs are posted prohibiting camping that are clearly visible to pedestrians; 2. Within 500 feet of any shelter, provided that signs are posted prohibiting camping that are clearly visible to pedestrians; 3. In any open space, waterway, or banks of a waterway, including riparian corridors or associated vegetated areas, regardless of whether signage prohibiting camping are posted; 4. Within any transit hub, on any trolley platform, or along any trolley tracks, provided that signs are posted prohibiting camping that are clearly visible to pedestrians; and 5. In any park facility, provided that signs are posted prohibiting camping that are clearly visible to pedestrians. D. At all times, regardless of the availability of shelter space or beds, it is unlawful for any person to sleep between 9:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. in any vehicle parked on any public street, alley way, or parking area, or on any privately owned parking area used for the parking of customers of any business enterprise without the consent of the owner of such business enterprise. (Ord. No. 527, § 1, 01/14/2025)

Effective on: 2/13/2025

A. Violations of this Chapter may be prosecuted as misdemeanors subject to the fines and custody provisions in San Ramon Municipal Code Section A1-32.B. B. Law enforcement officers shall not issue a criminal citation to enforce a violation of Section B6-224.A between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. or when the person is on public property at a time when there is no available shelter. For purposes of this Section B6-225.B, available shelter means the shelter is reasonably available to the person at the time enforcement is taking place and taking into consideration any disability or other specific circumstances applicable to that person. C. Sections B6-223 and B6-224.B-D are enforceable at all times regardless of shelter availability. (Ord. No. 527, § 1, 01/14/2025)

Effective on: 2/13/2025

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 194

The City Manager may remove personal property, camping paraphernalia, and all other property contraband, litter, and waste found at an encampment or at a location where a person is engaged in unlawful camping in compliance with the following procedures: A. Written Notice Required Prior to Abatement. 1. A written Notice of Clean-Up will be posted on each tent or structure and in any other distinct areas of the encampment providing notice of the date of clean-up and giving a minimum of 24 hours for persons to remove their personal property. The written notice shall also include the following statement, which may be updated by the City Manager to provide accurate and current information: You must remove your belongings from the site within 24 hours. You should not leave behind any belongings you want to keep. All belongings left behind will be removed by the City. The City will post an Impound Notice if belongings are stored during the clean-up process. If you wish to minimize the risk of losing valued belongings, you should try to keep those belongings on your person at all times, in a storage facility, or in visible, sanitary, and safely accessible bags or bins. If you think your belongings were stored, you can claim them by following the directions on the Impound Notice after the clean-up is complete. Information about how to claim your belongings is also available on the City’s website. You may retrieve any stored belongings without being asked about your criminal background or outstanding warrants. You may access shelter or services, including access to storage for your personal belongings, through the City of San Ramon’s website or by calling the San Ramon Valley Police Department Communications Center at (925) 973-2779. 2. After 24 hours, the City Manager shall conduct abatement of the site on the date posted on the Notice of Clean-Up. If abatement is delayed or rescheduled, the City Manager may conduct abatement within 48 hours of the posted Notice of Clean-Up without reposting a new Notice of Clean-Up. If abatement is delayed longer, the City Manager shall repost a Notice of Clean-Up with a new date. B. The City Manager shall follow these additional procedures when persons are present at an encampment during abatement: 1. When shelter is available, the City Manager shall provide any person at an encampment with shelter and service information and direct them to remove their belongings from the site. The City Manager shall evaluate reasonable requests for additional time or assistance to remove items and may accommodate those requests to the extent practicable. 2. Any person who returns to an encampment during abatement shall be allowed to remove their personal property from the site. Personal property left behind will be deemed abandoned.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 195

3. Any person arrested for a criminal offense or an outstanding warrant shall not be required to abandon personal property they identify as their own. Unless the person requests the personal property be discarded or entrusted to another, all personal property of apparent value will be taken to the San Ramon Police Department for impoundment in accordance with existing policy and procedure. Where the owner of the items cannot be readily identified or discovered, the City Manager shall follow the abatement process in this Chapter. A. The City Manager shall document the abatement process as follows: 1. Photograph or video record the site before any abatement begins, 2. Open backpacks, purses, suitcases, and other small storage containers to determine whether they contain items eligible for storage, 3. Set out items contained in bags or suitcases and photograph the items, 4. Photograph or video record all items to be stored, 5. Photograph or video record the cleanup process, and 6. Photograph or video record the site after abatement has concluded. B. Unclaimed items found in abatement shall be eligible for storage if: 1. Circumstances indicate that the item belongs to a person, 2. The item has apparent utility in its current condition and circumstances, and 3. The item can be safely retrieved from the site. Examples of items potentially eligible for storage include identification and associated paperwork, medication stored in medication bottles with identifying information, art, art supplies, musical instruments, and items that reasonably appear to have sentimental value in their current condition. An item need not be in a new or perfect condition to have apparent utility. E. An eligible item found during an abatement shall be put into storage, unless it meets one the following disqualifying conditions: 1. Hazardous, including items contaminated with human waste, animal waste, or bugs, explosives, weapons, liquids, drug paraphernalia, or mold; 2. Likely to become hazardous in storage, including perishables, wet materials that might become moldy, and items covered in mud; 3. Practically un-storable, due to large size, weight, or other similar characteristic; 4. Contraband or stolen; or 5. Common types of items that, in the experience of City staff, individuals regularly abandon during abatement, and there is no contrary indication as to the specific item. A. The City Manager shall record each eligible item to be stored, including the location it was found and the date of storage. Any stored items shall be kept in storage at least 90 calendar days and then may be disposed of, recycled, or reused in accordance with Title B, Division B6 (Health, Sanitation, and Environmental Quality) of the San Ramon Municipal Code.

City of San Ramon, CA | Municipal Code 196

B. After abatement has concluded and when eligible items are collected and will be placed in storage, the City Manager shall post notices at the location of the abatement that includes information on how a person can claim stored items. Information about retrieval of stored items shall also be available on the City’s website. A person may retrieve stored items based on a description with sufficient specificity to demonstrate ownership. A person may retrieve stored items without inquiry into the person’s criminal background or outstanding warrants. C. Expedited Abatement. 1. In an expedited abatement, the City Manager shall follow the same abatement and storage procedures in Section B6-226 but shall post a Notice of Clean-Up giving a minimum of 3 hours for all persons to remove their personal property. 2. The City Manager shall prioritize and expedite the removal of an encampment if: a. the City receives direction from the County of Contra Costa or other governmental authority that abatement of the encampment is necessary to preserve public health or safety, including to address known or suspected outbreaks of diseases; or b. the City Manager observes or reasonably suspects the encampment creates a condition that presents a significant risk of property damage, bodily injury or death. Ord. No. 527, § 1, 01/14/2025

Effective on: 2/13/2025

B6-227 through B6-230. - Reserved.