Siskiyou County Municipal Code Ch. 17 Camping

(a) Purpose and Intent.

(1) This Chapter is intended to protect private property within the unincorporated area of the County from the destruction and littering that may accompany prolonged camping or squatting.

(2) This Chapter is intended to ensure that proper health and safety accommodations are provided to those who lawfully camp.

(3) This Chapter is not intended to prohibit overnight camping on property with a legally established residence so long as the owner consents.

(4) Nothing in this Chapter is intended to prohibit or make unlawful, activities of a property owner or other lawful user if such activities are expressly authorized pursuant this Code or other law, or expressly authorized pursuant to a land use entitlement issued under this Code.

(b) Camping or Squatting is Prohibited. Except as otherwise provided in this section, within the unincorporated area of the County, it is unlawful and a public nuisance to camp or squat upon private property that does not have a legally established residence, or is outside designated campgrounds.

(1) For purposes of this section, "squat" means to unlawfully settle on another's land without legal title or authority to do so, or entering upon another's land in bad faith claiming the right to do so by virtue of any title of one's own or by virtue of some agreement with another whom one believes to hold title.

(2) For purposes of this section, "legally established residence" means a structure designed, approved, and maintained for permanent human habitation pursuant to Title 24 or Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations or constructed prior to adoption of the California Building Standards Code by the County that is connected to an approved sewer system or to a County inspected and approved wastewater disposal system.

(c) Permit Required. Camping outside of designated campgrounds on private property that does not have a legally established residence either in a recreational vehicle or other shelter or means is allowed only by administrative permit.

(d) Permit Issuance. An administrative permit to camp outside designated campgrounds on private property that does not have a legally established residence shall be issued by the Planning Director upon application by a property owner for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) days, subject to compliance with all of the following:

(1) At the termination of the term of camping, all tents and temporary structures or shelters shall be removed from the subject property.

(2) At the termination of the term of camping, all garbage, trash, or other waste shall be removed and properly disposed of.

(3) All use of camp fires or burning shall be in compliance with this code and state law, and pursuant to any required permits.

(e) Permit Renewal. The Planning Director may renew or reissue an administrative permit to camp one or more times in a calendar year, so long as the cumulative period of camping authorized on the subject property does not exceed thirty (30) days in one calendar year.

(f) Natural Disaster Extended Permit: Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, when a legally established, permanent residence is destroyed by fire, flood, wind, landslide, seismic or volcanic activity, and/or any other natural disaster, the property owner may apply for an administrative permit to camp on private property in a recreational vehicle for a period not to exceed one year. The Planning Director and/or his or her designated representative may issue an extended permit provided that an approved domestic water and sewage disposal source is onsite and the Environmental Health Department has confirmed that any hazardous waste resulting from the disaster and presenting a risk to human health and safety has been cleared from the property. The permit shall be conditioned on the recreational vehicle being licensed and maintained in a readily transportable configuration, meaning it is transportable within four (4) hours either on its own motive power or towed by a light duty truck.

(Ord. No. 17-13, § I, 11-14-2017; Ord. No. 18-09, § I, 9-4-2018)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 17-13, § I, adopted Nov. 14, 2017, amended § 3-17.01 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 3-17.01, pertained to camping outside designated campgrounds and derived from § II, Ord. 06-06, effective May 11, 2006.

(a) When a property owner has an active building permit for construction or placement of a dwelling on their property, and providing such use is not prohibited by deed restrictions, such property owner may live in a recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 10-6.3602(ep), connected to the required and properly permitted utilities, for a period not to exceed two (2) years from the date the building permit was issued.

(b) An employer may provide employee housing or labor camps as defined by California Health and Safety Code Division 13, Housing, Employee Housing Act, Sections 17000 through 17062.5.

(c) Temporary housing in a recreational vehicle connected to on-site septic and water may be permitted by the Planning Director in emergency circumstances where, as a result of a natural disaster or other calamity, the permanent dwelling has been destroyed, severely damaged or deemed uninhabitable by the local building official. Occupancy is limited to those persons living in the permanent dwelling at the time of the disaster. The term of occupancy is limited to six (6) months, unless the property owner can demonstrate that efforts are being made to rehabilitate, rebuild or replace the dwelling unit. In no case shall the temporary occupancy exceed two (2) years.

(Ord. 06-06, § II, eff. May 11, 2006)