Tracy Municipal Code Ch. 5.12 Camp Cars and Trailers, Tent Spaces, and Storage of Personal Property In…

For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases are defined as follows and certain provisions shall be construed as herein set forth, unless it shall be apparent from their context that they have a different meaning:

(a) "Camp car and/or trailer" is any unit used for living or sleeping purposes and which is equipped with wheels or similar devices used for the purpose of transporting it from place to place, whether by motive power or other means, and said unit, so equipped, shall be capable of being safely operated as a vehicle over the public thoroughfares of the States. Any such vehicle that is incapable of such safe operation, as aforesaid, is hereby declared to be a dwelling as defined in the State Housing Act and shall be subject to the provisions thereof relating to dwelling;

(b) "Camp ground" is defined to mean any place, area or tract of land upon which is located any camp car and/or trailer;

(c) "Personal Property" means any tangible property used by any person, and includes, without limitation, sleeping bags, tents, clothes, toiletries, furniture, storage containers, and bicycles;

(d) "Public Area" or "Public Areas" means all property that is owned, managed, or maintained by the City and shall include, but not be limited to, any park, street, parking lot, median strip, sidewalk, building, or structure;

(e) "Tent" means a collapsible shelter made of any material, including fabric or plastic, used for living habitation and/or storage of personal property; and

(f) "Tent space" is defined as any place, area or tract of land upon which is located any tent.

(Prior code § 5-3.01)

(Ord. No. 1332, § 2(Exh. A), 9-20-2022)

It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to enforce all the provisions of this chapter and for the purpose of securing enforcement thereof, the Building Inspector or any duly authorized representatives or agents, shall have the right and are hereby empowered to enter upon the premises of any campground or tent space now operating or which may hereafter be operated within the City to inspect the same and all accommodations connected therewith.

(Prior code § 5-3.02)

(Ord. No. 1332, § 2(Exh. A), 9-20-2022)

No camp ground or tent space hereafter established shall be located within the City until the location thereof is approved by the Council.

Upon completion of any such camp ground or tent space, and prior to the use thereof, the owner or tenter of such camp ground or tent space shall make application to the Building Inspector for a permit to occupy or use such camp ground or tent space. The application to occupy shall be in writing upon a form provided by the Building Inspector and shall contain such information as may be required by said Building Inspector with respect to the operation of the camp ground or tent space. It shall be filed with the City Clerk not less than five (5) days, nor more than fifteen (15) days before the camp ground or tent space is made ready for use, and it shall be accompanied by an inspection fee of Five ($5.00) Dollars.

The Building Inspector shall thereupon make an inspection of the camp ground or tent space referred to in said application, and if it is found to be in conformity with the requirements of this and all other laws of the City and the laws of the State, said Building Inspector shall issue to the owner or operator thereof a written permit to occupy, which permit shall at all times be posted at a conspicuous place in said camp ground or tent space. The permit to occupy shall expire one calendar year from date of issue, and may be renewed upon written application, accompanied by an inspection fee of Five ($5.00) Dollars, to the City Clerk.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any camp ground or tent space within the confines of the City, as herein set forth without first applying for and receiving from the Building Inspector a permit to occupy and without complying with all of the provisions of this chapter and the laws of the State.

(Prior code § 5-3.03)

All moneys received by the City Clerk under provisions of this chapter shall be paid into the City Treasury and placed in the General Fund.

(Prior code § 5-3.04)

Whenever it is found that any camp ground or tent space is not being conducted in conformity with the provisions of this chapter or the laws of the State, the permit to operate same shall be subject to revocation or suspension by the Council in the following manner, to wit:

Upon instruction of the Council a notice shall be served by the Building Inspector on the person holding said permit, specifying wherein they have failed to comply with this chapter, and ordering them to appear before the Council, at a day and hour therein specified, not less than five (5) days after the service of said notice on such permit holder, requiring him to show cause at said time and place why said permit should not be revoked or suspended.

The notice shall be sent by registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the person owning or operating the campground or tent space as such person's name and address appears on the last equalized assessment roll or as known to the Building Inspector. A copy of said notice shall also be posted conspicuously on the campground or tent space alleged to be in violation of this or any other law of the City or of the State. The Building Inspector upon giving notice as aforesaid, shall file an affidavit thereof with the City Clerk certifying to the time and the manner in which such notice was given. There shall also be filed therewith any receipt cards which may have been returned in acknowledgement of the receipt of such notices by registered mail. The failure of any owner or operator to receive notice shall not affect in any manner, the validity of any proceedings taken hereunder. At the time and place mentioned in said notice, the person holding said permit shall have the right to appear in person or by counsel, and to introduce such evidence as they may desire, and the Council shall confront said permit holder with any charges that said Council may have against them, and after said hearing, the Council may at its discretion, revoke or suspend the permit.

(Prior code § 5-3.05)

(Ord. No. 1332, § 2(Exh. A), 9-20-2022)

Every person owning or operating a camp ground or tent space shall maintain such camp ground or tent space, and all permanent equipment in connection therewith, in a clean and sanitary condition and shall maintain said equipment in a state of good repair.

(Prior code § 5-3.07)

No camp car and/or trailer or tent used for living or sleeping purposes in any camp ground or tent space now existing, or that may hereafter be established, shall be located within ten (10′) feet of any other camp car and/or trailer, tent, or structure, nor shall any camp car and/or trailer or tent be located within eight (8′) feet of any lot line. Camp cars and/or trailers and tents, as aforesaid, shall be arranged in rows abutting or facing on a driveway or clear unoccupied space of not less than fifteen (15′) feet in width, which space shall have unobstructed access to a public street or alley.

(Prior code § 5-3.08)

Every camp ground or tent space hereafter established shall be located on a well drained area and the premises of every such ground or tent space or any existing camp ground or tent space shall be maintained in a sanitary condition and shall be properly graded so as to prevent the accumulation of storm or casual waters.

(Prior code § 5-3.09)

An adequate supply of pure water for drinking and domestic purposes shall be supplied to meet the requirements of said camp ground or tent space. Said water supply shall be obtained from faucets only conveniently located in said camp ground and no dipping vessels or common cups shall be permitted.

(Prior code § 5-3.10)

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or operating a camp car and/or trailer located in a camp ground to remove or cause to have removed the wheels, or any similar transporting devices from said camp car and/or trailer or to otherwise permanently fix it to the ground in a manner that would prevent the ready removal of said camp car and/or trailer, or to alter it in any way so as to make it incapable of being safely operated over the public thoroughfares of the State without first obtaining a permit so to do from the Building Inspector. Any alteration to any camp car and/or trailer, as above set forth, shall be construed as removing it from the requirements of this chapter and converting it into a dwelling and it shall thereupon be subject to the requirements of the Building Code of the City and the State Housing Act of California.

(Prior code § 5-3.11)

Dogs shall not, at any time, be permitted to run at large in any camp ground or tent space.

(Prior code § 5-3.12)

There shall be provided in every existing camp ground or tent space and every camp ground or tent space which may hereafter be established, one water closet for each sex, one of such water closets shall be distinctly marked "For Men" and one of such water closets shall be distinctly marked "For Women" and there shall be provided an additional water closet for each sex for every ten (10) tents, camp cars and/or trailers or fractional part thereof in excess of ten (10) tents, camp cars and/or trailers.

(Prior code § 5-3.13)

There shall be provided in every existing camp ground or tent space and every camp ground or tent space which may hereafter be established, a stationery bathtub or shower bath equipped with hot and cold running water for each sex. Such bathtubs or shower baths shall be installed in a separate compartment from any water closet unit and there shall be provided additional bathtubs or shower baths for each sex, for every twenty (20) tents, camp cars and/or trailers or fractional part thereof in excess of twenty (20) tents, camp cars and/or trailers in said camp ground and/or tent space.

The Building Inspector may exempt any camp ground or tent space existing September 1, 1942, from fully complying with the provisions of sections 5.12.120 and 5.12.130 when, in his discretion, such deviation will not be detrimental to the health of persons occupying said camp ground or tent space or to the proper sanitation of the premises. The floors of every water closet, bathtub or shower bath compartment hereafter installed shall be constructed of cement or some other nonabsorbent material; the walls shall be a smooth waterproof material, and the interiors of all water closets, bathtub or shower compartments shall be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times.

(Prior code § 5-3.14)

There shall be provided in every camp ground or tent space heretofore or hereafter established, such number of metal receptacles with close fitting metal covers, or other receptacles satisfactory to the Building Inspector for garbage, refuse, ashes and rubbish as may be deemed necessary by the Building Inspector and such receptacles shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

(Prior code § 5-3.15)

There shall be provided in every camp ground or tent space heretofore or hereafter established one or more slop sinks properly connected with the City sewer system or a cesspool or septic tank, such sinks to be conveniently located at no greater distance than one hundred (100') feet from any camp car and/or trailer, or tent.

(Prior code § 5-3.16)

It shall be unlawful to deposit any waste water, drainage or material from plumbing fixtures, including any such fixtures within any camp car and/or trailer on the surface of any camp ground or tent space. All such fixtures, when in use, must be connected to the City sewer system, or, in lieu thereof, they may be connected to a cesspool or septic tank constructed in a manner satisfactory to the Building Inspector.

(Prior code § 5-3.17)

Every camp ground or tent space heretofore or hereafter established shall be provided with means of lighting the same at night and all public water closets and bath units shall be provided with sufficient lighting facilities which shall be kept lighted during the time from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise.

(Prior code § 5-3.18)

Any water faucets, toilets, garbage receptacles, or other equipment required by the provisions of this chapter in camp grounds or tent spaces or which may hereafter be required by any rules and regulations of the Building Inspector pertaining to camp grounds or tent spaces shall not be construed to mean water faucets, toilets, garbage receptacles or other equipment now or hereafter located in or adjacent to camp grounds or tent spaces and which may already or hereafter be required under provisions of other laws or regulations.

(Prior code § 5-3.19)

Every camp ground shall be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher for each ten thousand (10,000) square feet of camp ground area and such additional extinguishers as may be required by the Chief of the Fire Department. Location and type of extinguishers shall be approved by the said Fire Chief.

(Prior code § 5-3.20)

(a) It shall be unlawful to occupy any camp car and/or trailer or erect and/or occupy a tent in any public area, unless the same is located upon a campground or tent space licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

(b) Without limiting the application of subsection (a) above, it shall be unlawful to occupy a camp car and/or trailer or erect and/or occupy a tent as follows:

(1) Within twenty (20) feet of any driveway;

(2) Within five (5) feet of any building entrance or exit;

(3) Within ten (10) feet of any fence located on public or private property;

(4) Within two (2) feet of any fire hydrant, fire plug, or other fire department connection;

(5) Within (1,000) feet of any public building, park playground, homeless shelter facility, school, day care center, recreational facility, or sports field; and

(6) In an area that obstructs or interferes with an activity for which the City has issued a permit.

(c) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is subject to criminal prosecution of a misdemeanor.

(Prior code § 5-3.21)

(Ord. No. 1332, § 2(Exh. A), 9-20-2022)

(a) No person shall store any personal property in a public area that constitutes an immediate threat to the health or safety of the public or is evidence of a crime or contraband, which may include, but is not limited to:

(1) Personal property that obstructs or interferes with the flow of pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicle traffic, on any portion of any street, sidewalk, or other public right of way; and

(2) Attachment of any personal property to any public area or public property, including but not limited to, a building, bus shelter, the ground, a bench, a fence, pole, trash can, mailbox, sign, tree, or plant, without the City's prior written consent.

(b) The City may remove personal property that is in violation of this Chapter without prior notice. Any person that obstructs or interferes with the City's removal of property under this Chapter will be subject to a misdemeanor.

(Ord. No. 1332, § 2(Exh. A), 9-20-2022)

(a) The City shall store impounded personal property for a period of time reasonably determined by the Director of the Public Works Department. If the personal property is not claimed within such designated time frame, it may be discarded. The City shall not be required to undertake any search for, or return of, any impounded personal property stored for longer than the period of time reasonably determined by the Director of the Public Works Department.

(b) The City shall maintain a record of the date any impounded personal property was discarded.

(Ord. No. 1332, § 2(Exh. A), 9-20-2022)