Tulare Municipal Code Ch. 5.12 Auto Camps

Section

Statutory reference:

Statute provisions concerning trailer parks, see Cal. Health and Sanitation Code §§ 18000 et seq.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the meanings herein ascribed to them unless the content makes such meaning repugnant thereto.

CAMP CAR and/or TRAILER. 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 the unit, so equipped, shall be capable of being safely operated at a speed limit of 45 mph.

CAMP GROUND. Any place, area or tract of land upon which is located any camp car and/or trailer, used for residential purposes.

IMMOBILE UNIT. Any vehicle that is incapable of such safe operation is hereby declared to be a dwelling, as defined in the state’s Housing Act.

TENT SPACE. Any place, area of tract of land upon which is located any tent used for living or sleeping purposes.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.010)

Statutory reference:

State Housing Act, see Cal. Health and Safety Code §§ 15000 et seq.

No campground or tent space hereafter established shall be located within the city until the location thereof is approved by the Building Inspector in the following manner:

(A) Application; filing. The person desiring to locate and operate a campground or tent space in the city, under the provisions of the chapter, shall file and application therefor with the Building Inspector.

(B) Description of property. The application shall include a true legal description of the property upon which it is proposed to locate the campground or tent space.

(C) Filing fee. The application shall be accompanied with a filing fee of $10.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.020)

Editor’s note:

For the most recent fee, please see the Rates and Fees Resolution passed by the city and on file in the city offices.

Upon receipts of the application, the Building Inspector shall fix a time and place for the holding of a public hearing thereon.

(A) Notice of hearing; publication; posting. Notice of the hearing shall be given by at least one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city, and by causing a notice thereof to be posted at no more that 150 feet in distance apart along both sides of each street upon which the property involved in the application abuts.

(B) Manner of posting. The posting shall extend along the streets a distance of not less that 300 feet from the exterior limits of the property involved in the application.

(C) Time of hearing. The notice shall state the time when the petition will be heard by the Building Inspector, which shall not be less that ten days for the date of publication and posting.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.030)

At the time of hearing of the application, the Building Inspector may hear anyone appearing for the purpose of approving or objecting to the granting of the application, and at the conclusion of the hearing may either approve or disapprove the application.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.040)

The Building Inspector shall immediately communicate his or her findings and recommendation in regard to the application to the Council, which shall consider the matter at its regular meeting next following the date of hearing before the Building Inspector. The Council shall thereupon publicly hear and finally and conclusively determine whether or not the application shall be granted, giving such notice of the hearing upon the application as it deems proper.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.050)

Upon completion of any campground or tent space, and prior to the use thereof the owner or renter of the campground or tent space shall make application to the Building Inspector for a permit to occupy or use the campground or tent space.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.060)

It shall be filed with the Building Inspector not less that three days before the campground or tent space is made ready for use; and it shall be accompanied by an inspection fee of $5.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.070)

Editor’s note:

For the most recent fee, please see the Rates and Fees Resolution passed by the city and on file in the city offices.

The Building Inspector shall thereupon make an inspection of the campground or tent space referred to in the application; and, it is found to be in conformity with this chapter and all other provisions of this code and the laws of the state, the 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 the campground or tent space.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.080)

The permit to occupy shall expire one calendar year from the date of issue and may be renewed upon written application accompanied by an inspection fee of $5 to the Building Inspector.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.090)

Editor’s note:

For the most recent fee, please see the Rates and Fees Resolution passed by the city and on file in the city offices.

The owner or operator of every campground or tent space then in existence in the city, shall upon the effective date of this chapter make application, as herein provided, to the Building Inspector for a permit to occupy; and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any campground 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.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.100)

Whenever it is found that any campground 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.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.110)

A permit to operate or maintain a campground or tent space shall be transferable upon the written application of the holder of the permit to the Building Inspector and with the consent of the Building Inspector endorsed thereon.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.120)

Every campground or tent space hereafter established shall be located on a well-drained area; and the premises of every such campground or tent space, or any existing campground 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.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.130)

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

(1995 Code, § 5.12.140)

Every campground 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, except in case of a blackout.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.150)

Dogs, at no time, shall be permitted to run at large in any campground or tent space.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.160)

No trailer or tent used for living or sleeping purposes in any campground or tent space now existing or that may hereafter be established, shall be located with ten feet of any trailer, tent or structure; nor shall any trailer or tent be located within eight feet of any lot line.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.170)

Trailers and tents, as aforesaid, shall be arranged in rows abutting or facing on a driveway or clear unoccupied space or not less than 15 feet in width, which space shall have unobstructed access to a public street or alley.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.180)

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or operating a trailer located in a campground to remove or cause to have removed the wheels or any similar transporting devices from the trailer or to otherwise permanetly fix it to the ground in a manner that would prevent the ready removal of the 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 at a speed limit of 45 mph without first obtaining a permit so to do, from the Building Inspector.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.190)

Any alteration to any trailer, as herein 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 and the State Housing Act.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.200)

An adequate supply of pure water for drinking and domestic purposes shall be supplied to meet the requirements of the campground or tent space.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.210)

There shall be provided in every campground or tent space one water closet for each sex. One of the water closets shall be distinctly marked “For Men” and one “For Women”. There shall be provided an additional water closet for each sex for every ten tents or trailers in the campground and/or tent space.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.220)

There shall be provided in every campground or tent space stationary bathtub or shower bath equipped with hot and cold running water. The bathtub or shower bath shall be installed in a separate compartment from any water closet unit, and there shall be provided an additional bathtub or shower bath for every ten tents or trailers or fractional part thereof in excess of ten tents or trailers in the campground and/or tent space.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.230)

The Building Inspector may exempt any campground or tent space existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter from fully complying with the provisions of §§ 5.12.220 and 5.12.230 when, in his or her discretion, the deviation will not be detrimental to the health of persons occupying the campground or tent space or to proper sanitation of the premises.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.240)

The floors of every water closet, bathtub or shower bath compartment hereafter installed 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.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.250)

There shall be provided in every campground or tent space heretofore or hereafter established the number of metal receptacles with closefitting metal covers for garbage, refuse, ashes and rubbish as may be deemed necessary by the Building Inspector; and the receptacles shall, at all times, be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.260)

There shall be provided in every campground or tent space heretofore or hereafter established one or more slop sinks properly connected with the sewer system, the sinks to be conveniently located at no greater distance than 100 feet from any trailer or tent.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.270)

It is unlawful to deposit any waste water, drainage or material from plumbing fixtures on the surface of any campground.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.280)

All fixtures, when in use, must be connected to the city sewer system.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.290)

It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to enforce all of the provisions of this chapter; and, for the purpose of securing enforcement thereof, the Building Inspector shall have the right to enter upon the premises of any campground or tent space to inspect the same and all accommodation connected therewith.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.300)

It shall be the duty of every person owning, leasing, renting or operating a campground or tent space in the city to comply with all the provisions of this chapter; and any such person violating any of the provisions thereof or disregarding to the campground or tent space, or contributing, in any way, to the violation of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

(1995 Code, § 5.12.310)

Statutory reference:

For statute provisions concerning trailer parks, see Cal. Health and Sanitation Code, §§ 18000 et seq.