Wasco Municipal Code Ch. 12.32 Unlawful Camping in Public Places

The streets and public areas within the city should be readily accessible and available to residents and the public at large. The use of these areas for camping purposes or storage of personal property interferes with the rights of others to use the areas for which they were intended. The purpose of this chapter is to maintain streets, parks, and other public areas in a clean and accessible condition and to adequately protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community, while recognizing that, subject to reasonable conditions, camping associated with special events can be beneficial to the city’s cultural and educational climate. Nothing in this chapter is intended to interfere with otherwise lawful and ordinary uses of public property. (Ord. 695 §1, 2018).

Unless the particular provisions or the context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this section shall govern the construction, meaning, and application of words and phrases used in this chapter.

A. "Camp" means to place, pitch, maintain, or occupy camp facilities, or to use camp paraphernalia in such a way as to reasonably appear, in light of all the circumstances, that a person is using the area occupied as a living accommodation, regardless of his or her intent or the nature of any other activities in which he or she might also be engaging.

B. "Camp facilities" include, but are not limited to, tents, huts, temporary shelters, motorhomes, trailers or campers.

C. "Camp paraphernalia" includes, but is not limited to, bedrolls, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks or non-city designated cooking facilities and similar equipment.

D. "Maintain" means keeping or permitting equipment, supplies or materials to remain on public property in order to camp or operate camp facilities.

E. "Public property" means all real or personal property owned or controlled by the city and includes, but is not limited to, parks, buildings, streets, sidewalks, alleys, paths, parking lots, and improved or unimproved land.

F. "Store" means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, or to place or leave in a location. (Ord. 730 §1, 2025; Ord. 695 §1, 2018).

It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camping paraphernalia in or on any public property within the city. The prohibition set forth in this section does not apply to lawful activities authorized by the Wasco Municipal Code, including activities that are allowed pursuant to a temporary permit issued under Chapter 9.14, 12.24 or 17.56. (Ord. 695 §1, 2018).

It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to store personal property, including camp paraphernalia, in or on any public property, except as otherwise authorized by the Wasco Municipal Code. (Ord. 695 §1, 2018).

The Wasco Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 731, passed August 5, 2025.

Disclaimer: The city clerk’s office has the official version of the Wasco Municipal Code. Users should contact the city clerk’s office for ordinances passed subsequent to the ordinance cited above.

City Website: www.cityofwasco.org

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