Willits Municipal Code Ch. 9.30 Camping

The following words shall have the following meaning, when used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Camp" or "camping" means the activity of living, on a temporary or permanent basis, in the outdoors, including to place, pitch, or use camp facilities or camp paraphernalia for such purposes.

"Camp facilities" means and includes, but is not limited to, tents, huts, or temporary structures, when established, maintained or operated to camp.

"Camp paraphernalia" means and includes, but is not limited to, bedrolls, blankets, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, tents, hammocks, items used for cooking food or similar equipment. Camp paraphernalia also includes other personal effects, when used or stored with camp paraphernalia as described in this chapter.

"Establish" means setting up or moving equipment, supplies or materials on to public or private property to camp.

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

"Operate" means participating or assisting in establishing or maintaining a camp or camp facility.

"Private property" means all private property including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, alleys, and improved or unimproved land.

"Public property" means all public property including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, alleys, and improved or unimproved land and parks.

"Recreational vehicle park" or "mobile home park" means any area of land within the city licensed pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code as a mobile home park, as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18214, or a special occupancy park as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18862.43, which has a currently effective city business license, and in which space is rented or held out for camping.

"Store" means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.

"Street" means a street, alley, way or place of whatever nature, publicly or privately maintained for purposes of vehicular travel. "Street" includes highway, as that term is defined in the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 06-01 §2(part)).

Except as provided within the Willits Municipal Code including subsections (B)(1) through (3) of this section, it is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to camp, establish, maintain, operate or occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia in the following areas:

A. Any public property; or

B. Any private property, provided, however, that this prohibition does not apply to:

1. Overnight camping on private residential property so long as the owner or lawful occupant consents, and the camping does not create a public or private nuisance,

2. Mobile home parks and special occupancy parks,

3. Camping overnight in city parks with prior permission of the park authority pursuant to Willits Municipal Code Section 12.32.030.

(Ord. 06-01 §2(part)).

It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to store camp paraphernalia in the following areas:

A. Any public property; or

B. Outside a structure on any private property without the prior written consent of the owner.

(Ord. 06-01 §2(part)).

Any violation of this chapter shall be deemed an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars for a first offense, and, for a second or subsequent offense, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed three months or by both fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 06-01 §2(part)).