Chapter 8.09
CAMPING
Sections:
8.09.010 Unlawful camping in public places.
8.09.020 Unlawful storage of personal property in public places.
8.09.030 Definitions.
8.09.040 Parked recreational vehicles exempt.
8.09.050 Permit.
8.09.060 Penalty for violations.
8.09.010 Unlawful camping in public places.
Except as permitted by permit pursuant to KCC 8.09.050 or as otherwise provided by ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to camp in any park or other public place.
(Ord. No. 3516, § 1, 7-5-00)
8.09.020 Unlawful storage of personal property in public places.
Except as permitted by permit pursuant to KCC 8.09.050 or as otherwise provided by ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to store personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, in any park or other public place.
(Ord. No. 3516, § 1, 7-5-00)
8.09.030 Definitions.
The following definitions are applicable in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
A. Camp means to pitch or occupy camp facilities; to use camp paraphernalia.
B. Camp facilities include, but are not limited to, motor vehicles, trailers, tents, huts, or temporary shelters.
C. Camp paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks, or non-city-designated cooking facilities and similar equipment.
D. Director means any director of a city of Kent department having authority over public areas or any other person authorized by the mayor to exercise such authority or his or her designee.
E. Park means and includes all city parks, public squares, park drives, parkways, boulevards, golf courses, park museums, zoos, bathing beaches, and play and recreation grounds under the jurisdiction of the city of Kent parks and recreation department.
F. Public place means and includes streets, ways, boulevards, sidewalks, planting (parking) strips, squares, triangles, rights-of-way, publicly owned parking lot or publicly owned area, improved or unimproved, and other public places appropriated to the public for public use, including buildings, structures and appurtenances situated thereon.
G. Recreational vehicle means a travel trailer, motor home, truck camper, or camping trailer that is primarily designed and used as temporary living quarters, is either self-propelled or mounted on or drawn by another vehicle, is transient, is not occupied as a primary residence, and is not immobilized or permanently affixed to a mobile home lot.
H. Store means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.
I. Street means any highway, avenue, lane, road, street, drive, place, boulevard, alley, right-of-way, and every way or place in the city of Kent open as a matter of right to public vehicular travel.
(Ord. No. 3516, § 1, 7-5-00)
8.09.040 Parked recreational vehicles exempt.
The provisions of this chapter shall not prohibit recreational vehicles from being parked within or on any park or other public place, subject to the parking provisions of Ch. 9.38 KCC, and other applicable provisions of this code, if said recreational vehicle is not at that time being used as temporary living quarters or otherwise inhabited. A recreational vehicle may only be inhabited within or on any park or other public place pursuant to KCC 8.09.050.
(Ord. No. 3516, § 1, 7-5-00)
8.09.050 Permit.
A. The director is authorized, by permit, to allow persons to camp, occupy camp facilities, use camp paraphernalia, or store personal property within or on any park or other public place that may be designated by the city for such use in the city of Kent.
B. The director shall approve a permit as provided under this section when, from a consideration of the application and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, the director finds that:
1. Adequate sanitary facilities are provided and accessible at or near the campsite;
2. Adequate trash receptacles and trash collection is to be provided;
3. The camping activity will not unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort, and repose of private property owners; and
4. The camping activity is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property, to provoke disorderly conduct, or create a disturbance.
C. The director is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations regarding the implementation and enforcement of this chapter.
D. No permit shall be issued for a period of time in excess of seven (7) calendar days.
Any person denied a permit may appeal the denial to the hearing examiner pursuant to Ch. 2.32 KCC. The decision of the hearing examiner shall be final unless appealed to the superior court pursuant to said chapter.
(Ord. No. 3516, § 1, 7-5-00)
8.09.060 Penalty for violations.
Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as follows:
A. First offense. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
B. Second offense. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter a second time within a five-year period shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. One hundred dollars ($100) of the fine and one (1) day of imprisonment shall not be suspended or deferred.
C. Third or subsequent offense. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter a third or more times within a five (5) year period shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Five hundred dollars ($500) of the fine and five (5) days imprisonment shall not be suspended or deferred.
(Ord. No. 3516, § 1, 7-5-00)