Chapter 6.16
CAMP SPACES AND SQUATTER CAMPS

Sections:

6.16.010    Definitions.

6.16.020    Enforcement authority.

6.16.030    Construction--Maintenance--Occupation.

6.16.040    Application.

6.16.050    Nonapplicable to public areas owned by government.

6.16.060    Caretaker required on camp space with four or more families.

6.16.070    Owner to maintain camp space--Prohibited habitations.

6.16.080    Sanitation--Fire hazards.

6.16.090    Garbage receptacles.

6.16.100    Water.

6.16.110    Flush toilet.

6.16.120    Dogs running at large.

6.16.130    Nuisance declared--Notice from health officer.

6.16.010 Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter certain words and phrases are defined and certain provisions shall be construed as set out in this section unless it is apparent from their context that they have a different meaning.

Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural include the singular.

(1)    “Camp car 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 the unit, so equipped, shall be capable of being safely and lawfully operated as a vehicle over the public thoroughfares of the state of California at a speed limit of 45 miles per hour.

(2)    “Camp space” is any place where one or more tents are erected or maintained for hire for living or sleeping quarters for one or more families, or where one or more tents or camp cars or trailers or where one or more families are camping with the expressed consent of the owner or person legally in charge of the land upon which such camp space is located.

(3)    “Family” is one person living alone or a group of two or more persons living together in an apartment whether related to each other or not.

(4)    “Person” means a corporation, co-partnership, or association as well as a natural person.

(5)    “Squatter” is one who settles or locates on land enclosed or unenclosed with no bona fide claim or color of title or without the expressed consent of the owner or person legally in charge of the land.

(6)    “Squatter camp” is an area of land occupied by a squatter. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 1), 1964)

6.16.020 Enforcement authority.

The city health department is authorized and empowered to enforce all of the provisions of this chapter and, for the purpose of securing enforcement hereof, is given the right to enter upon any public or private property in the incorporated area of the city. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 2), 1964)

6.16.030 Construction--Maintenance--Occupation.

It is unlawful to construct, reconstruct or maintain or to begin the operation of or to operate a camp space upon any public or private property in the incorporated area of the city except as otherwise specified in this chapter; and it is unlawful to occupy for living or sleeping purposes or to reside in any camp space without permission so to do from the owner or person legally in charge of such camp space or the land upon which it is located; and in any prosecution for the violation of this chapter the burden of proving such permission shall rest upon the person or persons so occupying such camp space and in the absence of such permission such camp space shall be declared to be a squatter camp, as defined in this chapter, and shall be vacated when so ordered by the city health department, it being the expressed intention of this chapter that no squatter camp shall be permitted to exist in the incorporated area of the city. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 3), 1964)

6.16.040 Application.

“The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to every camp space and squatter camp in the incorporated area Of the city, and it is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation maintaining, operating, conducting or carrying on, or for any person residing in any camp space or squatter camp, or any other person, to violate or to contribute in any way to the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, provided, the city health officer may grant special exemption permits in isolated localities where the application of this chapter or any of the provisions thereof would, in his discretion, be impracticable or unnecessary and where the granting of such exemption would in no way jeopardize the health and safety of the community. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 4), 1964)

6.16.050 Nonapplicable to public areas owned by government.

The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to apply to any supervised public park or public camp or picnic ground owned and maintained by the Federal Government, the state of California, or any agency of the state nor by any political subdivision or municipality. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 5), 1964)

6.16.060 Caretaker required on camp space with four or more families.

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to maintain, conduct or carry on, or cause or permit to be maintained, conducted or carried on any camp space in which four or more families reside unless, in the absence therefrom of the owner, lessee or operator, such premises be provided with a caretaker. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 6), 1964)

6.16.070 Owner to maintain camp space--Prohibited habitations.

It shall be the duty of the owner or person legally in charge of the land upon which any camp space is located or of the operator or person in charge of such camp space to see that all of the tents and equipment in connection therewith are maintained in good repair. No habitations or shelters constructed of sacks, rags, cans, weeds or refuse materials, or any combination of the foregoing shall be permitted in any camp space and it shall be the duty of the owner or person legally in charge of the land upon which any camp space is located, or of the operator or person in charge of such camp space where any such construction exists, to have it removed from the premises or demolished. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 7), 1964)

6.16.080 Sanitation--Fire hazards.

Every camp car or trailer, tent or other habitation in a camp space and all of the premises thereof shall be kept clean and sanitary in every part and free from accumulation of debris, refuse, filth, rubbish, garbage or other offensive matter. No material that would create a fire hazard shall be kept or stored upon the premises of any camp space. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 8), 1964)

6.16.090 Garbage receptacles.

An adequate number of covered water-tight and fly-tight metal receptacles for garbage and rubbish shall be provided and shall be conspicuously and conveniently located in every camp space. The contents of such receptacles shall be disposed of at frequent intervals in a sanitary manner. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 9), 1964)

6.16.100 Water.

A supply of water safe for human consumption shall be provided for domestic purposes in sufficient quantity to meet the requirements of the maximum number of persons living in a camp space at any one time. The water supply shall be easily obtainable from its source, or through a pipe distribution system in which faucets shall in no event be located more than 50feet from any camping party within a camp space. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 10), 1964)

6.16.110 Flush toilet.

There shall be provided in every camp space one water flush toilet or other adequate facility approved by the city health department for sewage disposal. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 11), 1964)

6.16.120 Dogs running at large.

Dogs shall at no time be permitted to run at large in any camp space. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 12), 1964)

6.16.130 Nuisance declared--Notice from health officer.

Any camp space which does not conform to this chapter is a public nuisance if not made to conform within two days or such longer period of time allowed by the city health officer after written notice given by him to the owner or operator of such camp space. (Ord. 8 Sec. 2 (County Ord. 338 13), 1964)