No Camp or Camping shall be allowed without a valid Camping Permit or outside of any designated Camp Grounds.
A. Permit Required. Without a valid Camping Permit or Vehicle Camping provided by this Chapter it shall be a violation for any person to camp or to store personal property, including camp facilities or camp paraphernalia in any public park, street, or public property improved or unimproved.
B. Camping Permit and Vehicle Permit. The Town Commissioners are hereby authorized to adopt by Resolution such other and further administrative rules, regulations, process or procedures to administer this Chapter, including the authority to issue Camping Permits. Any such rules, regulations, process or procedures shall comply with the following minimum requirements:
1. That Camping Permits are issued free of charge;
2. That the Camping Permits must be displayed in a conspicuous manner;
3. That the Camping Permits shall require the applicant to provide a name and valid identification in the form of driver’s license, state issued identification or other reliable proof of identification;
4. That the applicant be advised that any unlawful activity or conduct shall result in the revocation of any Camping Permit;
5. That the Camping Permit shall not be for any period of time exceeding any forty-eight (48) hour period.
C. That Camping is not permitted during the hours of eight o’clock (8:00) A.M. through ten o’clock (10:00) P.M. Mountain Standard Time; and shall provide that the applicant receive a copy of this Chapter and the Penalty Section. The Camping Permit shall show or describe by map or other reasonable means the Camp Grounds where Camping is permitted.
D. Camp Grounds. At the time of the adoption of this Chapter/Ordinance 2022-153 , the Town Commissioners hereby designate the Northern area of vacant land on which Ennis Town Hall is located as the only allowable Camp Grounds in the Town of Ennis. The Town shall designate with appropriate signage or other means the boundaries of the Camp Grounds where Camping by permit shall be allowed. The Town Commissioners are hereby authorized by Resolution to designate as deemed reasonable and necessary any Town owned or controlled park or property as an area for permitted Camping, except Lion’s Park.
E. Lion’s Park. Lion’s Park shall not be used for Camping by permit or otherwise. The Town Commissioners shall have no authority to designate Lion’s Park as Camp Grounds by Resolution. Use of Lion’s Park as a Camp Ground shall only be allowed by amendment to this Chapter.
F. Open Display of Alcohol or Drugs. Open display, consumption or use of alcohol, beer, drugs, marijuana, cannabis products, or any controlled substances shall not be allowed, hereafter “open display.” Open display is a violation of this Chapter.
G. Sanitation. All persons Camping, Storing goods or maintaining a Camp shall be required to keep the Camp site in a reasonably clean and sanitary condition, free of unsightly, noxious or odorous refuse, garbage, waste or debris. Failure to maintain proper sanitation as required is a violation of this Chapter.
H. Vehicle Camping. Vehicle Camping by permit may be allowed subject to all the conditions of this Chapter, including any Administrative Rules that shall require that any vehicle used for Vehicle Camping be registered, licensed and insured.
I. Unlawful Conduct. No person or persons Camping by permit or otherwise shall commit or attempt to commit any crimes or engage in any criminal conduct as defined by Montana Code Annotated Title 45 Crimes, Chapters 1 - 10. Commission or attempted commission of any crimes or criminal conduct is a violation of this Chapter, and may result in separate criminal prosecution in accordance with MCA. (Ord. 153, 12-8-2022; amd. Ord. 155-2023, 7-27-2023)