(A) Personal use of private residential property for camping may only be by the property owner or by others with the owner's written consent and without any form of compensation.
(B) Such use shall not exceed seven consecutive days in duration, except during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when such use shall not exceed 14 consecutive days in duration.
(C) Camping may not occur more than four times per calendar year.
(D) A minimum of 14 days is required between each camping period.
(E) The prohibition set forth in this section does not apply to:
(1) Mobile home parks and special occupancy parks operating in accordance with the San Gabriel Municipal Code;
(2) Camping on public or private property pursuant to a permit issued by the city; and
(3) Day use for lawful activities on public property pursuant to a permit issued by the city.
(F) In addition to any other applicable requirements of the San Gabriel Municipal Code, camping pursuant to this section shall comply with all of the following operational requirements pertaining to camping:
(1) Portable restrooms with toilet facilities must be provided and accessible to campers on the private property and must comply with the California Plumbing Code. Restrooms at city-owned parks do not qualify for use by campers on private property.
(2) Trash receptacles sufficient for the number of campers must be provided.
(3) The private property where camping occurs must be kept in a clean and sanitary manner.
(4) Trash and debris must be removed when camping ceases and must be disposed of in trash receptacles.
(5) Any outdoor storage of camping paraphernalia shall not be permitted when not in use by campers.
(6) Within the jurisdiction of the city, no permanent structures shall be permitted in the floodplain, including, but not limited to, fencing.
(7) Any use or placement of electrical cords shall be above the floodplain, if applicable.
(8) All parking shall be on paved surfaces only and above the floodplain.
(G) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, camping shall not be permitted where such use violates any provision of this Code, adopted codes or state law.
(H) No person or persons shall stand, sit, linger, idle, or loiter on any public property, or in or about the entrance or exit of any business establishment, either on foot or in an automobile or other vehicle, in such a manner as to obstruct or hinder the free passage of persons through such public property, or obstruct or hinder persons entering and exiting from any business establishment, or in such a manner as to create a health or safety hazard for the community or for the patrons of such public place. No person in violation of this prohibition shall refuse or fail to disperse or move on when directed to do so by a police officer or other city employee.
(I) No person shall walk, stand, sit, or lie upon any monument, vase, decorative fountain, drinking fountain, bike rack, trash receptacle, fire hydrant, street-tree planter, utility cabinet, railing, fence, planter, or upon any other public property not designed or customarily used for such purposes.
(J) Public urination and defecation prohibited. No person shall urinate or defecate on private property in any area exposed to the public view, or on any public property owned, controlled and/or operated by the city, county or any public agency, except when using a urinal, toilet, or commode located in a bathroom, restroom, or other structure specifically designated for the purpose of urination and defecation.
(K) Enforcement. Law enforcement officers shall not enforce this camping section when the individual is on public property and there is no available overnight shelter.
(1) The term "available overnight shelter" is a public or private shelter, with an available overnight space, for an individual experiencing homelessness, at no charge.
(2) Police or their designee shall initiate contact with the shelters to determine whether the shelters have available space and, if so, the number of available sleeping spaces. Prior to issuing any citation, a police officer shall also confirm that a shelter has available space that can be utilized by that particular individual. No police officer shall issue a citation to a homeless person sleeping, lying, sitting, or camping outdoors unless the officer first confirms the shelter has available space that can be utilized by the individual.
(L) Penalty. It is unlawful for any person to violate any provision or to fail to comply with any of the requirements of this section. A violation of any of the provisions of failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor; except that notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any such violation constituting a misdemeanor under this section may, at the discretion of the City Attorney or the citing officer on the scene, be charged and prosecuted as an infraction.
(Ord. 688, passed 5-2-23)