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9.08.090 Camping, lodging, sleeping overnight on public property.

        No person shall camp, lodge, or sleep overnight in any public park, public beach or public street (including in a vehicle parked on a public street) provided that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit camping in public campgrounds under a permit authorized by other provisions of law or ordinance.

        “Camp” shall mean residing in or using any park, public street, or public beach for living accommodation purposes, as exemplified by remaining for prolonged or repetitious periods of time associated with ordinary recreational use of a park or public beach or ordinary use of public street, with one’s personal possessions (including, but not limited to, clothing, sleeping bags, bed rolls, blankets, sheets, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, cookware, and similar materials) sleeping or making preparations to sleep, storing personal belongings as above defined, regularly cooking or consuming meals or living in a parked vehicle. These activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears in light of all the circumstances that a person is using a park as a living accommodation regardless of his or her intent or the nature of any other activities in which he or she might also be engaged in.

        Unless this final paragraph of this section is subsequently repealed, no person who does not have access to adequate temporary shelter shall be arrested or subjected to imprisonment solely for sitting, lying, or sleeping on public property if the prohibition against such activity is exempted from enforcement by the provisions of Section 8.36.050 of this code. (Ord. 492 § 4, 2021; Ord. 233 § 1, 2001; prior code § 4111.5)