The purpose of this chapter is to protect public and private property within the City from the destruction that accompanies camping. It also is enacted to ensure that proper health and safety accommodations be provided to those who do camp. It is enacted to prevent degradation of public and private lands and assure that such lands can be utilized for their intended purpose. The City Council enacts the ordinance codified in this chapter in accordance with the authority granted to cities by Article XI, Section 11 of the California Constitution.
(Prior code § 7-1)
For purposes of this chapter, "camping" is defined as residing on or using any City-owned public or private property at night for living accommodation purposes, such as sleeping activities or making preparations to sleep (including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping); or storing personal belongings (including, but not limited to, clothing, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, cookware, and similar material); or making any fire or using any tents; regularly cooking meals; or living in a parked vehicle. These activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that a person(s) is using public or private property as a living accommodation, with the intent to camp.
(Prior code § 7-2)
A. 
Except as may be permitted within parks by the Community Services Director, it is unlawful to camp upon any public property owned by the City, including, without limitation, streets, easements, parks, dump sites, creek beds, sidewalks, alleyways, drainage channels, storm drain ponds, well sites electric utility substations, parking lots, corporation yards, and buildings, including the curtilage of such buildings. No person shall set up upon any City property tents, shacks, house trailers, motor homes, campers, or any other temporary or permanent shelter for the purpose of camping, nor shall any person leave in any such place any movable structure or special vehicle to be used for the purpose of camping, such as a house trailer, tent, automobile, or the like. It is a violation of this section to set up provisions for the purpose of camping such as a house trailer, tent, automobile, or similar structure.
Setting up any provision or structure with the intent to camp, regardless of whether a full night is actually spent at the location, shall constitute a violation of this section.
B. 
It is unlawful for any person to obstruct, or otherwise interfere with the free passage of pedestrians or motorists from ingress and egress on any public street, sidewalk, alleyway, or other public property within the City by camping or placing stored personal property thereon.
(Prior code § 7-3; Ord. 1725, 11/5/2024; Ord. 1747, 2/3/2026)
A. 
Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful to camp upon private property within the City. No person shall set up upon any private property tents, shacks, campers or any other temporary or permanent shelter for the purpose of camping, nor shall any person leave upon any private property any movable structures or special vehicle to be used for such a purpose, such as a tent or automobile or similar structure. Violation of this section shall be charged as a misdemeanor.
B. 
Exceptions. This section shall not apply to persons camping upon their own land or camping with the owner of the land, or to persons camping with the written consent of the owner of the land; provided, that such written consent is in their possession at the time and is shown upon demand of any peace officer; and provided that all local zoning ordinances of the City and County are met and all Health Code sections of the State are complied with. This section shall not apply to persons lawfully camping within campgrounds or trailer parks specifically designated and/or approved for such use pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance of the City.
(Prior code § 7-4; Ord. 1747, 2/3/2026)
No person shall kindle or maintain an open campfire, bonfire, or flame.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit fires otherwise prohibited by law or to negate the requirement for burning permits otherwise required by law.
(Prior code § 7-5; Ord. 1725, 11/5/2024)
It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to deposit, leave, or maintain stored personal property on public property or private property without the consent of the property owner.
Stored personal property left on public or private property in violation of this section may be impounded pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1725, 11/5/2024)
A. 
The Police Chief, or his or her designee, is authorized to impound stored personal property located on public property or private property pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The Police Chief is authorized to adopt written policies and procedures to implement provisions of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit or otherwise interfere with State law regarding the impounding of evidence related to a crime.
B. 
Stored personal property may be impounded and disposed of without notice if there is a cause to reasonably believe that the stored property is:
1. 
Perishable;
2. 
Contaminated with feces, urine, or bodily fluid;
3. 
Infested with insects;
4. 
Contaminated with mold or mildew;
5. 
Intentionally discarded/abandoned;
6. 
An immediate threat to public health or safety.
C. 
Actual notice shall be deemed provided by placing on or near the stored personal property a writing containing the following information:
1. 
Description of the stored personal property;
2. 
Location of the stored personal property;
3. 
Date and time of notice;
4. 
Notification that the stored personal property is done so in violation of Section 9.48.060 of the Woodland Municipal Code and will be impounded by the City if the stored property is not removed within the compliance period of the notice.
D. 
Posted notice shall be deemed provided by erecting at least one sign in a conspicuous place providing notice that any stored personal property found in a described area may be removed, and impounded if not claimed and removed within the stated compliance period. The sign shall provide contact information where a person may retrieve their personal property impounded.
E. 
After the notice period has expired, the stored personal property shall be deemed abandoned and may be impounded. Prior to impounding stored personal property, the City will provide notice in a conspicuous place at or near where the stored personal property was located with the following information:
1. 
A general description of the stored personal property;
2. 
The location of the stored personal property;
3. 
The date and time the notice was placed; and
4. 
A statement that the stored personal property has been impounded by the City and the process to re-claim.
(Ord. 1725, 11/5/2024)
A. 
Stored personal property that is impounded pursuant to this chapter shall be stored by the City for a period of 90 days. If the owner of the stored personal property is reasonably ascertainable, the Police Chief, or his or her designee, shall make best efforts to promptly notify the owner of the procedure to claim his or her personal property.
B. 
The Police Chief, or his or her designee, shall return the stored personal property to its owner upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of ownership.
C. 
In the event the stored personal property is not claimed within 90 days, it may be subject to disposition per Police Department policy.
(Ord. 1725, 11/5/2024)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, any person in violation of any section of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 1725, 11/5/2024)