The purpose of this chapter is to maintain streets, parks and other public and private areas within the city in a clean, sanitary and accessible condition and to adequately protect the health, safety and public welfare of the community, while recognizing that, subject to reasonable conditions, camping and camp facilities associated with special events can be beneficial to the cultural and educational climate in the city. Nothing in this chapter is intended to interfere with otherwise lawful and ordinary uses of public or private property.
(Ord. 14-334 § 1)
Unless the particular provisions or the context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this section shall govern the construction, meaning, and application of words and phrases used in this chapter.
"Camp"
means to place, pitch or occupy camp facilities, to live temporarily in a camp facility or outdoors, to use camp paraphernalia.
"Camp facilities"
include, but are not limited to, tents, huts, vehicles, recreational vehicles and travel trailers, vehicle camping outfits or temporary shelter.
"Camp paraphernalia"
includes, but is not limited to, bedrolls, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks or cooking facilities and similar equipment.
"City manager"
means the city manager or designee.
"Establish"
means setting up or moving equipment, supplies or materials on to public or private property to "camp" or operate camp facilities.
"Exigent circumstances"
means any emergency situation requiring swift action to prevent imminent danger to the health, safety, or life of a person or serious damage to property or to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or destruction of evidence or maintain public or private right of access to sidewalks, utility easements, streets, roads, trails, levees, and designated parking areas.
"Government-issued identification card"
means any identification card issued by a county, state, or federal government.
"Maintain"
means keeping or permitting equipment, supplies or materials to remain on public or private property in order to camp or operate camp facilities.
"Operate"
means participating or assisting in establishing or maintaining a camp or camp facility.
"Park"
means the same as defined in Section 12.22.010 of the Lathrop Municipal Code.
"Private property"
means all private property including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalk, alleys, and improved or unimproved land.
"Public property"
means all public property as defined in Section 12.04.020 of the Lathrop Municipal Code including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, alleys, improved or unimproved land and parks.
"Store"
means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.
"Street"
means the same as defined in the California Vehicle Code.
(Ord. 14-334 § 1; Ord. 16-367 § 1; Ord. 25-462, 2/10/2025)
It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia in the following areas:
A. 
Any public property except when the person is sitting or lying on public property between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day; or
B. 
Any private residential property without the consent of owner; or
C. 
Any private nonresidential property without the written consent of the owner.
D. 
It is not intended by this section to prohibit overnight camping on private residential property by friends or family of the property owner, so long as the owner consents and the overnight camping is limited to not more than two consecutive nights and not for commercial use. Overnight camping shall not exceed 14 nights in a calendar year. No water hose, sewer hose (to discharge waste), electrical cord, pipe, wire, or other device extending from the vehicle may be permitted.
E. 
Nothing in this chapter is intended to prohibit or make unlawful, activities of an owner of private property or other lawful user of private property that are normally associated with and incidental to the lawful and authorized use of private property for residential or other purposes; and provided further, nothing is intended to prohibit or make unlawful, activities of a property owner or other lawful user if such activities are expressly authorized by the city's comprehensive zoning ordinance or other laws, ordinances and regulations.
F. 
The city manager may, as provided in Section 8.40.050 of this chapter, issue a temporary permit to allow camping on public property in connection with a special event.
This section does not affect Section 12.20.010, which prohibits remaining, staying, or loitering on any public park outside of operating hours, which are dawn to dusk unless otherwise permitted by the city, but does not prohibit sleeping in a public park during hours of operation.
(Ord. 14-334 § 1; Ord. 16-367 § 1; Ord. 25-462, 2/10/2025)
It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to store personal property, including camp paraphernalia, in the following areas, except as otherwise provided by resolution of the city council:
A. 
Any public property; or
B. 
Any private property without the consent of the owner.
Law enforcement shall not remove personal property from any public property without providing 72 hours' written notice unless there are exigent circumstances. After providing written notice, any personal property removed from public property shall be stored for 90 days from the date of removal except for government-issued identification cards, which shall be stored for one year from the date of removal. Personal property that is removed from public property can be reclaimed by contacting the telephone number listed on the written notice or appearing personally at the Lathrop police department located at 15597 Seventh Street in Lathrop, California during regular business hours.
(Ord. 14-334 § 1; Ord. 16-367 § 1)
The city manager in his or her discretion, issue a permit to establish, maintain and operate a camp or a camp facility in connection with a special event on public property. A special event is intended to include, but not be limited to, programs operated by the departments of the city, youth or school events, marathons or other sporting events and scouting activities. The city manager may consult with various city departments, the health officer and the public prior to issuing any temporary permit. Each department or person consulted may provide comments regarding any health, safety or public welfare concerns and provide recommendations pertaining to the issuance, denial or conditioning of the permit. In exercising his or her discretion to issue a temporary permit, the city manager may consider any facts or evidence bearing on the sanitary, health, safety and welfare conditions on or surrounding the area or tract of land upon which the proposed temporary camp or camp facility is to be located.
Any person who establishes, maintains or operates a camp or camp facility on public property without a permit is guilty of a misdemeanor and constitutes a public nuisance. In addition to remedies provided in Penal Code Section 370 the city attorney may institute civil actions to abate a public nuisance under this chapter.
(Ord. 14-334 § 1)
It is unlawful for any person to establish, maintain, conduct or carry on any camp or camp facility on public property unless there shall be at all times posted in a conspicuous place upon the area or tract of land upon which the camp or camp facility is located a permit obtained from the city manager in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.40.050 of this chapter.
(Ord. 14-334 § 1)
Neither the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter nor the repeal hereby of any ordinance shall in any manner affect the prosecution for violation of ordinances, which violations were committed prior to the effective date hereof, nor be construed as affecting any of the provisions of such ordinance relating to the collection of any such license or penalty or the penal provision applicable to any violation thereof, nor to affect the validity of any bond or cash deposit in lieu thereof, required to be posted, filed or deposited pursuant to any ordinance, and all rights and obligations thereunder appertaining shall continue in full force and effect.
(Ord. 14-334 § 1)
A violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor. In addition to the remedies set forth in Penal Code Section 370, the city attorney may institute civil actions to abate a public nuisance under this chapter.
(Ord. 14-334 § 1)