A. 
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, general welfare, and economic health and well-being of the city, its residents, and its visitors by making city public property readily accessible to the public, and to prevent the uses of public property which interfere with the rights of others to use public property for which it is intended and to prevent harm to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
B. 
It is also the purpose of this chapter to provide for and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the general public and not to create, either expressly or implicitly, or otherwise establish or designate any particular class or group of persons or individuals who will or should be especially protected or benefited or discriminated against by the terms of this chapter.
C. 
For purposes of interpreting this chapter, if any definition, requirement, or provision in this chapter conflicts with those in a different provision or chapter of the Milton Municipal Code, the definition, requirement, or provision in this chapter shall apply.
(Ord. 2068 § 3, 2023)
"Camp"
means to pitch, erect, or occupy camp facilities, or to use camp paraphernalia, or both, for the purpose of, or in such a way as will facilitate, remaining overnight or parking a vehicle for the purpose of occupying the vehicle overnight. The term shall not include overnight use of public property by the city or the governmental entity that owns or has a property interest in such public property.
"Camp facilities"
means, without limitation, tents, huts, and temporary shelters.
"Camp paraphernalia"
means, without limitation, blankets, pillows, tarpaulins, cots, beds or bedding, sleeping bags, hammocks, non-city designated cooking facilities, and/or other similar equipment.
"City"
means the city of Milton, Washington, the area within the territorial limits of the city, and such territory outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional, statutory, or regulatory provisions.
"Park"
means any public area created, established, designated, maintained, provided, or set aside by the city for the purposes of public rest, play, recreation, enjoyment, or assembly, and all buildings, facilities, and structures located thereon or therein, as well as all associated areas, including parking lots.
"Public property"
means all property in which the city or any other governmental entity has a property interest, including easements. The term includes, without limitation, all parks, piers, streets, public rights-of-way, trails, forests, park museums, pools, beaches, open spaces, public squares, public schools and associated athletic facilities, grounds around city or other publicly owned or leased buildings, including but not limited to parking lots, and any other property in which the city or any other governmental entity has a property interest of any type.
"Store"
means to put aside, accumulate, or leave on public property for later use, or for safekeeping.
"Street"
means, without limitation, any easements, highway, lane, road, street, right-of-way, boulevard, alley, and all public property open as a matter of right to public vehicle travel or parking.
"Vehicle"
means any device capable of being moved or parked upon public property and in, upon, or by which any person(s) or property is or may be moved, parked, transported, or drawn, including, without limitation, all forms of automotive vehicles, buses, trucks, cars, vans, campers, trailers, boats or any other vehicle on trailers, recreational vehicles, and mobile homes of any size, whether capable of supplying their own motor power or not. The term "vehicle" includes all such devices even if immobilized in any way and/or for any period of time.
(Ord. 2068 § 3, 2023; Ord. 2128-25, 11/17/2025)
It shall be unlawful for any person to store personal property, including, without limitation, camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, upon or within any public property. This section shall not apply to vehicles, including trailers, recreational vehicles, and campers, which are unoccupied and parked in rights-of-way, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
(Ord. 2068 § 3, 2023)
Any violation of MMC § 9.55.030 or 9.55.040 is a misdemeanor offense and shall be punished upon conviction of such violation by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 2068 § 3, 2023; Ord. 2128-25, 11/17/2025)
A. 
City personnel may not cite or arrest an individual for violation of MMC § 9.55.030, unless city personnel previously found the individual camping upon or within public property at least 24 hours beforehand and was warned by city personnel to stop doing so.
B. 
City personnel may not cite or arrest an individual for violation of MMC § 9.55.040, unless city personnel previously advised the owner of the personal property to remove said property at least 24 hours beforehand.
C. 
Whenever city personnel contacts an individual on suspicion that he or she is or has violated MMC § 9.55.030 or 9.55.040, city personnel shall attempt to supply the individual with information concerning local shelter and housing resources.
D. 
Notwithstanding subsections A and B of this section, city personnel may immediately arrest an individual in violation of MMC § 9.55.030 or 9.55.040, if the individual or its personal property presents an immediate hazard, significantly interferes with pedestrian or transportation use of public right-of-way, or interferes with areas necessary for or essential to the intended uses of public property or a public facility.
(Ord. 2068 § 3, 2023; Ord. 2128-25, 11/17/2025)
The chief of police is hereby authorized to adopt reasonable rules, regulations, administrative policies, and procedures for implementing this chapter.
(Ord. 2068 § 3, 2023)