The public roads, parks, recreation areas, open spaces and public property within the City should be readily accessible to residents and the public at large. The use of these areas for camping purposes interferes with the rights of others to use these areas for the purposes for which they were intended and can create public health and safety risks for the residents and detrimental impacts to the environment. The purpose of Sections 12.01.010 through 12.01.050 is to maintain public property in a safe, clean, and accessible condition for the benefit of the public at large.
(Ord. 23-06 § 2)
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 Sections 12.01.010 through 12.01.050.
“Camp”
means to set up, pitch, occupy, or leave behind camp facilities or to use camp paraphernalia.
“Camp facilities”
includes, but is not limited to, tents, shacks, huts or temporary shelters, structures or specialty vehicles (including, but not limited to, house trailers, camp trailers, camp wagons, and any other mobile or stationary campers), each of which are used or could be used for overnight camping.
“Camp paraphernalia”
includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, hammocks or non-City designated cooking facilities, including, but not limited to, fueled cooking equipment, flammable gas canisters, combustible liquid containers, or similar items.
“City”
means the City of Goleta.
“High fire area”
means those City-owned parcels that are included in or adjacent to a wildfire hazard area in the City’s current Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which may be amended from time to time by Council resolution.
“Public property”
means all property owned or controlled by the City.
“Road”
means the same as defined in Vehicle Code Section 527.
“Temporary shelter”
means any shelter not authorized by, or approved by, the City.
“Vehicle”
means the same as defined in Vehicle Code Section 670.
(Ord. 23-06 § 2)
A. 
It is unlawful for any person to camp, whether inside or outside of a vehicle in or on any:
1. 
Public road.
2. 
City-owned building or parking lots, except that vehicles may be parked in and used for overnight sleeping in parking lots on City owned property if the following conditions are met:
a) 
The City has entered into a management agreement under which the contracting party agrees to assume administration and management of a program to oversee such use of City-owned property; and
b) 
The management agreement referenced above satisfies all City concerns regarding liability, due process, evictions, fair housing notice and employee safety, and specifically states the location and number of vehicles permitted at that location; and
c) 
All vehicle occupants enter into a written agreement with the contracting party in a form approved by the City and comply with all terms and conditions of that agreement.
3. 
All other public property, including but not limited to, high fire areas, parks, open space, or creeks;
4. 
Private property, unless:
a) 
Located in a Recreational Vehicle Park as defined by Goleta Municipal Code Chapter 17.72 or as allowed for living purposes not exceeding 14 days in a six-month period as more particularly described in Goleta Municipal Code section 17.38.080; or
b) 
Temporary Overnight Camping License. The activity of using or occupying of a vehicle for living or overnight camping, living or sleeping purposes shall be allowed if such activity occurs within a parking area of real property owned or leased by a property owner who has obtained a temporary overnight camping license from the Neighborhood Services Department pursuant to the requirements defined in Section 12.01.035.
B. 
Except in exigent circumstances involving a threat to life, safety, health, or infrastructure, City officials, or any agent acting on their behalf, shall make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter and supportive services to persons in violation of this chapter prior to enforcement. Enforcement shall occur in the manner provided in the policies or guidelines, including those issued by the Department of Neighborhood Services pursuant to Section 12.01.050 of this Code.
C. 
Fires. No person shall build, maintain or light an open fire on any public property except within those facilities and/or areas provided and designated for that purpose by the City or otherwise allowed by the City or other applicable law. In addition to all available enforcement methods under the Municipal Code, notwithstanding Section 12.01.030(B) above, such illegal fire shall be immediately abated. Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the Public Works Director or designee.
(Ord. 23-06 § 2; Ord. 25-07, 10/7/2025; Ord. 25-08, 11/18/2025)
A temporary overnight camping license shall be issued by the Neighborhood Services Department and considered valid, subject to the requirements of this section.
A. 
License Requirements and Conditions. A property owner, or nonprofit organization with written permission from a property owner, may apply for a license to the Neighborhood Services Department to allow the activity of overnight camping, occupying, living, or sleeping in a vehicle on a portion of real property that is designated for vehicular parking as an interim housing alternative, provided that the following conditions are met:
1. 
Any vehicle used for overnight accommodation shall be removed from the property at the time specified in the temporary overnight vehicle camping license issued to the property owner;
2. 
The use of the property for overnight vehicular camping must not conflict with express conditions imposed by the City on a use permit for the use of the real property;
3. 
The licensee must make adequate and sanitary bathroom facilities and garbage disposal services available on-site to the occupants of the vehicle;
4. 
The number of vehicles allowed at any one time shall be specified and shall be determined based on the size of the parking area available for such activity, but in no event shall the number of vehicles exceed the number of parking spaces available on the property;
5. 
Each vehicle shall not be allowed to be parked less than 50 feet from the property line of any real property being used for any residential purpose;
6. 
The vehicle must be properly and currently licensed for operation on the highway in accordance with the California Vehicle Code;
7. 
The vehicle occupant(s) shall not allow persons not authorized by the licensee to enter onto the property;
8. 
No fee, rent or other legal consideration shall be received by the licensee for the overnight camping activity; however, the occupant of a vehicle may serve as night-time security personnel on the property;
9. 
A temporary overnight camping license has been obtained pursuant to this section and all conditions, restrictions, and limitations pursuant to this section have been satisfied;
10. 
The property owner has agreed to assume administration and management of the use of the property for temporary overnight camping pursuant to the temporary overnight camping license or has entered into a management agreement with the licensee under which the licensee agrees to assume administration and management of a program to oversee such use of the property pursuant to the temporary overnight camping license.
B. 
Application for Temporary Overnight Camping License. The Neighborhood Services Department may issue a license, subject to the following conditions for application being met:
1. 
The applicant for the license shall be the property owner or their designee, with written permission from the property owner to apply for the license;
2. 
The applicant shall file with the City a completed City application form providing the proposed location where the vehicles will be located and all additional information requested;
3. 
The applicant shall pay any application fee for cost recovery that the City may require as established by City Council resolution;
4. 
The temporary overnight camping license may be renewed following administrative review by the Neighborhood Services Department. In order for the Neighborhood Services Department to renew the license, the licensee must submit an annual report for the temporary overnight parking site to the Neighborhood Services Department, at least one month prior to the date the license was originally issued. The annual report shall include information regarding the number of persons served by the site, known outcomes of persons served by the site, measures taken to comply with this section, and any violations of this section and actions taken by the licensee to resolve such violations. The Neighborhood Services Department may refuse to renew any license which is associated with violations of the Goleta Municipal Code, state, or federal law that remain uncured at the time the annual report is due, including the failure to submit an annual report.
C. 
Grounds for Denial or Revocation of License. The Neighborhood Services Department may deny or revoke a temporary overnight camping license for any of the following reasons:
1. 
The activity is incompatible with the uses of properties within a 300-foot radius of the subject parcel;
2. 
The activity constitutes or has resulted in a nuisance or any other threat to public health, safety, or welfare; or
3. 
Any condition of the license has been violated, the operator has been given written notice of the violation, and fails to cure the violation within the time period established by the condition itself, or if there is no cure period set in the condition, as reasonably determined by the Neighborhood Services Department upon discovery of the violation; or
4. 
For license denials only, the Neighborhood Services Department determines, in its reasonable discretion, that a sufficient number of temporary overnight parking licenses have been granted to accommodate the number of persons needing temporary overnight parking accommodations in the City. A license shall not be revoked by the Neighborhood Services Department on this basis.
D. 
Hearing and Appeal on License Decision. Any party may file a written request for a hearing before the Director of Neighborhood Services within 10 days following a decision by the City to grant, deny or revoke a temporary overnight camping license. The public shall be provided notice of the hearing in compliance with State law. The hearing shall be opened no more than 45 days following the request for hearing being received by the City. A decision shall be made by Director of Neighborhood Services within 10 days of the hearing. Any decision of the Director of Neighborhood Services regarding denial of an application for a temporary overnight camping license may be appealed to the Homelessness Issues Standing Committee by filing a written appeal with the Neighborhood Services Department within 10 days of the Director of Neighborhood Services Decision. The decision of the Homelessness Issues Standing Committee is final.
E. 
Issuance upon Grant of License Application. A temporary overnight camping license shall be issued on a form approved by the City. The license shall be issued and valid only for the specific activity and property and under such conditions as indicated on the license.
(Ord. 12-04 § 3; Ord. 25-07, 10/7/2025)
Notwithstanding the prohibition against sleeping on a public road as set forth in this chapter, it is not the intent of Sections 12.01.010 through 12.01.050 to prohibit persons, when necessary for their safety or the safety of others, to pull off the public road and sleep, whether inside or outside their vehicles.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)
The terms and provisions of Sections 12.01.010 through 12.01.050 shall be implemented and enforced by the Neighborhood Services Department and the Police Chief or by any other peace officer, including city police officers. The Neighborhood Services Department is authorized to issue policies or guidelines, in consultation with the City Attorney's Office, as necessary to implement this Ordinance and its purposes, or to enforce this Ordinance in a manner consistent with state or federal law.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1; Ord. 12-02 § 19; Ord. 25-08, 11/18/2025)
A. 
The term "watercourses" means a natural or artificial channel through which water flows, and includes but is not limited to, streams, creeks, arroyos, gulches, washes and the beds thereof, whether containing water or dry.
B. 
It is unlawful for any person to construct or maintain, or to permit to be constructed or maintained, in or within 150 feet of any watercourse, any building or structure without a permit or license issued by the City.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1; Ord. 25-08, 11/18/2025)
It is unlawful for any person to dump or place, or to permit to be dumped or placed, deposited or accumulated in any watercourse, on private property, any debris, garbage, rubbish, trash, brush, timber, waste products or any combustible or incombustible material or commodities whatsoever, which obstructs, prevents, diverts, or tends to obstruct, prevent or divert the normal, natural or ordinary flow of water in such water course, or which at any time may be in such water course.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a peace officer acting in his or her official line of duty, to shoot, fire or discharge, or for any person to cause or permit to be shot, fired or discharged in any location within the City lying within one-half mile of the boundaries of any school, college or university, any rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver or other firearm, except when it may be necessary to do so to protect life or property or to destroy or kill any predatory or dangerous animal, or except at any established shooting range.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)
The City Council hereby finds and determines as follows:
A. 
It is the policy of the City that the public beaches, parks and places hereof shall be available for the use and enjoyment of the public to the maximum extent possible.
B. 
It is further the policy of the City that members of the public are entitled to use the public beaches, parks and places hereof without being subjected to potentially offensive conduct by other members of the public.
C. 
The presence of persons in a state of nudity in public places, places open to the public, and places open to public view whether such places are publicly or privately owned, tends to discourage the use and enjoyment of the public beaches, parks and places of this City, creates a nuisance, and may be offensive to members of the public who wish to use and enjoy such public beaches, parks and places.
D. 
The presence of persons in a state of nudity in public places, places open to the public, and places open to public view whether such places are publicly or privately owned, may be offensive to persons residing in the vicinity of such places and interferes with such residents’ comfortable enjoyment of their property.
E. 
The presence of persons in a state of nudity in public places, places open to the public and places open to public view whether such places are publicly or privately owned, creates a nuisance and is offensive as set forth hereinabove even when such nudity is not sexually motivated and is not otherwise lewd.
F. 
The prohibition of nude persons from public places, places open to the public, and places open to public view whether such places are publicly or privately owned is necessary to preserve and maintain the public order and the general welfare of the citizens of this City.
G. 
It is the intent of the City Council to prohibit nudity in public places, places open to the public, and places open to public view whether such places are publicly or privately owned, even when such nudity is not sexually motivated or otherwise lewd.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)
A. 
It is hereby declared a public nuisance and unlawful for any person to appear on any beach, park, street or in any other public place or place open to the public or exposed to public view, including specifically a view from any private residence or any portion of the real property in the immediate vicinity of such private residence, whether such place is publicly or privately owned, unclothed or in such a state of undress as to expose, in the case of a female, any portion of her breasts below the areolas thereof or in the case of any male or female, any part of his or her pubic or anal region or genitalia.
B. 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any acts which take place wholly within a fully enclosed building or any portion thereof; and nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit any act or acts which are expressly authorized or prohibited by the California Penal Code.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)
The City Council hereby finds and determines as follows:
A. 
In several locations, unimproved areas of land exist in close proximity to lands developed for residential use.
B. 
Persons lawfully occupying lands for residential purpose have the right to quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their homes and grounds. Persons lawfully on unimproved lands have the right not to have their lives, limbs and properties endangered by operation of motor vehicles on such lands.
C. 
Many persons drive motor vehicles of many kinds, including passenger cars, vans, trucks, dune buggies, motorcycles and off-road vehicles onto such unimproved lands and operate such motor vehicles on such lands so as to create substantial nuisances to nearby residents including, but not limited to large amounts of dust and excessive exhaust noise. Such persons, furthermore, often operate such motor vehicles so that they endanger the lives, limbs and property of other persons on such lands.
D. 
The climatic and geographic conditions in the City tend to increase the secondary effects of such motor vehicles operated in and around unimproved property and near sensitive habitats. These climatic and geographic conditions and sensitive habitats in the City include dry inland areas, pristine forests, wildlife refuges, critical chaparral areas with long recovery times following surface damage, sensitive watersheds, watercourses, wetlands and coastal environments.
E. 
Local, state and federal agencies have designated and set aside specific areas, trails and routes for the express purpose of allowing the safe and non-offensive recreational use of off-road vehicles.
F. 
State laws making trespassing on private property breaches of the peace, and other activities which occur on such lands misdemeanors, have not proved effective in controlling and terminating such motor vehicle activities on unimproved lands, whether public or privately owned.
G. 
It is the intent of the City Council to prohibit activities of motor vehicles on unimproved lands, whether public or privately owned, which create dust and noise nuisances to nearby residents, which endanger lives, limbs and property of persons lawfully on such unimproved lands, and which endanger sensitive habitats located on such unimproved lands, in order to protect and preserve the public peace, safety and welfare.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)
A. 
It is unlawful for any person willfully to drive any motor vehicle as that term is defined in the Vehicle Code upon unimproved portions of real property in the City, whether public property, or property belonging to or lawfully occupied by another, without the express permission of the owner, the owner’s agent or the person in lawful possession of said real property.
B. 
“Unimproved” for the purposes of this section means real property upon which there exists no structures occupied by any public agency, the owner of the real property, the owner’s agent, persons in lawful possession of said real property or persons who have the permission of the owner, the owner’s agent or the person in lawful possession of said real property.
C. 
These provisions affecting motor vehicle use on unimproved portions of real property shall not apply to any areas in the City which are directly authorized by a conditional use permit, or otherwise, under City zoning ordinances to permit motorcycle, off-road vehicle or motor vehicle racing use or uses.
D. 
These provisions affecting motor vehicle use on unimproved portions of real property shall not apply to the use of motor vehicles for agricultural purposes, as defined by Civil Code Section 3482.5 and the City Code, vehicles being used for governmental purposes, or the direct crossing of unimproved property from a roadway or trail designated for motor vehicle use in order to remain on said roadway or trail.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)
No material which is harmful to minors, as defined in Section 313 of the California Penal Code, shall be displayed in a public place, other than a public place from which minors are excluded, unless blinder racks are placed in front of the material so that the lower two-third of the material is not exposed to view.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in or upon any street, sidewalk, alley, plaza, park, beach, public building or public maintained facility, or any place open to the public or exposed to public view. This section shall not be construed so as to prohibit the use for urination or defecation of the lawfully constructed restroom facilities designed for the sanitary disposal of human waste.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1)