[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
As used in this Chapter:
BEDDING
Means a sleeping bag, or any other material, used for bedding purposes.
CAMP
Means to use property for living accommodation purposes. Camping activities include but are not limited to:
1. 
Sleeping activities or preparing to sleep including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping;
2. 
Storing or utilizing personal property used for camping, including, but not limited to, clothing, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, cookware or other similar materials;
3. 
Making any fire or cooking meals; and
4. 
Using any tent or camping in a parked operable or inoperable vehicle, camper, recreational vehicle, trailer or other such mode of transportation.
These activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of the circumstances, that a person or persons are using such property, location or vehicle as a living accommodation.
FLOOD CONTROL WORKS
Means the system comprised of flood walls, pump stations and ponding areas that serve to protect the City from flooding.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Means any and all tangible property, and includes, but is not limited to, goods, materials, buckets, furniture, merchandise, tents, tarpaulins, bedding, sleeping bags, huts, lean-tos, hammocks, personal items such as luggage, backpacks, clothing, wagons, trailers, shopping carts, campers, documents and medication, and other household items or any other shelter or structure.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Means all property that is located within the boundaries of the City, except for property that is owned, leased or controlled by the City of Chillicothe.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Means any publicly owned property, including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, alleys, golf courses, bike paths, walking trails, parks, parking lots, parking garages, easements, improved or unimproved land, or any buildings or physical structures owned, leased, or managed by the City or other governmental agency.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Means the entire width of the area from property line to property line including all area intended, designed or used for vehicular or pedestrian traffic and the area between the roadway and the abutting private property line. For the purposes of this Chapter, such area shall include but not be limited to the area and the portion of the property between the sidewalk and curb, whether such area is paved or unpaved.
TEMPORARILY CAMP
Means camping for a period not exceeding seventy-two (72) consecutive hours.
[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
A. 
It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person or persons to camp in or upon any public property or public right-of-way, unless such person or persons have been granted a temporary permit allowing such activity by the City.
1. 
No person may sleep, nor otherwise engage in public camping, on a public sidewalk, street, alley, lane, other public right-of-way, park, bench, or any other publicly-owned property, nor on or under any bridge or viaduct, at any time.
2. 
No person may sleep, nor otherwise engage in public camping, in any pedestrian or vehicular entrance to public or private property abutting a public right-of-way.
3. 
No person may sleep, nor otherwise engage in public camping, on any real property owned or otherwise maintained by the City.
4. 
No person may park a vehicle overnight within the City for the purpose of sleeping or otherwise engaging in public camping in said vehicle.
5. 
For the purposes of this Section, the act of parking or leaving a vehicle parked for two (2) consecutive hours, and/or remaining within a public vehicle on any property under the jurisdiction of the City for the purpose of public camping, for two (2) consecutive hours without permission from the City Administrator or Mayor, between the hours of midnight and 6:00 A.M., shall be considered a violation of this Chapter.
Unless otherwise specified by this Chapter, except for those parcels of property specifically designated by ordinance, a person found camping on public property or public right-of-way shall be given forty-eight (48) hours’ notice to vacate the property. Such notice shall be served on such person, if present, or be posted near or upon the property in a visible location. A change in location of the camp and/or personal property within the line of sight from the camping location will not require a new 48-hour notice be given.
B. 
A person may be cited with violation of this Section if the individual refuses to leave and/or remove all personal property within the period contained in the notice or has previously been provided notice that camping on such public property or public right-of-way is prohibited.
C. 
Exceptions To Prohibition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be a violation to engage in public camping when done:
1. 
In a manner specifically authorized by this Code;
2. 
After a formal declaration of the City in emergency circumstances; or
3. 
Upon resolution of the City Council the same may exempt a special event from the prohibitions of this Section,
If the City Council finds such exemption to be in the public interest and consistent with the goals and objectives of the City, and with such conditions imposed as the City Council deems necessary. Any conditions imposed will include a condition requiring that the applicant provide evidence of adequate insurance coverage and agree to indemnify the City for any liability, damage or expense incurred by the City as a result of the activities of the applicant. Any findings by the City Council shall specify the exact dates and location covered by the exemption.
[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
A. 
Unless such person is the owner, lessee or tenant of such property, or an owner-permitted user, it is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to camp on private property.
B. 
Unless such person is the owner, lessee or tenant of such property, or an owner-permitted user, it is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to camp or sleep on private property in any vacant or unoccupied barn, garage, shed, shop or other accessory structure.
C. 
A person may be allowed to temporarily camp on private property with the written permission of the owner or person entitled to possession. Such permission must include the name, address and phone number of the person giving such authorization. It is unlawful for a person to camp or temporarily camp on private property without authorization of the owner or occupant. Such person may be removed, along with their personal property immediately without prior notice.
D. 
It is unlawful for any person to camp on private property in any operable or inoperable automobile, truck, camper, recreational vehicle or other trailer or other such mode of transportation.
1. 
This Section shall not apply to individuals who temporarily camp in such vehicles which are located on private property with the written permission of the owner. Such written permission must include the name, address and phone number of the person giving such authorization.
2. 
This Section shall not apply to individuals who temporarily camp on commercial properties with permission of the property owner. Permission may be inferred if the property is commercial property and is posted in such a manner that overnight parking is allowed.
3. 
This Section shall not apply to individuals who camp or reside in campers, recreational vehicles or trailers which are located in RV or trailer parks which are licensed pursuant to this Code or to individuals who have obtained a permit pursuant to this Code.
E. 
A person may be cited as violation of this Section if the individual refuses to leave and/or remove all personal property immediately or has been provided prior notice that camping on such private property is prohibited. Signage which is clearly visible stating that the property is private or that no trespassing is allowed constitutes sufficient notice that camping is not allowed on such private property.
[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to remove personal property located on property as described above after forty-eight (48) hours of receiving notice.
B. 
All such personal property which is not removed following the required notice may be impounded by the City in accordance with the provisions set forth below.
C. 
In the event personal property poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of the public, it may be removed without prior notice and discarded. For purposes of this Section, "immediate threat," includes, but is not limited to, personal property that has been tainted with blood or other bodily fluids, feces, urine, bed bugs, fleas or other pests, soiled, wet or mildewed, or property that blocks the ingress and egress to buildings, sidewalks, bike paths, walking trails or walkways.
D. 
Evidence of crime, contraband, explosives, firearms, weapons, fireworks or other flammable materials may be removed without prior notice.
E. 
Personal property may be immediately removed without prior notice for violations of this Chapter of the Code of the City of Chillicothe.
F. 
No portion of this Section shall be construed to prohibit any person found to be engaging in public camping from removing their personal property from the campsite; however, such personal property that constitutes exempt personal property and which a reasonably prudent Law Enforcement Officer, exercising the applicable constitutional standard, would conclude that said exempt personal property constitutes items appearing to be stolen or otherwise appearing to be evidence of a crime, and/or items which the person cannot demonstrate the requisite lawful authority to possess, may be retained and stored as evidence.
[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
A. 
The notice required by this Chapter shall be deemed to have been served if a notice is served on the person in possession of or claiming ownership of the personal property or posted conspicuously on or near the personal property prior to removal of such property. The notice should contain the following:
1. 
A statement that personal property is to be removed.
2. 
The location, date and time the notice was posted.
3. 
General description of the personal property to be removed.
4. 
A statement that the personal property will be discarded or impounded if not removed within forty-eight (48) hours.
5. 
A statement that moving personal property to another prohibited area shall not be removing personal property as required by the notice.
6. 
Agency information for the individual to contact to retrieve impounded personal property.
7. 
Contact information for services for the homeless if available.
8. 
A statement that impounded personal property may be discarded or otherwise disposed of if not claimed within thirty (30) days after impoundment.
B. 
Following removal of personal property without prior notice, a notice consistent with the provisions above will be posted in a visible location on the property from which the personal property was removed.
[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
A. 
Personal identifiable property such as identification documents and prescription medication in its original container should be impounded as personal property and retained by the City for thirty (30) days, during which time it shall be reasonably available for and released to an individual confirming ownership.
B. 
Items that are soiled, have been exposed to the elements, or of a de minimis monetary value shall be destroyed. The property site, including personal property, should be photographed prior to removal by the City employee or other person authorized by the City to remove or impound such property.
C. 
The City will maintain a record of photographs of the items removed, the date(s) any personal property was impounded, released, discarded and/or disposed of.
D. 
The owner or any other person entitled to the retained personal property may retrieve the personal property prior to its disposal upon submitting satisfactory proof of ownership. A person may establish proof of ownership by, among other methods, describing the location and date when the personal property was impounded and providing a reasonably specific and detailed description of the personal property.
[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
A. 
The Chillicothe Police Department, Fire Department, and the Codes Department are authorized to enforce and issue complaints for violations of this Chapter. The Utilities Department, the Park and Recreation Department, and any other department or individual designated and authorized by the City Administrator is authorized to enforce all other provisions of this Code.
B. 
All departments or other designated individuals shall complete all necessary training as recommended by the Chief of Police prior to enforcement of the provisions of this Code.
[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
A. 
Any person who is convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation and shall be punished by a fine as follows:
1. 
The penalty for any person's first violation of this Chapter within a rolling twelve (12) month period shall be two hundred dollars ($200.00).
2. 
The penalty for any person's second violation of this Chapter within a rolling twelve (12) month period shall be two hundred seventy-five dollars ($275.00).
3. 
The penalty for any person's third violation of this Chapter within a rolling twelve (12) month period shall be three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00).
4. 
The penalty for any person's fourth violation of this Chapter within a rolling twelve (12) month period shall be our hundred fifty dollars ($450.00).
The court shall not sentence a person to confinement, except the court may sentence a person to confinement for any violation involving alcohol or controlled substances, violations endangering the health or welfare of others, or eluding or giving false information to a Law Enforcement Officer. The period of confinement shall not exceed thirty (30) days per offense.
A person shall not be placed in confinement for failure to pay a fine unless such non-payment violates terms of probation or unless the due process procedures mandated by Missouri Supreme Court Rule 37.65 or its successor rule are strictly followed by the court.
Court costs that apply shall be assessed against the defendant unless the court finds that the defendant is indigent based on standards set forth in determining such by the Presiding Judge of the Circuit. Such standards shall reflect model rules and requirements to be developed by the Supreme Court.
No court costs shall be assessed if the defendant is found to be indigent under Subdivision (4) of Section 479.353, RSMo., or if the case is dismissed.
5. 
As a substitute for any monetary penalty assessed pursuant to Subsections (A)(1 — 4), above, and if consented to by the City, the penalty assessed to any person found in violation of this Chapter may be that said person must engage in public service by cleaning the rights-of-way and other public facilities of the City for an amount of time that, if the person found to have violated this Chapter was being paid the minimum wage under Missouri law, the amount paid for that person's labors would have been equal to the monetary penalty assessed under this Chapter.
6. 
In the imposition of any penalty pursuant to this Section, the penalty shall be mitigated by whether the person immediately removed all personal property and litter, including, but not limited to, bottles, cans, and garbage, from the campsite after the person was informed that the person was in violation of this Chapter.
7. 
A separate offense of this Chapter shall be deemed committed on each day on which a violation occurs or continues.
8. 
In addition to any other remedy provided by law or this Chapter, any person found in violation of this Section may be immediately removed from the premises where the campsite is located.
B. 
In addition to the penalties set forth herein, the City Attorney may institute civil actions to abate a public nuisance under this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 2025-83, 12-8-2025]
Violations of this Code are in addition to any other violation enumerated within the ordinances of the Code of the City. This Code in no way limits the penalties, actions or abatement procedures which may be taken by the City for a violation of this Chapter which is also a violation of any other ordinance of the City or Statute of the State of Missouri.