A. 
The public streets and areas within the city should be readily accessible and available to residents and the public at large. The use of these areas for camping purposes or storage of personal property interferes with the rights of others to use the areas for which they were intended. The purpose of this chapter is to maintain public streets and areas within the city in a clean and accessible condition to the extent possible while preserving the constitutional interests of transient individuals under state and federal laws.
B. 
In the event any regulation contained within this chapter conflicts with any other regulation contained within this code, including, but not limited to, those regulations contained within Chapter 12.16, the more stringent regulation shall apply.
(Ord. 012-2016 § 3; Ord. 009-2022 § 2; Ord. 013-2025, 5/20/2025)
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 facilities"
means tents, huts, or temporary shelters which can be easily erected and dismantled without construction or specialized tools.
"Camp paraphernalia"
includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks, or non-city designated cooking facilities and similar equipment.
"Camp" or "camping"
includes:
1. 
To place, pitch or occupy camp facilities;
2. 
To use camp paraphernalia at any time of the day or night; or
3. 
To occupy a vehicle for living or sleeping purposes.
"Park"
means any public park or recreation or playground area, including Class I Bike Trails and paseos, or building or facility thereon within the city of Rio Vista, owned and maintained by the city as a public park or recreation or playground area, whether or not such areas have been formally dedicated to such purpose.
"Shelter"
means a building intended for housing of persons in an individual or group setting and has a roof, walls, and living facilities (e.g., bathroom, kitchen, sleeping quarters).
"Store"
means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location for future or long-term use.
"Street"
includes both "street, public" and "street, private" as defined in Section 17.02.040 of this code.
"Vehicle"
means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway. Trailers, semi-trailers and truck tractors are considered vehicles.
(Ord. 012-2016 § 3; Ord. 009-2022 § 2; Ord. 013-2025, 5/20/2025)
A. 
It is unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia in or on any city property unless expressly authorized by the city of Rio Vista or mandated by applicable law.
B. 
Express Authorization for Emergency. The city of Rio Vista hereby expressly authorizes camping in the event of an emergency reasonably affecting the person who is attempting to camp, including a city-declared emergency or natural disaster, such as a fire or earthquake.
C. 
Express Authorization for Clearly Designated Campsites. The city of Rio Vista hereby expressly authorizes camping in public areas legally established and clearly designated for camping purposes, subject to all other applicable regulations.
(Ord. 012-2016 § 3; Ord. 009-2022 § 2; Ord. 013-2025, 5/20/2025)
A. 
Any person, firm, or corporation, whether as principal, agent, employee, or otherwise failing to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100. This chapter may be enforced through the issuance of administrative citations, as provided by Chapter 1.16 of this code.
B. 
Prior to any violation, the city shall provide a person camping on public lands at a site not designated for camping with notice of intent to remove personal property from the camping site, at least 48 hours in advance of any action to remove personal property from the site for a violation of this code. Notice shall be in writing and the city shall make reasonable efforts to personally serve individual(s) who are present when the city attempts to serve notice. In addition, the city shall post the notice on or near the camping site so as to reasonably communicate the notice to persons living at the camp site, but not present during the attempt to serve notice. The notice shall contain the following information:
1. 
The location of the camping site;
2. 
The date and time notice was served or posted;
3. 
A statement that the camp site violates this chapter;
4. 
An advisement that the city will remove personal property at the camping site within 48 hours after the date and time of the notice;
5. 
An advisement that any personal property remaining at the camping site when the city returns to remove personal property from the camping site will be impounded for not less than 60 days and will be discarded thereafter if not claimed; the advertisement shall also state when the city returns to remove personal property from the camping site that property that constitutes an immediate threat to the public health or safety may be disposed of immediately; and
6. 
The address, phone number and operating hours of the location where the personal property will be stored and may be retrieved and that the city will charge no fee for storage or retrieval.
C. 
Property that is collected pursuant to subsection B that is perishable, contraband, evidence of a crime, or constitutes an immediate threat to the public health or safety may be disposed of immediately and without notice.
(Ord. 012-2016 § 3; Ord. 009-2022 § 2; Ord. 013-2025, 5/20/2025)