Unless the particular provisions or the context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this chapter shall govern the construction, meaning and application of the words and phrases used in this section.
"Camp facilities"
include, but are not limited to, tents, huts, unapproved shacks or temporary shelters.
"Camp paraphernalia"
includes, but is not limited to, tents or tent-like structures, cots, beds, hammocks or personal cooking facilities and similar equipment.
"Camp"
means to pitch or occupy camp facilities; or to use camp paraphernalia, for living purposes.
"Campsite"
means a place where a person camps or where camp facilities or camp paraphernalia are located.
"Public Pedestrian Way"
means an outdoor route or area open to the public for use by pedestrians, including but not limited to sidewalks, viewing platforms, stairways, alleyways, boardwalks and promenades whether publicly or privately owned and includes building alcoves, doorsteps and entryways adjoining a public pedestrian way.
"Store"
means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.
(Ord. 26-2022, 2/19/2026)
It shall be unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities or use camp paraphernalia within the following locations:
(a) 
Any property owned or leased by the City or easement held by the City within the Commercial Solicitation District as set forth in Ketchikan Municipal Code Section 9.54.030.
(b) 
A public pedestrian way.
(c) 
The grounds of a City owned building or facility.
(d) 
City owned off-street parking lots.
(e) 
A Ketchikan Gateway Borough Transit System shelter.
(Ord. 26-2022, 2/19/2026)
It shall be unlawful for any person to store personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia where camping is prohibited under this chapter.
(Ord. 26-2022, 2/19/2026)
No person shall cook food within the locations set forth in Ketchikan Municipal Code Section 9.59.020 except as may be authorized by the City as a written agreement with the City or a special event authorized by the City.
(Ord. 26-2022, 2/19/2026)
(a) 
Prior to beginning the removal of a prohibited campsite, a notice of campsite abatement shall be posted on or near each tent, hut, lean-to, or other shelter designated for removal, or, if no structure for shelter exists, a notice shall be affixed in a conspicuous place near the bedding, cooking site, or other personal property designated for removal. The notice shall:
(1) 
State it is illegal to store personal property at this location. If this personal property is not removed within 72 hours of the date of this posting, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY SHALL BE DEEMED INTENTIONALLY ABANDONED AND SUBJECT TO REMOVAL AND POSSIBLE DESTRUCTION.
(2) 
State the approximate location of the campsite, the code provision under which the campsite is prohibited.
(3) 
State an appeal may be filed with the court and include the court's address.
(4) 
State a notice of intent to appeal may be filed with the municipality and include the appropriate address.
(5) 
State that either an appeal or notice of intent to appeal received before the abatement date will extend the time to property will be stored by the City until an appeal is withdrawn, settled or a decision is issued and any further appeal rights expire.
(6) 
The notice shall include contact and location information for reclaiming it or disclaiming an interest in the property removed by the City.
(A) 
City personnel may remove any personal property unlawfully stored or remaining at the campsite after the posting period has expired.
(B) 
Hazardous materials which pose an imminent threat to public health or safety, contraband, junk, litter, garbage, debris, lumber, pallets, cardboard not used to store other personal items, and items that are spoiled, mildewed, or contaminated with human or biological waste or evidence of a crime are not subject to the notice requirements of this section and may be summarily abated, destroyed or held as evidence of a crime.
(b) 
Personal Property. Personal property, for purposes of this section, means personal property in fair and usable condition readily identifiable as such by persons removing property from a prohibited campsite consisting of the following items.
(1) 
Tents and similar self-contained shelter,
(2) 
Sleeping bags,
(3) 
Tarps,
(4) 
Toiletries and cosmetics,
(5) 
Clocks and watches,
(6) 
Medication,
(7) 
Personal papers and identification,
(8) 
Photographs,
(9) 
Luggage, backpacks and other storage containers,
(10) 
Books and other reading materials,
(11) 
Radios, audio and video equipment,
(12) 
Generators,
(13) 
Cooking equipment in clean condition,
(14) 
Shoes and clothing, and
(15) 
Property stored in a manner that reasonably suggests the owner intended to keep it.
(c) 
At the time of removal of unlawfully stored or remaining personal effects from the campsite, city personnel shall conspicuously post and date a notice either at the location from which the personal effects were removed or at another nearby location giving the following information.
(1) 
A list of personal effects removed;
(2) 
A telephone number for information on retrieving personal effects;
(3) 
An address where the personal effects are temporarily stored;
(4) 
The length of time during which the personal property may be claimed.
(d) 
At the time removal is to begin, if any individuals are present at the campsite, they shall be verbally notified the campsite is prohibited and to be removed. Prior to actual removal:
(1) 
The individuals shall be given at least 20 minutes to gather their personal property and disperse from the area; and
(2) 
The responsible city official or persons working under their authority shall not prevent individuals claiming personal property from removing that property immediately, unless the personal property is unlawful or otherwise evidence of criminal activity.
(e) 
Following removal of unlawfully stored or remaining personal effects, city personnel shall do the following:
(1) 
Maintain an inventory identifying the personal effects; where the personal effects were approximately located; and the reasonable value of each item;
(2) 
Store removed personal effects in an area designated by City for a period of 90 days.
(3) 
Maintain a record of the decision to abate the campsite including findings for the basis of the decision and the evidence supporting the decision.
(f) 
Personal property stored by the City which is claimed within 90 days from removal shall be released to the person claiming ownership providing they identify the property and the approximate location where the property was left.
(g) 
Disposition of Property.
(1) 
Personal property which remains unclaimed after 90 days may be sold at public auction with the proceeds to go to the City's general fund.
(2) 
All other unlawfully stored or found personal property including property unsold at public auction or removed from an unlawful campsite is deemed intentionally abandoned and may be summarily abated and destroyed.
(h) 
Appeal Procedure. A posted notice of campsite abatement is a final administrative decision and appeals shall be to the superior court within 30 days from the date the notice of campsite abatement is posted, in accordance with the Alaska court rules. If the owner or person in possession of personal property at the time the notice is posted responds in writing to the municipality prior to expiration of the notice of the owner's intention to appeal the campsite abatement to the superior court, the municipality shall store the personal property as set forth in subsection (f) of this section.
(i) 
Where exigent circumstances posing a serious risk to human life and safety exist, the abatement of a campsite may proceed without prior notice. Personal property removed under this exception shall be stored in accordance with subsection (f) of this section, to the extent reasonable and feasible under the circumstances and notice posted as set forth in subsection (c) of this section.
(j) 
The municipality and its employees or agents shall not be liable for damages as a result of an act or omission in the storage, destruction, disposition or release of property under this Chapter, but this does not preclude an action for damages based on an intentional act of misconduct or an act of gross negligence. The municipality and its employees or agents shall not be liable in any case of release of property to a person when the personal property lacks affirmative marks identifying its owner.
(Ord. 26-2022, 2/19/2026)
(a) 
Violation of this chapter shall be an infraction and any person convicted of such a violation shall be subject to a fine of not more than $300.00. Each day during which such violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.
(b) 
The penalties provided under this chapter are cumulative and are not intended to be exclusive of any other available remedies, penalties and procedures established by ordinance or other law.
(Ord. 26-2022, 2/19/2026)