People camping and storing personal property on public property and on public rights-of-way, such as streets, sidewalks and alleys, are engaged in conduct which creates a public health and safety hazard due to interference with use of the rights-of-way, and the lack of proper utility and/or sanitary facilities in those places. People without sanitary facilities have urinated, defecated, and littered on public property and on the public rights-of-way. Use of public property for camping purposes or storage of personal property interferes with the rights of others to use the areas for which they were intended.
(Ord. 3886 § 3, 2017)
It is the purpose of this chapter to prevent harm to the health and safety of the public and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare by keeping public streets and other public property readily accessible to the public and to prevent use of public property for camping purposes or storage of personal property which interferes with the rights of others to use the areas for which they were intended.
(Ord. 3886 § 3, 2017)
The following definitions are applicable in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
“Camp” or “camping”
means to reside or sleep on streets, parks, or other publicly owned or maintained property with or without the use of huts, lean-tos, tents, temporary shelters, vehicles, or equivalents, or as evidenced by the use of beds, blankets, cots, hammocks, mattresses, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, or equivalents, or cooking tools or fire.
“Public park”
means the same as defined in Section 12.20.030.
“Store”
means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location.
“Street”
means any highway, lane, road, street, right-of-way, boulevard, alley, and every way or place in the city that is publicly owned or maintained for public vehicular travel.
“Vehicle”
means the same as such is defined in RCW 46.04.670.
(Ord. 3886 § 3, 2017; Ord. 4025 § 3, 2025)
Some city property may be closed to the public at all times. Other city property may be open to the public only during established operating hours and for purposes related to the functions of city government. Operating hours for particular city property may be established by the city manager and so posted at the property.
(Ord. 3886 § 3, 2017)
In addition to a violation of other applicable law, it is also a violation of this chapter to enter or remain on any property under the jurisdiction of the city when the area is not open to the public.
(Ord. 3886 § 3, 2017)
A. 
It is a violation of this chapter for any person to camp or to store personal property in the following areas except as otherwise authorized by ordinance:
1. 
Any park;
2. 
Any street;
3. 
Any publicly owned or maintained land, parking lot, or other publicly owned or maintained area, whether improved or unimproved.
B. 
During the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., it shall be unlawful for any person to occupy a vehicle for the purpose of camping while that vehicle is parked in the following areas, except as otherwise provided by ordinance or as provided in Section 9.68.080:
1. 
Any park; or
2. 
Any street; or
3. 
Any publicly owned or maintained parcel, parking lot or other publicly owned or maintained area, whether improved or unimproved.
(Ord. 3886 § 3, 2017; Ord. 4025 § 4, 2025)
Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is a misdemeanor. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction of such violation, be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(Ord. 3886 § 3, 2017)
A. 
The city manager, or his/her designee, is authorized to permit persons to camp, occupy camp facilities, use camp paraphernalia, or store personal property in streets, or any publicly owned area, improved or unimproved, in the city.
B. 
Upon receipt of an application for any permit under this chapter, the city manager, or his/her designee, shall send a copy of the application to the city departments of police, parks, public works, community development, and fire. Each of these departments shall inspect the application and each such department shall report to the city manager, or his/her designee, within ten working days after the filing of the application. Such reports shall identify any risks or other problems which the proposed activity is reasonably expected to pose for the public at that location. It shall make any necessary recommendations for protecting the public peace, health, safety, life, property, and welfare in the event a permit is, or was, issued.
C. 
The city manager, or his/her designee, is authorized to promulgate other rules and regulations regarding the implementation and enforcement of this chapter which are consistent with the purposes of this chapter and its regulations.
D. 
The city manager, or his/her designee, may approve a permit as provided under this section when, from a consideration of the application, reports from other city departments, and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, he or she finds that:
1. 
Adequate sanitary facilities are provided and accessible at or near the proposed camp site;
2. 
Adequate trash receptacles and trash collection are provided; and
3. 
The camping activity will not unreasonably disturb or interfere with the safety, peace, comfort and repose of private property owners or the general public.
E. 
No permit shall be issued for a period of time in excess of fourteen calendar days in any one calendar year.
F. 
The city manager, or his/her designee, is authorized to revoke a permit that has been issued if he or she finds lack of compliance with any requirement of subsection D of this section, or of any rule or regulation promulgated under subsection C of this section, or of any ordinance or statute.
G. 
Any person who is denied a permit, or had his/her permit revoked, may appeal the denial/revocation to a hearings examiner appointed by the city manager, or his/her designee. Notice of appeal must be in writing, and filed with the city clerk within seven working days from the date of the denial.
(Ord. 3886 § 3, 2017)