Pitching a tent

By Diane Montanez
Glad You Asked

Is there any prohibition regarding tent camping or in otherwise non-regulated structures?

First a question on whether one could sleep in his or her own cars (“Happy camper,” June 18) — in your own driveway, yes, on the street, no — and now one regarding sleeping in a tent?

Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from my queen-sized pillow-top mattress.

But I suppose this question is seasonal for summer time.

Napa Police Sgt. Tom Pieper provided me with the following information.

Napa Municipal Code 12.65.020, summarized for the purposes of this question, defines “camp” as: 1) to pitch or occupy camp facilities or 2) to use camp paraphernalia. “Camp facilities” includes tents, huts or temporary shelters and “camp paraphernalia” includes tarpaulins, bedding, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks or non-city designated cooking facilities and similar equipment.

As with sleeping in your car, it is considered unlawful to camp in a tent on public property (sidewalks, streets, etc.), but you are well within your right to do so on your property if you own it, and under the condition that neither you nor your paraphernalia are blocking public property.

However, if you’re camping in your front yard, you may want to re-think those footie pajamas.

What is Glad You Asked?

Glad You Asked attempts to answer readers’ questions. Is not knowing something making you an unhappy camper? Send your questions to dmontanez@napanews.com or call 256-2224.

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