Pitching a tent | Napa Valley Register

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Pitching a tent

Friday, July 03, 2009

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By Diane Montanez
Glad You Asked

Glad You Asked

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Street smarts

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.

8 comment(s)

UpValleyReader wrote on Jul 6, 2009 12:34 AM:

" *snort* I totally love the footie jammies. "

sprklsunshine wrote on Jul 6, 2009 1:42 PM:

" I’m thinking the last two questions aren’t because it’s summertime but because there are way too many people living in single-family dwellings, and their neighbors are just plan sick of it; I know I am. "

eas001 wrote on Jul 6, 2009 2:07 PM:

" So I can have people living in tents in my backyard? "

sprklsunshine wrote on Jul 7, 2009 8:20 AM:

" In tents, in storage sheds, in your garage, in your old camper. No facilities (i.e. toilet) are necessary; they can just pee on the neighbor’s fence. That what they do my neighborhood and the CITY OF NAPA DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. "

skeptical wrote on Jul 7, 2009 4:11 PM:

" Diane: Did you only ask the Police Department or did you also check with the Planning and Building Departments? There may be other codes that apply but are enforced by Code Enforcement rather than the police. "

eas001 wrote on Jul 8, 2009 3:34 PM:

" I will stick up for Code Enforcement! Unfortunately there are SO many violations you can only get so many. Often they only have time to go after the most serious ones.

And yes, pee wherever you can! We have a neighbor who lives in a shed, who is locked out of the house where the bathroom is - where is he relieving himself? Don't ask, don't tell.

I do not think DM thoroughly thought out the answer to the question. Does anyone mind a kid 'camping' in the backyard for a day? No. Is it a code violation to 'live' in a tent, camper, etc in your backyard, front yard or driveway - I believe Yes! "

kkkkaty wrote on Jul 8, 2009 6:36 PM:

" I guess this code and the one about living or camping (Happy Camper) aren't high on anyone's list for enforcement judging by the number of camping vehicles in Kennedy Park and other semi public/private parking such as the lot at Imola/Soscol. I could understand looking the other way when some 2006 flood victims camped out until they dug the mud out of their bedrooms but it's been a while since the river rose. "

sprklsunshine wrote on Jul 13, 2009 9:21 AM:

" Why did this used to be front page visible on NVR online every single day, but as soon as there is a controversial subject, it disappears from sight? I had to do a search to find it. "

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