Bill Text: CA SB620 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Senate Bill 620

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Low-impact camping areas.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-08-07 - August 7 set for second hearing. Placed on suspense file. [SB620 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB620-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate April 11, 2023

Amended IN Senate March 22, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 620

Introduced by Senator McGuire
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Connolly)

February 15, 2023

An act to amend Section 18862.43 of, and to add Part 2.3.5 (commencing with Section 18890) to Division 13 of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to land use.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 620, as amended, McGuire. Low-impact camping areas.

Existing law, the Special Occupancy Parks Act, establishes requirements for the construction, maintenance, occupancy, use, and design of special occupancy parks. Existing law defines “special occupancy park” to mean a recreational vehicle park, temporary recreational vehicle park, incidental camping area, or tent camp.

This bill would specify that, for purposes of that act, a special occupancy park does not include a low-impact camping area. The bill would define a “low-impact camping area” to mean any area of private property that provides for the transient occupancy rental of a ~~shelter, recreational vehicle, or other~~ temporary sleeping ~~accommodation~~ accommodation, as defined, for recreational purposes that is not a commercial lodging facility and meets specified requirements. The bill would provide that its provisions do not authorize an individual to access private property without permission of the landowner. The bill would authorize the county in which the low-impact camping area is located to enforce some of those specified requirements, relating to waste disposal and quiet hours.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 18862.43 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

18862.43.

“Special occupancy park” means a recreational vehicle park, temporary recreational vehicle park, incidental camping area, or tent camp. “Special occupancy park” does not include a low-impact camping area, as defined in Section 18890.

SEC. 2.

Part 2.3.5 (commencing with Section 18890) is added to Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:

PART 2.3.5. LOW-IMPACT CAMPING

18890.

(a) “Low-impact camping area” means any area of private property that provides for the transient occupancy rental of a ~~shelter, recreational vehicle, or other~~ temporary sleeping accommodation for recreational purposes that is not a commercial lodging facility and meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Provides for the transient occupancy rental of a ~~shelter, recreational vehicle, or other~~ temporary sleeping accommodation, not exceeding 29 consecutive ~~nights.~~ nights per camper and not exceeding 29 nights per calendar year per camper.

(2) Includes no more than nine ~~shelters, recreational vehicles, or other~~ temporary sleeping accommodations.

(3) Does not include a ~~shelter, recreational vehicle, or other~~ temporary sleeping accommodation that is rented out for permanent human occupancy.

(4) Does not allow for on-street parking.

(5) Complies with applicable state and local fire safety requirements.

(6) Complies with applicable state and local tax requirements, including, but not limited to, the payment of local transient occupancy taxes.

(7) Complies with applicable local requirements for disposal of human waste, or in the absence of applicable local requirements, maintains sanitation facilities that are fully self-contained or connected to a permitted sewage disposal system serving the property.

(8) Complies with applicable local requirements for disposal of trash, or in the absence of applicable local requirements, requires all solid waste to be removed from the premises after each occupancy and onsite trash receptacles to abide by applicable animal-protection trash best practices or requirements.

(9) Complies with applicable local requirements for quiet hours, or in the absence of applicable local requirements, enforces quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

(10) Complies with applicable local requirements relating to low-impact campsites, low-incident camping, or incidental camping.

(11) Designates an operator or property manager who is available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

(12) Is not located within a single-family residential zone.

(13) Has not been used as a special occupancy park for the last five years unless both of the following are true:
(A) The area was a special occupancy park before January 1, 2024.
(B) The area met the requirements of this subdivision on January 1, 2023.

(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Commercial lodging facility” has the same meaning as the term “hotel” is defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1865 of the Civil Code.

(2) “Recreational vehicle” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 18010.

~~(3)“Shelter” means any structure intended for use as a temporary sleeping accommodation.~~
(3) “Temporary sleeping accommodation” includes, but is not limited to, a tent, yurt, or recreational vehicle.

18891.
In the absence of applicable local requirements, the county in which the low-impact camping area is located may enforce the minimum requirements described in paragraphs (7) to (9), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 18890.