Fountain Valley Bans Camping in Streets, Parking Lots, Parks

If you planned to pitch a tent in a Fountain Valley parking lot, you just missed your chance.

The City Council voted unanimously to ban all camping and camping equipment in public places Tuesday.

City staff and officials said they hope the move will stop transients from using city and private property as their own personal living quarters.

The camping ban applies to Fountain Valley streets, sidewalks, alleys, parking lots and parking structures, as well as privately-owned parks, playgrounds, plazas and marketplaces, according to the city staff report. 

Officers have found a number of people camping in different places around the city, including green belts and bus stops, according to the Fountain Valley Police Department.

To see a list some of the locations where people have been found camping, scroll to the end of this story.

“The problem with people camping in these areas is it damages the property,” said Colin Burns, assistant city attorney. “It destroys the plants and ruins the grass.”

Burns called the practice unsanitary because some people relieve themselves near their camping locations. According to Burns, Santa Ana has a similar ordinance in place and Costa Mesa recently considered such a law, as well.

“I just know we have seen, gradually, a larger number of people setting up tents throughout the community in places they shouldn’t be,” said Councilman Steven Nagel.

Nagel said Fountain Valley isn't taking away the rights of the homeless, just prohibiting them from misusing public property and public spaces.

“They can still use the areas as they were originally supposed to be used,” Nagel said.

Councilmember Cheryl Brothers said the state decision to release some prisoners early puts more homeless in Fountain Valley.

“There’s been a noticeable increase of people, unfortunately, having to camp out on the streets, and some of them do cause problems,” Brothers said.

According to the city attorney, camping in a public space would be classified as a misdemeanor unless the city attorney or another prosecutor downgraded the charge to an infraction. If prosecuted as a misdemeanor, offenders could face a maximum fine of $1,000, a maximum sentence of six months in county jail or both, according to the city code.

However, if the violation is downgraded to an infraction, the city code calls for a maximum fine of $100 for the first violation, a maximum of $200 for the second violation in the same year and a maximum of $500 for each additional violation in the same year.

According to the text of the law, “tents, huts or temporary shelters” are prohibited, as well as camping equipment like cots, beds and sleeping bags.

The ordinance will go into effect after a second vote on the item by the City Council April 16.

Here’s a list of city locations where the FVPD have found people camping:

1. In the rear alley behind a green Southern California Edison power box at 9555 Garfield Avenue.
2. Along the maintenance access road to the 405 Freeway on the north side of Talbert Avenue, west of Ward Street.
3. Near the perimeter of the golf course fence near the Fountain Valley Recreation Center.
4. On the island/median in the Fountain Bowl parking lot at 17110 Brookhurst Street.
5. Behind the vacant car wash at 11049 Southpark Avenue.
6. In the rear alley next to Philly’s Best at 18691 Brookhurst.
7. In the rear alley next to the Ralphs on 18405 Brookhurst.
8. On a number of bus stops throughout the city.