Board introduces ordinance to ban overnight parking and camping near agricultural land; approves first-phase funding

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 21 introduced an ordinance to prohibit overnight parking and camping on designated county streets and highways adjacent to agricultural land, and approved a $250,000 first‑phase appropriation to install regulatory signage on the highest‑priority segments.

Public Works staff presented a data-driven map and a tiered prioritization of 285 roadway segments (about 251 miles) near agricultural lands. The department recommended a phased approach: install signage on the top four priority tiers first (34 road segments, roughly 20 miles of roadway) before considering further phases. Staff estimated 724 signs would be needed for the first phase, at about $300 per sign for materials and installation, plus project management and contingency.

Why it matters: County departments said roadside overnight parking, including long‑stay RVs, raised biosecurity and food‑safety concerns (wastewater discharges and illegal dumping), operational problems for farms (trespass, irrigation interference), and safety risks for motorists on narrow shoulders. Agriculture industry groups and farm‑support organizations testified in support of the proposal, saying the ordinance will help protect crops and workers.

Voluntary compliance and outreach emphasized: County staff and the sheriff’s Homeless Liaison Unit said the enforcement model will begin with outreach, a 24‑hour written notice and offers of services. Public Works and the sheriff said the county will emphasize voluntary relocations and connect people to available services; if voluntary compliance fails, enforcement options include vehicle code citations and towing. The sheriff’s office said two deputies would provide additional nighttime patrols (six‑hour shifts two nights per week) under existing department resources; those patrol costs are covered in the sheriff’s budget.

Property‑owner option to accelerate signs: Staff proposed an administrative agreement allowing adjacent property owners (including farmers) to supply and install county‑standard signs at their cost under a streamlined county inspection/acceptance process. Once accepted, the county would maintain the signs and the sheriff could enforce the posted restriction.

Board actions: The board introduced and read the ordinance title at the Oct. 21 meeting and scheduled a second reading and final action for Nov. 18. It also approved, by a 4–1 vote, the $250,000 appropriation for the first phase (the lone recorded “no” vote was one supervisor opposing that appropriation vote). Public Works said a contractor could begin installation in early January with a completion target of Feb. 28 for the initial segments.

Next steps: If adopted on Nov. 18, the ordinance’s nighttime parking prohibition (suggested sign text: “No overnight parking 9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.”) would take effect Jan. 1 for roads where signs have been posted. Staff said the resolution specifying all tiered road segments will be part of the ordinance package on Nov. 18 and that additional tiers could be added later as funding permits.