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Council adopts ordinance to prohibit overnight camping or sleeping in vehicles on public property
Summary
After a public hearing, the City Council introduced and approved an ordinance adding a municipal code chapter to prohibit using vehicles for habitation overnight on public property and certain private property without consent; enforcement options include misdemeanor charges and civil nuisance abatement.
The Lathrop City Council on May 12 introduced an ordinance that makes it unlawful to use a motor vehicle for camping or sleeping on public property overnight and on private property without the owner’s consent.
Captain Tracy Shea of the Lathrop Police Department said the measure targets long‑term habitation: “This is more specifically targeted people that are living out of their cars,” she told the council at the public hearing, distinguishing the ordinance from a one‑time nap or short rest.
Why it matters: Staff said occupied vehicles used for extended habitation have been associated with sanitation problems, accumulation of trash, welfare checks and neighborhood complaints. The ordinance is intended to provide a clear local code section for enforcement when persistent vehicle habitation creates public‑health, sanitation or safety concerns.
Scope and enforcement: The draft ordinance would add chapter 9.06 to the Lathrop Municipal Code. It prohibits camping or sleeping in a motor vehicle on public property between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and on private residential property without the owner’s consent; nonresidential private property also requires written consent. Violation is designated as a misdemeanor and may also be pursued as a public nuisance to allow civil abatement procedures, staff said. Shea and council members emphasized starting enforcement with education and officer discretion rather than immediate criminal penalties.
Public comment and outcome: City staff said no public comments had been received before the meeting. After a public hearing and discussion of training and outreach, the council voted in favor of introducing the ordinance (roll call recorded). Staff will publish enforcement guidance and provide training to officers and code personnel prior to full implementation.
