Ord 616 N.S. Prohibiting Camping in Designated Public Areas and Providing Penalties for Violations 06 10 25

ORDINANCE NO. 616 N.S. 
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TOLLESON, 
ARIZONA, PROHIBITING CAMPING IN DESIGNATED PUBLIC AREAS AND 
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF 
CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY. 
 
WHEREAS, public places in the City of Tolleson (the “City”), including public parks, 
provide common areas for residents of the community and non-residents to meet, relax, and 
take part in recreational, cultural, social, and other activities; and 
 
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the City and, in the best interests of residents of the 
community and nonresidents, to ensure that public streets, sidewalks, parks, and other public 
places are made readily accessible to the public; and 
 
WHEREAS, in furtherance of protecting these public areas, it is in the best interests of 
the City to prohibit the use of certain public areas for urban camping and the storage of personal 
property, other than those for which the property was designed; and 
 
WHEREAS, the City has experienced an influx of individuals camping on public property 
and desires to impose reasonable regulations to regulate the time, place, and manner of camping 
in City limits to protect public health, safety, and sanitation and allow tools to prevent and 
address public nuisances. 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY 
OF TOLLESON, ARIZONA, as follows:  
 
Section 1. 
Title and Purpose. 
 
This ordinance shall be known and referred to as the “Anti-Camping Ordinance.” Its 
purpose is to promote public health, safety, and welfare by regulating camping on public property 
to ensure safe and accessible public spaces for all.  
 
Section 2. 
Definitions. 
 
For the purposes of this ordinance, the following definitions apply: 
 
• Camping: Using real property in the City for living accommodation purposes such as 
sleeping activities, making preparations to sleep (including laying down bedding), 
storing personal belongings, making a fire, using tents or shelters or other structures 
or vehicles for sleeping, doing any digging or earth breaking, or carrying on cooking 
activities. These activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of 
all the circumstances, that the participants are using the area for living 
accommodation purposes, regardless of intent or the nature of other activities.

CITY OF TOLLESON ORDINANCE NO. 616 N.S. 
JUNE 10, 2025 
PAGE 2 
 
 
 
• Camp Paraphernalia: Includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping 
bags, hammocks, or non-city designated cooking facilities and similar equipment. 
• Child Care Facility: As defined in Section 36-881(3), Arizona Revised Statutes. 
• Public Park: A park, parkway, trail, recreational area, playground, or open space area 
established, maintained, or administered by the city. 
• Public Street: All public streets and highways, public sidewalks, public benches, public 
walls, public parking lots, and public parking structures. 
• Public Place: Any and all public plazas, including city hall, city facilities, schools, 
attractions, monuments, and any improved or unimproved public area. 
• Reasonable Notice: Includes actual or constructive notice that certain conduct is 
prohibited and may be accomplished by reasonable posting or verbal notice provided 
by a law enforcement officer. 
• School: A place of general instruction, including public and parochial schools, charter 
schools, institutions of higher education, and private educational institutions offering 
a curriculum comparable to public schools. 
• Shelter: A facility or outdoor space primarily intended to provide free or low-cost 
temporary or transitional living accommodations or camping to homeless persons. 
 
Section 3. 
Prohibited Acts. 
 
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to camp in or on any public street, alley, 
sidewalk, rights-of-way, park, preserve, or other public ground owned, possessed, or controlled 
by the City, except as permitted under subsection 5 herein.  
 
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to camp on or within 500 feet of any parcel 
where a school, child care facility, shelter, or City park is located if reasonable notice of the 
camping prohibition is provided, except as permitted under subsection 5 herein. 
 
Section 4. 
Abandoned Camp Paraphernalia. 
 
A. 
Any camp paraphernalia left unattended within or adjacent to a public park, public 
street, or public place shall be confiscated and held by the police department. 
 
B. 
The police department will make reasonable attempts to locate and notify the 
owner. If the owner fails to claim the confiscated camp paraphernalia within 30 days of

CITY OF TOLLESON ORDINANCE NO. 616 N.S. 
JUNE 10, 2025 
PAGE 3 
 
 
 
confiscation, the paraphernalia will be deemed abandoned and disposed of by the police 
department. 
 
Section 5. 
Exceptions and Permits. 
 
 
The Parks and Recreation Director, in accordance with established procedures, may issue 
special use permits or reservations authorizing youth organizations or other approved groups to 
camp or park vehicles overnight in a park or preserve. Nothing in this section shall prohibit 
camping or overnight parking sponsored by the City. 
 
Section 6. 
Providing for Penalties. 
 
A. 
Violations of any provision of this article are a class 1 misdemeanor subject to the 
penalties prescribed in § 1-1-8 of this code. 
 
B.  
Consistent with Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-717, in addition to or in lieu of any 
sentence imposed, the court may require community restitution or order a term of education or 
treatment. 
 
Section 7. 
Providing for Severability. 
 
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance or any 
part of the Code adopted herein by reference is, for any reason, held to be invalid or 
unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not 
affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof. 
 
Section 8. 
Effective Date. 
 
This ordinance shall become effective 30 days after its adoption by the City Council and 
publication as required by law. 
 
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

CITY OF TOLLESON ORDINANCE NO. 616 N.S. 
JUNE 10, 2025 
PAGE 4 
 
 
 
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Mayor and Council of the City of Tolleson, Arizona this 
10th day of June, 2025. 
 
 
____________________________________ 
Juan F. Rodriguez, Mayor 
 
 
                                                   ATTEST: ____________________________________ 
 
Crystal Zamora, City Clerk 
 
 
       APPROVED AS TO FORM: ____________________________________ 
 
Justin Pierce, City Attorney