Ordinance 5122

City of Chandler — Regular Meeting (2025-03-27)

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ORDINANCE NO. 5122 
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER, 
ARIZONA, AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER BY 
ADDING CHAPTER 11-19 – CAMPING; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES; 
PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; 
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE 
DATE. 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Chandler, Arizona, 
as follows: 
Section 1. 
Adding Chapter 11-19 – Camping to the Chandler City Code as follows: 
 
 
CHAPTER 11-19 CAMPING 
11-19.1 PURPOSE. IT IS THE INTENT OF THIS CHAPTER TO PROTECT AND 
IMPROVE THE PUBLIC HEALTH, PRESERVE THE PARKS AND OTHER 
PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR THE ENJOYMENT, SAFETY, COMFORT AND 
CONVENIENCE OF THE PUBLIC, AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND 
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THE STREETS AND PUBLIC AREAS WITHIN 
THE CITY SHOULD BE READILY ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE TO 
RESIDENTS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. THE USE OF PUBLIC AREAS 
FOR CAMPING PURPOSES OR STORAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY 
INTERFERES WITH THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS TO USE PUBLIC AREAS 
FOR 
WHICH 
THEY 
WERE 
INTENDED. 
SUCH ACTIVITY 
CAN 
CONSTITUTE A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD THAT 
ADVERSELY IMPACTS NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMERCIAL AREAS. 
NOTHING IN THIS SECTION IS INTENDED TO INTERFERE WITH 
OTHERWISE LAWFUL AND ORDINARY USES OF PUBLIC OR PRIVATE 
PROPERTY. 
11-19.2 
 DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION: 
A. 
 CAMP OR CAMPING MEANS USING PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR 
LIVING ACCOMMODATION PURPOSES ON A TEMPORARY OR 
PERMANENT 
BASIS, 
REGARDLESS 
OF THE 
INTENT 
OF THE 
PARTICIPANTS OR THE NATURE OF ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES IN WHICH 
THEY MAY ALSO BE ENGAGING, WHEN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES 
IT REASONABLY APPEARS THAT THE PARTICIPANTS ARE USING THE 
AREA FOR LIVING ACCOMMODATION PURPOSES.  
B. 
CHILDCARE FACILITY HAS THE MEANING PROVIDED IN A.R.S. § 
36-881(3).

Ordinance No. 5122 
 
 
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C. 
LIVING ACCOMMODATION PURPOSES MEANS TO USE PUBLIC 
PROPERTY AS A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT PLACE OF LODGING OR 
RESIDENCE.  LIVING ACCOMMODATION PURPOSES INCLUDES, BUT IS 
NOT LIMITED TO, ACTIVITIES SUCH AS: 
1. 
USING A TENT, SHELTER, VEHICLE, TRAILER, CAMPER, OR 
OTHER STRUCTURE FOR SLEEPING; 
2. 
MAKING PREPARATIONS TO SLEEP, INCLUDING LAYING 
DOWN BEDDING FOR THE PURPOSE OF SLEEPING; 
3. 
STORING PERSONAL BELONGINGS; 
4. 
MAKING ANY FIRE, OTHER THAN A FIRE MADE IN A FIRE 
PIT OR BARBECUE PIT PROVIDED BY THE CITY FOR SUCH USE; 
5. 
CARRYING ON COOKING ACTIVITIES, OTHER THAN IN A 
FIRE PIT OR BARBECUE PIT PROVIDED BY THE CITY FOR SUCH 
USE; 
6. 
DOING ANY DIGGING, EARTH BREAKING, OR OTHER 
MODIFICATION OF LANDSCAPING. 
D. 
PUBLIC 
PROPERTY 
MEANS 
ANY 
PROPERTY 
AND 
APPURTENANCES THEREON WHICH 
IS 
OWNED, 
LEASED, 
OR 
CONTROLLED BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER INCLUDING, BUT IS NOT 
LIMITED TO: PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, SPLASH PADS, RESTROOMS, 
STREETS, SIDEWALKS, RIGHTS-OF-WAY, HIGHWAYS, ALLEYS, BIKE 
PATHS, TRANSIT STOPS OR TRANSIT STATIONS, PRESERVES, OPEN 
SPACES, MOUNTAIN PARKS, WASHES, LAND WHETHER IMPROVED OR 
UNIMPROVED, 
ATTRACTIONS, 
PUBLIC 
PLAZAS, 
MONUMENTS, 
STRUCTURES, FACILITIES, OR PARKING LOTS. 
E. 
SCHOOL MEANS ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL 
OPERATING UNDER A VALID CONTRACT ISSUED BY THE STATE OR A 
STATE-SPONSORED ORGANIZATION, OR PRIVATE SCHOOL WHERE 
CHILDREN ATTEND CLASSES IN KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS OR 
GRADES ONE THROUGH 12. 
F. 
SHELTER MEANS A FACILITY, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF WHICH 
IS TO PROVIDE FREE OR LOW-COST TEMPORARY OR TRANSITIONAL 
LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS OR CAMPING TO HOMELESS PERSONS.

Ordinance No. 5122 
 
 
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11-19.3 OFFENSES 
A. 
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO CAMP IN OR ON ANY PUBLIC PROPERTY 
WITHIN THE CITY OF CHANDLER UNLESS EXPRESSLY DESIGNATED AS 
A PERMITTED CAMP SITE OR OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PERMITTED BY 
THE CITY. 
B. 
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO CAMP IN OR ON ANY BUILDING, FACILITY, 
PARKING LOT OR STRUCTURE, THAT IS OWNED, POSSESSED OR 
CONTROLLED BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER. 
C. 
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO CAMP WITHIN 500 FEET OF ANY PROPERTY 
BOUNDARY OF A SCHOOL, CHILDCARE FACILITY, SHELTER, OR CITY 
PARK. 
11-19.4 
EXCLUSIONS.  THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT APPLY TO: 
A. 
ACTIVITIES APPROVED BY THE CITY THAT RECEIVE A SPECIAL 
EVENT LICENSE, SPECIAL USE PERMIT, LEASE, LICENSE, OR OTHER 
PERMIT OR PERMISSION. 
B. 
PHYSICAL EMERGENCIES OR THE ADMINISTRATION OF 
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. 
C. 
TEMPORARY 
STRUCTURES 
OR 
CAMPS 
SET 
UP 
BY A 
GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR RELIEF WORKERS DURING A DISASTER OR 
EMERGENCY SITUATION. 
11-19.4.1 
PENALTY. 
A. 
A VIOLATION OF THIS CHAPTER IS A CLASS 1 MISDEMEANOR 
AND PUNISHABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 1-8. 
B. 
NO PERSON SHALL BE ISSUED A CITATION FOR A VIOLATION OF 
THIS SECTION UNLESS THE PERSON HAS PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A 
WARNING FROM THE CITY OF CHANDLER WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 12 
CALENDAR MONTHS OR THE PROPERTY ON WHICH A VIOLATION 
OCCURS HAS BEEN CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED WITH A WARNING OF 
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION. 
C. 
AN INDIVIDUAL FOR WHOM PROBABLE CAUSE EXISTS TO BE 
CHARGED WITH A VIOLATION OF THIS CHAPTER, IN LIEU OF BEING 
ISSUED A CRIMINAL CITATION MAY, AT THE ELECTION OF THE CITING 
POLICE OFFICER AND WITH THE CONSENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL, BE

Ordinance No. 5122 
 
 
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TAKEN TO A FACILITY PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES RELATED TO 
MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING, AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. 
D. 
IN ADDITION TO OR IN LIEU OF ANY SENTENCE IMPOSED FOR A 
VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION, THE COURT MAY SENTENCE A PERSON 
TO PERFORM COMMUNITY RESTITUTION OR ORDER A TERM OF 
EDUCATION OR TREATMENT CONSISTENT WITH A.R.S. § 13-717. 
Section 2. 
Providing for Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances.  All ordinances or parts of 
ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance, or any parts hereof, are 
hereby repealed. 
Section 3. 
Providing for Severability.  If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or 
portion of this ordinance 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 4. 
Providing an Effective Date.  That this amendment to Chandler City Code is 
effective July 1, 2025. 
INTRODUCED AND TENTATIVELY APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Chandler, 
Arizona, this ____ day of __________, 2025. 
ATTEST: 
 
______________________________ 
 
______________________________ 
CITY CLERK  
 
 
 
 
MAYOR 
 
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chandler, Arizona, this _____ day 
of __________, 2025. 
ATTEST: 
 
______________________________ 
 
_______________________________ 
CITY CLERK  
 
 
 
 
MAYOR

Ordinance No. 5122 
Page 5 
CERTIFICATION 
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing Ordinance No. 5122 was duly passed and 
adopted by the City Council of the City of Chandler, Arizona, at a regular meeting held on the 
____ day of __________, 2025, and that a quorum was present thereat. 
__________________________ 
CITY CLERK 
APPROVED AS TO FORM: 
CITY ATTORNEY 
Published in the Arizona Republic on: