Low-impact camping areas.

Plain English Breakdown

The exact requirements and processes are left to local regulations, which may vary.

Low-Impact Camping Areas

This law defines low-impact camping areas and sets requirements for property owners, online platforms, and counties that allow them.

What This Bill Does

• Defines a 'low-impact camping area' as an area on private property where people can rent temporary sleeping spaces for recreation without being considered commercial lodging.
• Specifies that low-impact camping areas are not special occupancy parks if they meet certain requirements, such as following local waste disposal and quiet hour rules.
• Requires counties allowing low-impact camping to establish a registry of these areas and inform the Department of Housing and Community Development about their authorization.
• Imposes specific requirements on property owners who offer low-impact camping sites and online platforms that host them.

Who It Names or Affects

• Property owners offering low-impact camping sites
• Online hosting platforms for low-impact camping
• Counties allowing low-impact camping

Terms To Know

Special occupancy park

A place like a recreational vehicle park or tent camp that follows specific rules.

Low-impact camping area

An area on private property where people can rent temporary sleeping spaces for recreation without being considered commercial lodging.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies to counties that have specific ordinances allowing low-impact camping.
• It does not specify what happens in counties without such ordinances.
• Details about the exact requirements and processes are left to local regulations.

Official Summary Text

AB 518, Ward.
Low-impact camping areas.
Existing law, the Special Occupancy Parks Act, establishes requirements for the construction, maintenance, occupancy, use, and design of special occupancy parks. Existing law defines “special occupancy park” to mean a recreational vehicle park, temporary recreational vehicle park, incidental camping area, or tent camp.
This bill would specify that, for purposes of that act, a special occupancy park does not include a low-impact camping area, as specified, that is located in a county that has enacted an ordinance, as specified, authorizing low-impact camping and meeting specified requirements. The bill would impose specified requirements on owners of private property offering low-impact camping area sites and on online hosting platforms. The bill would define a “low-impact camping area” to mean any area of private property that provides for the
transient occupancy rental of a temporary sleeping accommodation, as defined, for recreational purposes that is not a commercial lodging facility. The bill would specify that a low-impact camping area is not a special occupancy park if, among other things, it meets certain requirements, including compliance with applicable local requirements relating to waste disposal and quiet hours, as specified. The bill would require that a county that has authorized low-impact camping to take specified actions, including, among others, to establish a registry of low-impact camping areas, as specified, and to notify the Department of Housing and Community Development of the county’s choice to authorize low-impact camping areas. The bill would also require all state and local eviction processes applicable to a special occupancy park to apply to a
low-impact camping area.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF