Richmond municipal codes and relevant code language

1. Public Space Use on sidewalks, parks, parklets, curtilages, planters, etc

RMC 9.36.030

Public laundry and public wash-house premises not to be used for sleeping purposes.

RMC 9.36.030

Unsupervised minors prohibited in public places when school is in session.

It shall be unlawful for any minor who is subject to compulsory education or to compulsory continuation education to be in or upon any public street, highway, road, alley, park, playground, or other public ground, public place, public building, place of amusement, eating establishment or vacant lot 30 minutes or more after school commences and 30 minutes or more prior to the time school ends on days when said minor's school is in session.

RMC 11.96.030

Unlawful camping.

It shall be unlawful for any person to camp, sleep in or occupy camp facilities or use camp paraphernalia in the following areas, except as otherwise provided

RMC 12.28.340

Construction, hanging and use of awnings and signs regulated—Obstructions on sidewalks prohibited.

No person owning or occupying any premises fronting on a public street shall place any goods, wares or merchandise, for the purpose of exhibitions display or advertisement, on any portion of the sidewalk in front of said premises, nor suffer any such goods, wares or merchandise, or any advertising banner or device over any portion thereof.

No person shall place any crates, cases, barrels or boxes on the sidewalks nor suffer anything to remain thereon in front of premises occupied by him which will in any manner restrict the public use thereof. No sign shall be suspended above and across any sidewalk except as hereinafter provided.

RMC 12.36.140

Temporary obstructions.

such materials and equipment shall not occupy more than one-third of the roadway in front of the construction work, and shall be placed thereon subject to the direction and approval of the director of public works. In no event shall the equipment or materials be placed within five feet of any railroad track. All materials, debris, and equipment shall be so placed as not to obstruct any gutterway, and shall be so cared for as to prevent material from being blown or otherwise carried [away]...No material or other obstruction shall be placed within fifteen feet of fire hydrants, which must remain at all times readily accessible to the fire department.

The permit shall prescribe the date when work shall begin, and the time of occupancy of the street, provided, however, that the director of public works may order the materials, equipment and debris, or any portion thereof, to be removed within three days after written notice, and in the event the same is not removed within the time prescribed by the director of public works, or in the permit, as the case may be, the director of public works may cause the same to be removed and charge the costs thereof against the guarantee deposit.

RMC 14.32.040

Riding or driving on sidewalk or parkway.

No person shall ride, drive, propel or cause to be propelled any vehicle across or upon any sidewalk or parkway except over permanently constructed driveways and excepting when it is necessary for any temporary purpose to drive a loaded vehicle across a sidewalk or parkway; provided further, that said sidewalk or parkway area be substantially protected by wooden planks at least two inches thick, and written permission be previously obtained from the Director of Public Works. Such wooden planks shall not be permitted to remain upon such sidewalk or parkway area during the hours from six p.m. to six a.m.

RMC 14.32.090

No entrance into intersection that would obstruct traffic.

No operator of any vehicle shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, not-withstanding any traffic-control signal indication to proceed.

RMC 14.36.020

Men pedestrians must use crosswalks.

No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than by a crosswalk in the central traffic district or in any business district.

2. Personal property

RMC 8.24.020

Permit required for erection of temporary structures.

It shall be unlawful for any person to establish, maintain or operate any place of assemblage in any tent or other fabric enclosure within the limits of the City of Richmond without first having made application to and received permission to do so in accordance with the conditions and limitations as set out in this chapter.

RMC 9.22.040
Definitions

“Junk” means any castoff, damaged, discarded, junked, obsolete, salvage, scrapped, unusable, worn-out or wrecked object, thing or material composed in whole or in part of asphalt, brick, carbon, cement, plastic or other synthetic substance, fiber, glass, metal, paper, plaster, plaster of Paris, rubber, terra cotta, wool, cotton, cloth, canvas, organic matter or other substance, having no substantial market value or requiring reconditioning in order to be used for its original purpose.

“Owner.” In addition to the definition set forth in Section 9.20.010 of this Code, the term “owner” also means the occupant, lessee, or holder of a beneficial interest in real property, as the case may be.

RMC 9.22.090

Nuisances specified.

It is declared a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any premises in this City to maintain such premises or to permit such premises to be maintained in such a manner that any one or more of the conditions or activities described in the following subsections are found to exist:

(1) Generally

(A)Any dangerous, unsightly, or blighted condition which is detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the public;

(B)Any condition in violation of the California Building Code, National Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, Uniform Housing Code, California Plumbing Code and Uniform Security Code, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, the State Building Standards Code

(2)Buildings or Structures in a State of Disrepair.

(3)Property Inadequately Maintained.

RMC 11.16.010

Storage of lost, stolen or unclaimed property.

All property or money taken from persons under arrest, or taken under suspicion or with knowledge of its having been stolen or feloniously obtained, and all property or money constituting evidence or proceeds of crime, or taken from intoxicated or insane persons, or other persons incapable of taking care of themselves, and all property or money lost or abandoned that may come into the possession of any member of the police department, shall be delivered to the chief of police, who shall enter or cause to be entered in a record to be kept by him for that purpose, a detailed description of the same, together with the name of the person, or persons, from whom received, the names of any claimants thereto, the time of the seizure, and the final disposition thereof.

RMC 11.16.020

Disposition of property upon adjudication—Custody of property if accused held for trial.

When any person arrested shall be adjudged innocent of the offense charged by a court of competent jurisdiction, which shall adjudge that the property or money belongs to such person, the chief of police shall thereupon deliver such property or money to him personally, and not to his attorney or agent, and take his receipt therefor. If the accused be held for trial or examination, such money or property shall remain in the custody of the chief of police until the discharge or conviction of the person accused, unless prior thereto he has delivered the same to a state or county officer, as provided by law.

RMC 11.16.030

Sale of property at public auction.

The city manager or such person as shall be designated by him, may sell at public auction all unclaimed property that has been in custody for a period of six months. He shall fix a day upon which the sale shall take place, and shall give notice thereof by publication three times in the official newspaper. The notice shall state the day and hour when such sale shall commence and shall contain a general description of the property to be sold, or shall refer to a list thereof on file with the city clerk. The notice shall be signed by the city manager or by the person designated by him to conduct such public auction. The proceeds of such sale shall, together with all moneys unclaimed for a period of six months, be paid into the city treasury. In no case shall any property be sold or disposed of until the necessity for the use thereof as evidence has ceased.

RMC 11.96.040

Storage of personal property in public places.

It shall be unlawful for any person to store personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, in the following areas, except as otherwise provided:

(a)Any park;

(b)Any street;

(c)Any parking lot, public area or open spaces, improved or unimproved.

3. Vehicles

RMC 9.40.010

Storage of personal property in public places.

Except as described in Section 9.40.015 or 9.40.018, no person owning or controlling any trailer, house car, tent or similar structure shall cause or permit the same to be used as a dwelling habitation or sleeping accommodation within the City of Richmond except in trailer camps for which a conditional use permit granted under the provisions of the zoning ordinance of the City of Richmond is in effect. Provided, however, that a trailer, house car, tent or similar structure not in a trailer camp may be used as a temporary sleeping accommodation for periods of time totaling not more than 21 days in any calendar year, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1)That no rent is paid or other consideration given to anyone for the use and occupancy of any site or parcel of land by the occupant of the trailer, house car, tent or similar structure. For purpose of this provision rent shall have the same meaning as defined in Richmond Municipal Code Section 11.100.030(j);

(2)That no cooking or bathing is permitted therein;

(3)That no nuisance is created by such use;

(4)That such trailer, house car, tent or similar structure complies with the requirements of size and lot location prescribed for accessory buildings in single-family districts by the zoning ordinance;

(5)That such trailer, house car, tent or similar structure is located on a lot on which there is a single-family or duplex dwelling house in use as such;

(6)That not more than one such trailer, house car, tent or similar structure is so used at any time on a single lot;

(7)That a certificate of occupancy therefor is first obtained in the manner prescribed by [Chapter 6.02] of the Building Code;

(8)That all the requirements of Section 18000, et seq., of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California relating to mobile homes and mobile home parks are complied with.

RMC 9.40.015

Tiny houses on wheels pilot project.

(b)Definition. "Tiny house on wheels" means a structure intended for separate, independent living quarters for one household that meets these six conditions:

(c)For the purposes of this section, the pilot project will allow not more than six tiny houses on wheels to be occupied and issued a zoning compliance certificate. The time period for the pilot project shall begin following adoption of this section and shall terminate 36 months thereafter.

(d)Tiny houses on wheels that are part of the pilot project may be located in any zoning district where residential uses are allowed, with or without a conditional use permit, including non-residential districts where residential uses are allowed as an accessory use.

(e)Tiny houses on wheels shall comply with standards of the Zoning Code RMC 15.04.610.020 Accessory Dwelling Units.

RMC 11.76.010

Abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles—Findings and declaration of public nuisance.

The accumulation and outdoor storage of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles, or parts thereof, on private property is found to create a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, to promote blight and deterioration, to invite vandalism, to create fire hazards, to constitute an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, to create a harborage for rodents and insects and to be injurious to the public health, safety and welfare. Therefore the presence of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicle, or parts thereof, on private property, except as expressly hereinafter permitted, is hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance which may be abated as such in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, other applicable sections of this Code, and the laws of the State of California.

RMC 11.76.070

Notice of intention to abate.

(b)A ten-day notice of intention to abate and remove the vehicle, or parts thereof, as a public nuisance shall be mailed by certified mail to the owner of the land and to the owner of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is in such condition that identification numbers are not available to determine ownership.

RMC 11.76.090

Removal of vehicle and/or parts thereof.

If the vehicle has not been removed or abated within ten days after the mailing of the notice of intention to abate specified herein and the notice was not timely appealed, or upon expiration of any extension of time to abate as determined by the Hearing Officer, the vehicle, or parts thereof, may be disposed of by removal to a scrap yard or automobile dismantler's yard pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Joints Powers Agreement with the Contra Costa County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Plan, the latest Resolution of the City Council and the California Vehicle Code. After a vehicle has been removed and abated by the City, it shall not thereafter be reconstructed or made operable unless it is a vehicle which qualifies for either horseless carriage license plates or historical vehicle license plates pursuant to Section 5004 of the California Vehicle Code, in which case the vehicle may be reconstructed or made operable.

RMC 14.40.020

Stopping or standing in parkways prohibited.

No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway.

RMC 14.40.050

Use of streets for storage of vehicles prohibited.

(a)No person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any street or alley for more than 72 consecutive hours.

(c)No person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any commercial trailer or semitrailer shall park such trailer or semitrailer upon any street or alley unless the trailer or semitrailer is, at all times while so parked, and attached to a vehicle capable of moving the trailer or semitrailer in a normal manner upon the street or alley.

(d)Any vehicle found in violation of this section may be towed away.

RMC 14.40.070

Repairing or greasing vehicles on public streets.

No person shall construct or cause to be constructed, repair or cause to be repaired, grease or cause to be greased any vehicle or any part thereof upon any public street in this City. Temporary emergency repairs may be made upon a public street.

RMC 14.46.080

Overnight parking prohibited; no parking times.

(a)It is unlawful for any person to cause or permit any vehicle registered in said person's name or operated by said person to be parked in any parking space in an off-street parking facility operated by the City in excess of 24 consecutive hours without that person having obtained from the parking services manager an overnight parking permit. In the event a vehicle is left parked or standing in a City parking facility for 24 or more consecutive hours, any member of the Police Department of the City of Richmond, or any City employee assigned to the enforcement of parking laws and regulations, may remove the vehicle from the parking facility in the manner and subject to the requirements of the California Vehicle Code.

(b)The Parking Services Manager is authorized and directed to designate times when no parking shall be allowed in off-street parking facilities operated by the City. It is unlawful for any person to cause or permit any vehicle registered in said person's name or operated by said person to be parked in a parking space in an off-street parking facility operated by the City at times when no parking has been so designated for such facility.

RMC 14.46.130

Notice of parking violation and vehicle removal.

It shall be the duty of each police officer or employee of the Police Department as designated by the Police Chief, and any City employee assigned to enforce parking laws and regulations, to observe any vehicles that are parked in violation of this chapter or the California Vehicle Code, and to issue and attach to such vehicles a notice of parking violation or to remove such vehicles as provided by law.

4. Solicitation

RMC 7.40.010

Peddlers and Solicitors—Definitions.

“Peddler” means and includes any person, whether a resident of the city or not, who travels by foot or by any type of conveyance from door to door, house to house, place to place or street to street, carrying, conveying or transporting food, goods, wares, merchandise, or other personal property of any nature whatever, offering or exposing the same for sale or making sales and delivering articles to purchasers, or who without traveling from place to place, sells or offers the same for sale from any vehicle or from any place not a permanent store building. “Peddler” means and includes the words “hawker,” “huckster” and “itinerant vendor,” and includes peddlers as the same are defined in Section 7.04.020 of this article and any amendment or revision thereof hereafter ordained.

“Referral sales” means the sale of goods in which part of the inducement offered by the seller is a rebate, discount, commission or other consideration to be given the buyer when the latter either sells or gives information leading to a sale by the seller of the same or related goods.

“Solicitor” means and includes any person, whether a resident of the city or not, who travels either by foot or by any type of conveyance from door to door, house to house, place to place, street to street, taking or attempting to take orders for the sale of foods, goods, wares, merchandise, or for services to be furnished or performed in the future, whether or not such person has, carries or exposes for sale a sample of the subject of such sale or whether he collects advance payments on such sales or not. “Solicitor” includes any person who uses or occupies any building, structure, room, shop, conveyance or other place other than a permanent store building within the city for the purpose of exhibiting samples and taking orders for future delivery.

RMC 7.40.060

Peddling and soliciting at signed premises prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person to peddle or solicit at any premises within the City of Richmond which are posted with a clearly visible sign bearing the words "No Peddlers or Solicitors" or similar words of the same purpose and effect.

RMC 7.44.010

Soliciting sale of magazines, etc., in certain public places prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit, on any public street or sidewalk, park or other public place, or in any doorway or entranceway immediately abutting thereon, the sale of any subscription to any magazine, periodical, or other publication, or the sale of any tangible personal property for delivery at a subsequent time.

RMC 11.36.020

Distributing on public property (Handbills).

It shall be unlawful for any person, either directly or indirectly, to deposit place, throw, attach, scatter, or cast, any handbill in or on any public thoroughfare, park, ground or other public place within the City of Richmond; the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to prohibit the handing, transmitting or distributing of any handbill to any person willing to accept such handbill.

5. Sanitation & Health Enforcement

RMC 9.20.050

Placing solid wastes on streets, sidewalks, etc., prohibited.

(a)It is unlawful for any person to throw, place, scatter or deposit any solid waste upon any street, sidewalk, public place or publicly owned property in the City or to cause or permit any solid wastes to be thrown, placed, scattered or deposited on said public property by or through an employee, agent, representative or anyone acting for or on behalf of that person, except that an owner may place properly packaged materials at the curb on regularly scheduled days established by the City or the franchised collector for the removal of the same.

(b)It is unlawful for any person to place or deposit or cause to be placed or deposited by or through an employee, agent, representative or anyone acting for or on behalf of that person, any household, commercial solid wastes, in any can, bin, dumpster or other receptacle which is provided for public use and which is located on public property, except for solid wastes generated in or around the public property in which such receptacle is located.

6. Public Order / Quality-of-Life Offenses

RMC 9.40.060

Public urination and defecation prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate on private property in any area exposed to the public view or on any public street, sidewalk, parking lot, alley, park, or other public place, except in a public restroom.

RMC 10.04.020

Offensive conduct unlawful (Public Tennis Courts).

It shall be unlawful for any person on any public tennis court to indulge in boisterous or offensive conduct or use any vulgar or profane language.

RMC 10.06.010

Prohibited conduct (Library Patrons).

(1)Making or causing to be made a loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any sound which annoys other persons in the library or which disturbs or disrupts the quiet environment of the library;

(2)Threatening, intimidating, harassing, or abusing, by acts or words, any other person;

(3)Indecency or profanity, by acts or words, which disturbs or disrupts the quiet environment of the library;

(4)Intentionally defacing, breaking, or damaging, property of other persons or belonging to the City;

(5)Making or causing to be made a foul or offensive odor which is under said person's control;

(6)Making or causing to be made smoke or fire;

(7)Leaving children of the age of seven and under unattended by a supervising adult;

(8)Not wearing shoes or shirt;

(9)Eating food or drinking beverages except when medically necessary;

(10)Running, jumping, swinging, or using furniture or structures in an inappropriate or hazardous manner;

(11)Soliciting from, begging from, or selling to another person;

(12)Bringing or causing to be brought into the library any animal, mode of transportation (except baby strollers), or unusual object unless it is necessary to assist individuals with disabilities;

(13)Washing the body other than hands and face, cutting or washing hair, or changing or washing clothes;

(14)Sleeping or lying on the floor;

(15)Acts or conduct which endangers the health or safety of any person(s) in or about the library.

RMC 10.24.010

Controlling activities, use of certain playground equipment, etc.

(a)Whenever the city manager of the city of Richmond shall find and determine that the welfare of children or other citizens in the city of Richmond will be best served by restricting the use of any portion of or whole playlot, playground or park, playground equipment or other apparatus thereon, by controlling the type of activities on the properties, owned or controlled by the city of Richmond, the city manager shall control or preclude activities which in his judgment are deemed to be of a hazardous nature, or of a nature which would endanger property, or which are not in the best interest of the citizens of Richmond, in parks, playgrounds and recreation areas or any portion thereof, and he shall cause signs or notices to be posted to such effect.

(b)Whenever the city manager shall find and determine that the welfare of the citizens in the city of Richmond so requires, he may order that any playlot, playground or park owned or controlled by the city of Richmond, or any portion of such playlot, playground or park, shall be closed and that all persons shall be excluded therefrom between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and sunrise immediately following during the period of summer vacation of the public elementary and high schools of the city of Richmond, and between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and sunrise immediately following during all others times of the year.

RMC 10.24.030

Consumption of alcoholic beverages and possession of open containers in city parks.

(a)Pursuant to California Business and Professions Code Sections 25620 et. seq., no person shall consume, drink or sip from or exhibit, control or possess any open bottle, can, or other container of any alcoholic beverage in any quantity in any city park.

(b)Pursuant to California Business and Professions Code Sections 25620 et. seq., no person shall consume, drink or sip from or exhibit, control or possess any open bottle, can, or other container of any alcoholic beverage in any quantity within 15 feet of any city park.

For the purposes of this section, the meaning of the term "open bottle, can, or other container of any alcoholic beverage" means any receptacle of any size or shape containing an alcoholic beverage which has been opened, or the seal has been broken, or the contents of which has been partially or substantially removed.

RMC 11.04.020

Possession and consumption of alcohol prohibited in certain places.

(1)On any public street, sidewalk, alley, way, parkway, public parking lot, public park or recreation area within the City;

(2)On the posted premises of, including the posted parking lot immediately adjacent to, any retail package off-sale alcoholic beverage licensee;

(3)On other private property open to the public, including but not limited to parking lots and shopping centers, where the sale of alcoholic beverages has not been licensed; and

(4)On a private drive, stairway, doorway, or other private property open to public view without the express permission of the owner, his or her agent, or the person in lawful possession thereof.

RMC 11.32.060

Presence at gambling prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to visit, frequent, or be present at or within any house, room or other place used in whole or in part as a gambling house or place for playing, conducting, dealing, or carrying on any game with cards, dice or other devices for money, checks, chips, credit or any other representative of value.

RMC 11.48.010

Possession of lewd, obscene or indecent items prohibited in certain public places.

(a)In any school, school ground, public park or playground, or in any public place, grounds, street or way within three hundred yards of any school, park or playground;

(b)In any place of business where ice-cream, soft drinks, candy, food, school supplies, magazines, books, pamphlets, papers, pictures or postcards are sold or kept for sale;

(c)In any toilet or restroom open to the public;

(d)In any poolroom or billiard parlor, or in any place where alcoholic liquor is sold or offered for sale to the public.

(e)In any place where phonograph records, photographs, motion pictures or transcriptions of any kind are made, used, maintained, sold or exhibited.

RMC 15.04.815.040

Nuisance (Enforcement provisions).

A.Nuisance Defined. In accordance with Section 9.22.090 of the Municipal Code, the following is unlawful and constitutes a public nuisance:

1.Any building, structure, or planting set up, erected, constructed, altered, enlarged, converted, moved, or maintained contrary to the provisions of Article XV;

2.Any use of any land, building, or premises established, conducted, operated, or maintained contrary to the provisions of Article XV; or

3.Failure to comply with any of the conditions of a permit granted under Article XV.

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