DATE: November 3, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Nathan Magsig, Supervisor, District 5
John Zanoni, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Amendment to Ordinance Code Section 13.16.040 Regarding Camping-Reservations-Fee
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Conduct first hearing to amend Fresno County Ordinance code, Section 13.16.040 of Chapter 13.16 of Title 13 - Roads, Parks, Other Public Places, relating to the allowable number of consecutive camping days at County-maintained parks and update the container fire pit rules; waive reading of the proposed Ordinance in its entirety, and set the second hearing for November 17, 2026;
2. Designate County Counsel to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed Ordinance; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to post and publish the required summary in accordance with Government Code section 25124(b)(1).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The proposed amendment to Section 13.16.040 of Chapter 13.16 of Title 13 - Roads, Parks, Other Public Places, would revise the maximum number of consecutive camping days from fourteen days in any calendar month down to a maximum of seven days, with a 30-day waiting period before campers can return to camping at County-maintained parks. Approval of the recommended actions will update a provision of the ordinance that had previously allowed campers to burn trash in the campground fire pits and requires that all garbage be placed in provided garbage containers. The proposed changes to the Ordinance Code shall become effective thirty days after passage of second hearing. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to approve the recommended actions, which would result in the existing ordinance language remaining unchanged, allowing fourteen consecutive camping days in any calendar month and campers will continue to be allowed to burn trash in designated campground fire pits.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions.
DISCUSSION:
On October 1, 2002, your Board adopted amendments to section 13.16.040 Camping-Reservation-Fees, within Chapter 13.16 of the County Ordinance Code, relating to parks and recreation areas. Those amendments designated responsibilities to the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning for the oversight of County managed parks facilities and campgrounds.
Section 13.16.040 Camping-Reservation-Fees, requires individuals to obtain a written camping permit from the Director of Public Works and Planning before camping in any county-maintained park or recreation area. Camping is only allowed in designated campsites listed on the permit. Permits cannot exceed 14 days in a single calendar month unless the director (or a designee) approves a longer stay due to low campground occupancy.
County staff have observed a growing pattern of “park hopping,” where campers move from one available campsite to another in order to bypass the 14-day stay limit. Additionally, the current ordinance does not address whether a camper may obtain a 14-day permit at the end of one calendar month and immediately secure another 14-day permit at the start of the next month. This gap in the ordinance creates ambiguity and allows individuals to effectively extend their stays beyond the intended limit.
Approval of the recommended action will amend the ordinance to reduce the maximum allowable consecutive camping days from fourteen days per calendar month to a maximum of seven consecutive days. After completing a seven-day stay, campers would be required to wait 30 days before becoming eligible to camp again at any County-maintained park. These changes will ensure that County campgrounds are available to all users.
The recommended action will also remove a provision of the ordinance that had previously allowed campers to burn trash in the campground fire pits and requires that all garbage be placed in provided garbage containers.
If the recommended actions are approved by your Board, the second hearing will be set for November 17, 2026. If your Board adopts the recommended amendment, the recommended changes to the Ordinance Code will become effective thirty days after passage.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Ordinance
Ordinance - Redline
On file with Clerk - Summary of Ordinance
CAO ANALYST:
George Uc