Costa Mesa Municipal Code Chapter XIV, "Camping and Storage of Personal Property in Public Areas," states that it is unlawful to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia in the street or alley, public parking lot or public area or park.
Section 11-302 defines camp, camp facilities, and camp paraphernalia. Camp means to pitch or occupy camp facilities or to use camp paraphernalia. Camp facilities include, tents, huts or temporary shelters. Camp paraphernalia includes tarpaulins, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks or non-city designated cooking facilities or similar equipment. A person in the park may have several items with them, including bags, a cart and a sleeping bag, but unless they are (1) Pitching or occupying a tent, hut or temporary shelter, OR (2) Occupying a tarpaulin, a cot, a bed, a sleeping bag, hammock OR (3) Using a non-city designated cooking facility or similar equipment, that person is not in violation of the city’s camping ordinance. In other words, mere possession of camping equipment does not constitute camping.
A violation of the city’s camping ordinance requires that a person pitch or occupy a tent, hut, or temporary shelter or sleep in a sleeping bag, cot, hammock or use a non-city designated cooking facility. People picnicking in the park does not constitute camping. However, if they are engaged in any of the above mentioned activities and/or are sleeping there at night, please contact either the NHS or the Police Department.