5.557 Overnight Sleeping in Vehicles.
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Medford Municipal Code, any public or private entity may provide parking spaces for up to and not exceeding three vehicles for overnight sleeping in a vehicle on their parking lot if the public or private entity owns or leases real property on which a structure and an associated parking lot are located.
(2) A public or private entity that allows a person or persons to sleep overnight in a vehicle on the premises pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall:
(a) Provide, or make available on the premises, sanitary facilities including, but not limited to, toilet, hand washing, and trash disposal facilities;
(b) Not allow tents or other personal property to be attached to the vehicle as a means to expand the capacity of the vehicle for additional camping or to establish long term campsites; and
(c) Ensure vehicles maintain a minimum distance of 20 feet from other overnight camping vehicles; and
(d) Ensure that all vehicles are operable; and
(e) Obtain a cost-free permit from the City of Medford to allow overnight vehicle camping on property owned or leased by the organization, which may set a maximum number of spaces used for this purpose as set forth in subsection (3) of this section; and
(f) Not require payment of any fee, rent, or other monetary charge for overnight sleeping in a vehicle as authorized by this section.
(3) If the public or private entity seeks to allow more than three vehicles to park on its property for this purpose, the entity must obtain preapproval from the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee for a maximum number of vehicles. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee may designate the maximum number of vehicles used for sleeping for a property, and may subsequently modify that maximum number based upon the totality of the circumstances, including performance of the entity’s operation to date and impacts on surrounding properties.
(4) A public or private entity that permits overnight sleeping in a vehicle pursuant to subsection (1) of this section may revoke that permission at any time and for any reason. Any person who receives permission to sleep on a premises as provided in subsection (1) of this section shall leave the premises immediately after permission has been revoked.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee may prohibit overnight sleeping in a vehicle at a premises as provided in subsection (1) of this section if the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee finds that such activity does not meet the requirements of this section or constitutes a nuisance or other threat to public health, safety, or welfare.
(6) In addition to any other penalties that may be imposed, any premises used for overnight sleeping in a manner not authorized by this section or other provisions of this code shall constitute a nuisance and may be abated as such.
(7) Nothing in this chapter creates any duty on the part of the City, its employees, or its agents to ensure the protection of persons or property with regard to overnight sleeping in vehicles.