§ 3.68.080. General protective regulations.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    Vegetative. No person shall willfully or negligently pick, dig up, cut, mutilate, destroy, injure, disturb, move, molest, burn, carry away, collect or gather any tree or plant or portion thereof, including but not limited to leaf mold, flowers, foliage, berries, fruit, grass, turf, humus, shrubs, cones, ferns, mushrooms and dead wood in any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, or on any hiking and riding trail. Nothing in this section shall prevent the taking of any tree or plant or portion thereof, including but not limited to leaf mold, flowers, foliage, berries, fruit, grass, turf, humus, shrubs, cones, ferns, mushrooms and dead wood in any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, any hiking and riding trail by public officials pursuant to their official duties or by scientific permit from the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Department, or San Francisco Water Department, for the areas under their respective jurisdictions.

    (b)

    Vandalism (Property). No person shall disturb, destroy, remove, deface or injure any property of the County of San Mateo or the City and County of San Francisco which is located in any Recreation area or in any County Park or hiking and riding trail, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge. No person shall cut, carve, paint, mark, paste, or fasten on any tree, fence, wall, building, monument or other property in any County Park or Recreation area, or hiking and riding trail, or other property in any County Park or Recreation area, or hiking and riding trail, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, any advertisement, sign or inscription.

    (c)

    Littering. No person shall place or throw bottles, broken glass, crockery, ashes, waste paper, cans or any decaying or putrid matter or other rubbish in any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, except in a receptacle designated for that purpose, and no person shall import or deposit any rubbish into or in any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, or hiking and riding trail. No person shall transport or dump any rock, rubble, dirt, sand, fill or other similar material into or in any County Park or Recreation area without the permission of the Director, or the General Manager and Chief Engineer, or their representatives for the areas under their respective jurisdiction.

    (d)

    Reserves and Preserves. All geological and archeological features, plants and animals (dead or alive) are protected and taking is prohibited except the taking of such plants and animals as are permitted by regulations specific to the area.

    (e)

    Watershed Protection. No person shall contaminate in any way whatsoever any watershed or water supply in any Recreation area or in any County Park, or in the Watershed, or water supplies of any water purveyor holding a water purveyor's permit issued by the California Department of Health Services pursuant to Public Health Code, chapter 7, section 4011.

    (f)

    Water Quality Protection. No person shall wash clothing or cooking utensils, bathe in, or in any other manner pollute the waters of any Recreation area or any County Park, or in the Watershed, or water supplies of any water purveyor holding a water purveyor's permit issued by the California Department of Health Services pursuant to Public Health Code, chapter 7, section 4011.

    (g)

    Geological Features Protection. No person shall destroy, disturb, mutilate or remove earth, sand, gravel, oil, minerals, rocks, or features of caves, or lay, or set off any explosive material or cause to be done or assist in doing any of said things in any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, or hiking and riding trail without the specific permission of the Director or the General Manager and Chief Engineer, or their representative, for the areas under their respective jurisdictions.

    (h)

    Protection of Historical Features. No person shall remove, injure, disfigure, deface or destroy any object of paleontological, archaeological, or historical interest or value in any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, or hiking and riding trail nor shall any person engage in any excavation for said objects without first receiving written permission from the Director, or the General Manager and Chief Engineer, or their representatives, for the areas under their respective jurisdictions.

    (i)

    Domestic Animals. No dogs, cats, fowl or other domesticated animals shall be permitted to enter or go at large in any County Park or Recreation area, either with or without a keeper. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a guide dog under the control of a person with a vision or hearing impairment or "police dog" under the control of a peace officer from entering a County Park or Recreation area. No person shall release any captured wild animal within any County Park or Recreation area except authorized public officials pursuant to their duties.

    (j)

    Abandoned Animals. No person shall abandon a dog, cat, fowl or other animal within any County Park or Recreation area, or in the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge.

    (k)

    Feeding Domesticated Animals. No person shall feed any abandoned domesticated animal in any County Park or Recreation area, or in the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge.

    (l)

    Grazing. The running at large, herding or grazing of livestock of any kind in any County Park or Recreation area, or driving of livestock over same, is prohibited unless a lease of the land has been granted for that purpose. Livestock found in any County Park or Recreation area may be impounded and held until claimed by the owner and payment made for any damages caused and for any expenses incurred by the County in impounding and holding such livestock.

    (m)

    Horses Off Trails or Out of Designated Areas. No person shall ride, drive, lead, or keep a saddle horse, pony, mule or other such animal in any County Park or Recreation area except on such roads, trails or areas so designated and posted by the Department.

    (n)

    Wildlife. All County Parks and Recreation Areas and the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge are sanctuaries for wildlife. No person shall feed, approach, disturb, frighten, hunt, trap, capture, wound, kill, or disturb the natural habitat of, any wild bird, mammal, reptile, fish, amphibian or invertebrate within a County Park or Recreation Area or within any San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge area located within the County. This prohibition shall not apply to the following:

    (1)

    Action taken by public officials or their employees or agents, within the scope of their authorized duties, to protect the public health and safety.

    (2)

    The taking of fish as permitted by State Fish and Game Regulations.

    (3)

    The capturing and/or taking of park wildlife for scientific research purposes when done with written permission from the Director of the San Mateo County Division of Parks and Recreation or, in the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, from the San Francisco Water Department.

    (o)

    Firearms and Dangerous Weapons. Except as provided in subsection (p) and subsection (q), no person shall have in his possession within any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, and no person shall fire or discharge, or cause to be fired or discharged, across, in, or into any portion of any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, any gun or firearm, spear, bow and arrow, cross bow, slingshot, air or gas weapon or any other dangerous weapon.

    (p)

    Shooting Ranges. The discharge or firing of firearms is permitted in areas designated by the Parks and Recreation Commission, or San Francisco Water Department, specifically for the purposes of rifle and/or pistol and/or shotgun shooting, and the transportation of such firearms through the County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, in which said area(s) is/are located is permitted providing said firearms are unloaded. "Unloaded" shall mean that there is no ammunition in either the chamber or magazine of the gun.

    (q)

    Archery Ranges. The use of a bow and arrow, but not a crossbow, is permitted in areas designated by the Parks and Recreation Commission specifically for the purpose of archery, but all bows must be unstrung during transportation to and from such designated areas.

    (r)

    Loitering After Closing Time. It shall be unlawful for any person to remain in any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, or in any facility within any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, after the posted closing time, unless said person has lawful business therein.

    (s)

    Gambling. Gambling in any form, or the operation of gambling devices for merchandise or otherwise in any County Park or Recreation area is prohibited.

    (t)

    Alcoholic Beverages. No person shall possess or consume alcoholic beverages, other than beer or wine, in any form within any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge. Alcoholic beverages as described herein are permitted at Coyote Point County Park only in designated areas and during designated times. No person shall possess or consume any alcoholic beverages in any form at the Coyote Point Rifle and Pistol Range, or within twenty-five feet (25′) of the San Francisco Watershed vehicle parking lots or areas. This section shall not prohibit the dispensing of all types of alcoholic beverages by a licensee under the laws of the State of California, under a food and bar concession from the County or the consumption of such beverages on the premises of such concessionaire, or the consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons holding a written occupancy permit issued by the Parks Director, or his or her representative, for areas under his or her jurisdiction.

    (u)

    Private Operations. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of soliciting, selling or peddling of any liquids or edibles for human consumption or to distribute circulars or to hawk, peddle or vend any goods, wares or merchandise of any kind, except upon specific concession or permit secured from the Commission, or the General Manager and Chief Engineer, or his representative, for areas under his jurisdiction.

    (v)

    Authorized Operations. All persons, firms, or corporations holding concessions shall keep the grounds used by them properly policed and shall maintain the premises in a sanitary condition to the satisfaction of the Director or General Manager and Chief Engineer for areas under their respective jurisdictions. No operator of any concession shall retain in his employment any person whose presence is deemed by the District or General Manager and Chief Engineer for their respective jurisdictions not to be conducive to good order and management.

    (w)

    Commercial Filming. No person shall operate a still, motion picture, video or other camera for commercial purposes in any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge, except pursuant to a written permit from the Director or the General Manager and Chief Engineer, or their representative, for the areas under their respective jurisdictions authorizing such activity. This section shall not apply to the commercial operation of cameras as part of the bonafide reporting of news.

    (x)

    Closed Areas. No person shall enter any road, trail or area that is posted as closed or restricted without permission from the County Parks and Recreation Director.

(Prior code § 3387; Ord. 415, 06/25/34; Ord. 976, 01/15/52; Ord. 1287, 05/06/58; Ord. 2394, 09/21/76; Ord. 2807, 10/26/82; Ord. 3252, 07/31/90; Ord. 3796, 11/4/97; Ord. 3863, 12/1/98)