Kenai council passes camping ordinance limiting tent numbers

Kenai City Council passed a camping ordinance Wednesday that defines three or more tents on private property as a campground, removing all time limits after debate over consistency with RV rules.

Council Member Phil Daniel reported the outcome to the Planning and Zoning Commission the same day. The final version allows tents indefinitely on private property with no other restrictions.

An earlier draft with a five-day limit failed after Councilman Grimme objected to inconsistency with existing code. Current rules allow RVs to remain on property for 30 days. Vice Chair Dothit told the commission Grimme raised the discrepancy between tent and RV time limits. "That was a big contested issue, and so that just got thrown out completely," Dothit said.

Daniels acknowledged concern that property owners wouldn't be able to let family camp on their land. "At least the city got something on the books," she said. She described the final version as a compromise, saying "the way it was looking, it wasn't going to go."

Daniels said she would be interested in reviewing enforcement data after the summer to determine whether the ordinance needs tightening.