Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Camarillo, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Camarillo or are thinking about moving there, homelessness & encampment rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Camarillo has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of homelessness & encampment rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Sit-Lie Rules

Camarillo bans sitting or lying on sidewalks, curbs, doorways and shared public benches in its commercial zones, and separately bans obstructing traffic anywhere, but only after a warning from an enforcement officer.

Key details: Governing section: CMC § 10.46.020. Where banned: Sidewalks, curbs, doorways in commercial zones. Prerequisite: Prior warning from enforcement officer required. Key exceptions: Disability, medical emergency, permitted assembly. Adopted: Ord. No. 1084, 2-26-2014.

A first encounter results in a warning from an enforcement officer that the conduct violates the chapter; only a subsequent instance of the same prohibited conduct after that notice can be cited under Section 10.46.020(D). The exceptions in Section 10.46.030 (medical emergency, disability, permitted sidewalk business, permitted assembly, private-property consent, constitutionally protected activity) are complete defenses to a citation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Camarillo actively enforces its sit-lie rules requirements.

Encampment Sanitation

Camarillo bans camping, sleeping, and storing unattended belongings including tents and camp paraphernalia on any public place, from parks to sidewalks to publicly maintained drainage basins, under Municipal Code Sec. 10.42.030. Living out of a car, trailer or RV on public property is also prohibited, though a hardship exception applies when camping is truly involuntary.

Key details: Governing section: Municipal Code Sec. 10.42.030. Hardship exception: involuntary camping (Sec. 10.42.040). Warning required first: before any citation (Sec. 10.42.030(E)). Property removal notice: 3 days posted before removal. Personal effects storage: 90 days before disposal.

A first camping citation requires a prior warning from an enforcement officer under Sec. 10.42.030(E); only a repeat violation after that notice can be cited. From there, camping and storage violations are enforced under the city's general penalty chapter: a misdemeanor under Sec. 1.12.060 with up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, or an infraction under Sec. 1.12.070 with escalating fines of $100 to $500. Unclaimed personal effects are disposed of after ninety days, and other unlawfully stored property is treated as abandoned and may be destroyed.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Camarillo actively enforces its encampment sanitation requirements.

The Bottom Line

Camarillo is tougher than many cities when it comes to homelessness & encampment rules. Out of the 2 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Camarillo, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Camarillo's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.