Clovis's Homelessness & Encampment Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles homelessness & encampment rules a little differently. In Clovis, California, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Encampment Sanitation

Clovis bans sleeping or camping in public rights-of-way, parks, and unimproved private lots without owner permission under Municipal Code § 5.27.510. Camps that threaten public health or safety can be removed by police after a warning, and daytime park sleeping between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. is exempted.

Key details: Governing section: Clovis Muni. Code § 5.27.510. Daytime park sleeping allowed: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.. Overnight camping: only in designated areas. Removal authority: Chief of Police or designee. Required before removal: warning + chance to leave.

A camp that violates § 5.27.510 is declared a public nuisance and can be removed by the Chief of Police or a designee upon a finding of an immediate threat to health, safety, or welfare; occupants must first be warned and given a chance to remove the camp themselves. The section works alongside § 5.27.512's separate right-of-way personal-property rules and the general nuisance abatement and cost-recovery procedures of Chapters 28 and 29 of Title 5.

This is one of the stricter rules in Clovis's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Sit-Lie Rules

Clovis bars standing or sitting idly on a street or sidewalk in a way that hinders passersby, and bars blocking the entrance or approach to any church, theater, hall, or public assemblage. Municipal Code § 5.27.501 covers both public passageways and entrances to public gathering places.

Key details: Governing section: Clovis Muni. Code § 5.27.501. Adopted: Ord. 14-02, eff. March 5, 2014. Covers: streets, sidewalks, entrances/approaches. Enforcement: Police Department, misdemeanor citation.

Obstructing a public passageway or the entrance to a public assemblage under § 5.27.501 is enforceable as a misdemeanor under the Municipal Code's general penalty chapter (Chapter 2 of Title 1), and officers can direct a person to move before citing or arresting for continued obstruction. Repeated or ongoing obstruction can also be pursued as a nuisance subject to abatement under Chapters 28 and 29 of Title 5.

The Bottom Line

Clovis's homelessness & encampment rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Clovis is broadly strict or permissive.

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