Homelessness & Encampment Rules in San Mateo County, CA (2026)
1 county-level rule, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in San Mateo County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.
Encampment Sanitation
Camping on public property in unincorporated San Mateo County is banned once an available shelter bed exists, backed by written-warning enforcement, a 72-hour removal notice, and 90-day storage of seized belongings.
San Mateo County Encampment Removal Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Mateo County Ordinance Code § 3.109.030
(a)When there is an available Shelter Location for a person, it is unlawful and a public nuisance for that Person to place, erect, configure, construct, or maintain an Encampment on public property anywhere in the unincorporated area of the County.(b)Section 3.109.030(a) shall not be enforced against any Person unless that Person has declined an offer of an available Shelter Location or otherwi...
Homelessness & Encampment Rules by City in San Mateo County
1 cities in San Mateo County have their own homelessness & encampment rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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