Davis, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- Ordinance 2670, December 3, 2024
- Scope
- All public property citywide
- Family exception
- 2 consecutive nights with owner consent
- Special-event permit
- Issued by parks & community services director
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, fine and/or jail
- Nuisance remedy
- Abatement by injunction or restraining order
Summary
Davis Municipal Code Article 26.11 makes it "unlawful and a public nuisance" to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia on any public property, or on private property outside a narrow owner-consent exception. Adopted in December 2024, the ban applies citywide to streets, sidewalks, parks, and other public land.
It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia in the following areas: (a) Any public property; or (b) Any private property. (1) It is not intended by this section to prohibit overnight camping on private residential property by friends or family of the property owner, so long as the owner consents and the overnight camping is limited to not more than two consecutive nights. ... The director of parks and community services may, as provided in Section 26.11.040 of this article, issue a temporary permit to allow camping on public or private property in connection with a special event.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Section 26.11.010 finds that camping on streets, sidewalks and public areas "interferes with the rights of others" and is a "public health and safety hazard." Section 26.11.020 defines "camp facilities" to include tents, huts, vehicles or vehicle camping outfits and temporary shelter, and "camp paraphernalia" to include bedrolls, tarpaulins, cots, sleeping bags and cooking equipment. Section 26.11.030 makes it unlawful and a public nuisance to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia on any public property or private property, with three exceptions: overnight camping by friends or family on private residential property, with the owner's consent, limited to two consecutive nights; ordinary lawful uses of private property; and camping authorized by a special-event permit issued by the director of parks and community services under Section 26.11.040.
A special-event permit requires a council-set fee, must be posted conspicuously on site (Section 26.11.050), and the director may attach conditions on security, sanitation, occupancy and quiet hours, or revoke the permit for nuisance conditions (Section 26.11.060). Violating Section 26.11.030 is a misdemeanor under Section 26.11.070.
Violations & Fines
Camping in violation of Section 26.11.030 is a misdemeanor under Section 26.11.070, punishable by a fine and/or county jail time up to the limits set by California Government Code Section 36901. The city may also pursue civil or administrative penalties under the Municipal Code's administrative-citation article, and any unlawful camp is separately declared a public nuisance subject to abatement by a restraining order or injunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to sleep outside in Davis?
Can I let a friend sleep in a tent in my backyard?
How does Davis handle camping tied to special events like a marathon?
What happens if someone is caught unlawfully camping in Davis?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis
California rules heatmap·Compare Davis to another location·View the California homelessness & encampment rules overview
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Encampment Sanitation in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Yolo County handle encampment sanitation.