Elk Grove, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Sleeping on sidewalks
- banned at any time
- Property seizure notice
- 24 hours minimum
- Seized property held
- at least 90 days
- Administrative fines
- barred, §9.38.050(D)
- Adopted
- Ord. 16-2022; amended Ord. 12-2024
- Violation class
- misdemeanor, §9.38.060
Summary
Elk Grove bans sleeping on public sidewalks, streets, and alleyways at any time, and bans setting up a campsite on any public property, including parks and rights-of-way, under EGMC Section 9.38.020. The city can temporarily seize an offender's personal property after 24 hours' written notice and must hold it for at least 90 days before disposal.
It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person or persons to do any of the following on any public property within the City: 1. Sleep on public sidewalks, streets, or alleyways at any time. 2. Sleep in any pedestrian or vehicular entrance to public or private property abutting a public sidewalk. 3. Occupy a campsite in or upon any sidewalk, street, alley, lane, public right-of-way, park, bench, or any other public property and/or under any bridge, unless a) otherwise specifically authorized by this chapter, b) by a formal declaration of the City Manager in emergency circumstances, or c) upon a finding by the City Manager that a special event is exempt from the prohibitions of this section... B. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person to camp on private property without the consent of the owner of the private property. [...] the City shall provide the owner/possessor of the personal property not less than twenty-four (24) hours' written notice... advising that the personal property will be held by the City for not less than ninety (90) days.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937385; v2 updated 2026-05-13; through 05-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
38, added by Ordinance 16-2022 and amended by Ordinance 12-2024, is Elk Grove's unlawful camping ordinance. 020(A) makes it unlawful to sleep on public sidewalks, streets, or alleyways at any time, to sleep in a pedestrian or vehicular entrance to property abutting a public sidewalk, or to occupy a campsite on any sidewalk, street, alley, lane, right-of-way, park, bench, or other public property, or under any bridge. 010(C) to mean any place where bedding, a sleeping bag, a stove, or a fire is placed or maintained for a temporary place to live, whether or not a tent or other structure is involved.
The prohibition has three narrow outs: conduct specifically authorized elsewhere in the chapter, a formal emergency declaration by the City Manager, or a City Manager finding that a specific special event is exempt, with conditions the City Manager sets. Subsection (B) separately bans camping on private property without the owner's consent, but expressly allows camping on private property with the owner's express permission. 030 after giving at least 24 hours' written notice, and must hold seized property for at least 90 days at the city's expense before it can be destroyed or disposed of, unless the property is contaminated by human waste, presents a health hazard, or is illegal contraband.
050 bars the city from imposing any administrative monetary fine for a chapter violation, and instead directs the city to offer information about housing support services before pursuing property seizure.
Violations & Fines
A chapter violation is a misdemeanor under Section 9.38.060, enforced through EGMC Chapter 1.04, but the city cannot impose an administrative fine for it under Section 9.38.050(D). Before seizing property, the city must first offer the violator information about housing support services under Section 9.38.050(A)(2). The city may also pursue a civil action through the City Attorney or abate the violation as a public nuisance under Section 9.38.050(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I camp on my own private property in Elk Grove?
What happens to my belongings if the city clears an encampment?
Does Elk Grove fine people for violating the camping ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Elk Grove
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