Garden Grove, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

020(A) makes it unlawful to camp on any public property, listing streets, alleyways, sidewalks, medians, parkways, driveways, rights-of-way, public restrooms, benches, bus shelters, parks, open space, storm drains, public buildings, and parking lots. Subsection B separately bans sleeping in those same locations, plus pedestrian and vehicular entrances abutting a public sidewalk and along railroad tracks, at any time as a matter of individual and public safety. Subsection C adds buffer-zone rules: camping, sleeping, lying down, or placing property is also unlawful within 20 feet of the entrance or exit to any business, restaurant, or office open to the public, within 20 feet of an ATM or its door, within 250 feet of a public or private school or day care center, or in a way that blocks ADA-required passage or unreasonably interferes with vehicles, pedestrians, or bicycles on the right-of-way.

Subsection D bars leaving unattended personal property, such as tents or furniture, on the same public places. 030 lets the City Council adopt a resolution setting removal and recovery procedures; absent one, property left in a prohibited camping area for more than 24 hours may be removed by the City and reclaimed by its owner for up to 90 days. Unattended property whose owner cannot be identified is presumed abandoned after a reasonable effort to check, and property that is unsanitary, soiled, spoiled, or verminous may be destroyed outright.

040 carves out three exceptions: City-approved or City-sponsored camping events, camping at locations the City Council designates by resolution, and viewing a legally conducted parade, race, or procession along its route.