San Diego County, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Where banned
- County parks, streets, highways, County property
- Covers
- Sleeping, tents, bedding, stored belongings
- Citation trigger
- Imminent risk of death, injury, disease, or fire
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Unincorporated San Diego County bans camping and encampments on County parks, streets, highways and County-owned property, including storing belongings or waste there.
no person shall camp or maintain an encampment in any County Park, or any public street or highway, or on any improved or unimproved property owned, leased, or managed by the County.
(1) "Camping" is defined as the use of any County Park, any public street or highway or improved or unimproved property owned, leased, or managed by the County, for temporary living accommodations such as, but not limited to, sleeping, sleeping activities, or making preparations to sleep, including the laying down of bedding for the purposes of sleeping, or storing personal belongings, or making any fire, or using any tents, or other temporary structures.
(2) "County Park" has the same meaning as defined in section 41.102(b) of this Code.
(3) "Encampment" means one or more temporary, makeshift, or hand-built structures not intended for long-term continuous occupancy, including tents, used to shelter one or more persons or their belongings and that are not authorized by any permit, license or regulation. Encampment includes any camp paraphernalia and personal property associated with or located in or around the structures.
(4) "Ignition Source" means any source capable of kindling a fire, in the form of a mechanical or electrical spark, glowing ember, open flame, chemical reaction, friction or similar action that is capable of kindling a fire.
(b) Unless expressly authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer or his
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
County Code Section 73.108 prohibits camping or maintaining an encampment in any County Park, public street or highway, or improved or unimproved County-owned, leased, or managed property without authorization from the Chief Administrative Officer. The ban covers sleeping, laying bedding, using tents or temporary structures, and storing personal belongings or waste including garbage and human or animal waste. A related ban on ignition sources and open fires applies in the same locations. This applies only in unincorporated San Diego County; the City of San Diego enforces its own encampment rules under its own municipal code.
Violations & Fines
Misdemeanor or infraction under Section 11.116, fine up to $1,000 and up to 6 months in County Jail; citations limited to cases posing imminent risk of death, injury, or spread of wildfire or communicable disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can deputies ticket every camper in San Diego County?
Does this apply inside the City of San Diego?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California homelessness & encampment rules overview
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