Highland, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Section 12.06.120 of the Highland Municipal Code is the cleanup protocol behind the City of Highland's 2025 camping rules. Subsection A makes it unlawful to store personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, in any public park or on any public right-of-way, street, highway, alley or other public property, and subsection B lets the city collect and impound it. Before removing an item, the city serves a written notice by personal service or certified mail at the owner's last known address or, if the person cannot reasonably be found, posts it conspicuously on the property. The notice must describe the property, give its location, the date and time posted, the section violated, and a statement that the property will be impounded if not removed within 48 hours, plus where it will be stored.

The notice must also state that impounded property becomes abandoned if not claimed within 30 days after impoundment. Under subsection D, the city can skip the 48-hour notice when immediate removal is necessary: soiled or unsafe items such as needles, sharp tools, chemicals, moldy items, controlled substances or fire risks, property blocking emergency response access, or any other imminent threat. Under subsection E, the city will not store bulky items, soiled items or unsafe items.

After removal, the city leaves or posts a notice for a minimum of 10 days near the collection site, or on the city's website, saying what was taken, where it is stored, how to claim it, and the date of disposal. The owner pays actual moving, storage, appraisal, advertising and disposal expenses unless the finance department grants an advance hardship waiver, which must be requested within 10 days of the pre-removal notice, with a sworn affidavit. Sale proceeds left after costs are held in trust for 30 days.

The underlying ban is § 12.06.100, which makes camping, sleeping or sheltering on public property or in a park, right-of-way, street, highway or alley unlawful and a public nuisance. Section 12.06.130 bars using a vehicle as an automotive dwelling, and § 12.06.150 exempts city-designated, permitted temporary uses or special events and city-sponsored gatherings.