La Mesa, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Chapter 10.52, adopted by Ordinance 2662 in December 1995, states its purpose as keeping La Mesa's streets, sidewalks and public areas clean and accessible by curbing camping and personal-property storage that interferes with the public's right to use them. Section 10.52.020 defines camp as pitching or occupying camp facilities or living temporarily outdoors, a campsite as any place bedding or sleeping gear is placed, and camp paraphernalia as tarpaulins, cots, sleeping bags, hammocks and similar gear. Section 10.52.030 then bans camping on any city sidewalk, street, alley, lane, park, right-of-way, or under any bridgeway or viaduct, unless the mayor declares an emergency exception or a designated campsite exists.

Section 10.52.040 separately bars storing personal property, including camp gear, in those same public locations except when the city council specifically authorizes it. The chapter also reaches private property: Section 10.52.050 bars overnight camping in a tent, camper or RV on private land without the owner's consent, and even with consent caps it at two weeks per calendar year, while Section 10.52.060 bars sleeping in a parked car on a public street for more than two continuous hours. Enforcement runs through the La Mesa Police Department and Community Development code enforcement staff, with cleanup and removal of stored belongings handled under Section 10.52.040.

Violations of the chapter generally are infractions under the citywide general penalty clause, Section 1.01.080, but Section 1.01.130 singles out Section 10.52.040 storage violations for elevation to misdemeanor status, exposing violators to the misdemeanor range: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in San Diego County jail, or both.