Lauderhill, FL Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Chapter 14, Article IX of the Lauderhill Code defines public camping or sleeping broadly: erecting a tent, hut, lean-to or other temporary shelter, or laying down bedding such as a mat, blanket or sleeping bag to sleep, rest or conduct daily-living activities outdoors, including storing personal possessions there. Vehicles that are registered, insured and lawfully parked are excluded, as is camping on land the city designates for recreational camping. Section 14-131 makes it unlawful to regularly engage in this conduct on public property, defined to include streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, parks and any other city-owned or leased grounds.

Before enforcement, an officer must first verbally request the person move on; only after noncompliance can a civil citation issue, and the officer must first try to determine whether the person needs medical, mental-health, substance-abuse or homeless-assistance services and offer transport to a hospital or shelter. If the person still refuses transport or does not need services, the officer may issue a Uniform Code civil citation under Section 7-3, or refer the person into the Broward County Adult Civil Citation Program under Broward County Code Section 21-2, with arrest possible only for failing that program.

Personal property left behind is inventoried and stored by the Lauderhill Police Department for up to 30 days, while perishable or unsanitary items may be discarded immediately; unclaimed property after 30 days is disposed of under F.S. ch. 705. Section 14-132 requires any resident, business owner or the Attorney General to give the city five business days' written notice, through the E-311 system, to cure an alleged violation before suing.