Los Angeles, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Attended property limit
- Up to a 60-gallon container (lid closed)
- Essential personal property (always allowed)
- Less than 2 cubic feet, about a backpack
- Tent restriction hours
- Prohibited 6:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. (except rain or <50°F)
- § 41.18 zones
- Tents prohibited at all hours
- Pre-removal notice period
- 72 hours posted; actual removal within 24 hours of notice
- Storage before discard
- 90 days
Summary
LAMC § 56.11 prohibits storing unattended personal property or excess personal property (more than a 60-gallon container's worth) in any City public area. Tents may not be erected in public areas from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., except during rainfall or when temperatures fall below 50°F.
SEC. 56.11. STORAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,182, Eff. 4/11/16.) 2.(d) 'Essential Personal Property' means any and all Personal Property that cumulatively is less than two cubic feet in volume, which, by way of example, is the amount of property capable of being carried within a backpack. (e) 'Excess Personal Property' means any and all Personal Property that cumulatively exceeds the amount of property that could fit in a 60-gallon container with the lid closed. 3.(a) No Person shall Store any Unattended Personal Property in a Public Area. (b) No Person shall Store any Attended Excess Personal Property in a Public Area. 7.(b) In any Public Area not covered under Subsection 7.(a), no Person shall erect, configure, construct, maintain, use, occupy, or allow to remain erected any Tent in any Public Area from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (except during rainfall or when the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit). 5.(b) Except as specified herein, the City shall store impounded Personal Property for 90 days, after which time, if not claimed, it may be discarded. The City shall not be required to undertake any search for, or return, any impounded Personal Property stored for longer than 90 days.
Full Breakdown
The City may impound unattended property and attended excess property (over 60 gallons) with 24-hour pre-removal notice. Property that obstructs ADA-required passage, driveways, bike lanes, or active City operations may be removed immediately without prior notice. Impounded property is stored for 90 days; if unclaimed, it may be discarded. Tents in areas governed by LAMC § 41.18 are prohibited at all times. Persons may not attach property to public fixtures (benches, poles, trees, signs) without City consent.
Violations & Fines
Willful obstruction of City workers enforcing this section is a misdemeanor. Obstruction of ADA passage, bike lanes, or streets and tent violations in § 41.18 zones are governed by LAMC § 41.18(f). Impounded property not claimed within 90 days may be permanently discarded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much property can a person keep in a public area?
When are tents allowed in Los Angeles public spaces?
What happens to impounded belongings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
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Encampment Sanitation in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle encampment sanitation.