Merced, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Camping ban
- parks, streets, sidewalks, lots
- School buffer
- 1,000 feet
- Immediate removal
- if threat to life/safety
- Standard notice
- 48 hours advance
- Property storage
- 30 days before disposal
- First-offense fine
- $50
- Repeat-offense fine
- up to $300
Summary
Merced bans public camping and storing personal property in parks, streets, sidewalks, and public lots, and within 1,000 feet of any school. Code enforcement can remove encampments immediately if they threaten life or safety, or after 48 hours' notice otherwise, storing seized items for 30 days under Chapter 9.51.
Encampments and personal property shall be removed immediately if it is determined by code enforcement that the encampment poses an immediate threat to life, health, safety, or infrastructure. In all other instances, advanced notice shall be posted at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to removal of individuals who are engaging in the act of public sleeping or camping; personal items shall be stored for thirty (30) days, unclaimed items will be disposed of after thirty (30) days. The city shall ensure that personal property is inventoried and labeled in a manner to facilitate identification. ... A.Offenders will be fined for violations of Sections 9.51.030 and 9.51.040 as follows:1.Fifty dollars ($50.00) for a first violation;2.One hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for a second violation within the consecutive twelve-month period after the date of the first violation; and3.Three hundred dollars ($300.00) for each additional violation within the consecutive twelve-month period after the date of the first violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 - 1-26).
Full Breakdown
030 to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia in any park, street, sidewalk, public parking lot, public area, or within 1,000 feet of a school. 040 separately makes it a misdemeanor to store personal property, including camp paraphernalia such as tents, tarps, sleeping bags, or cooking equipment, in those same locations. 050. 060. Code enforcement may remove an encampment and personal property immediately, without advance notice, if it determines the encampment poses an immediate threat to life, health, safety, or infrastructure. In every other case, the city must post advance notice at least 48 hours before removing anyone engaged in public sleeping or camping.
Seized personal items must be inventoried and labeled to allow the owner to identify them, then stored for 30 days; anything unclaimed after 30 days is disposed of. 070 sets escalating fines for violating the camping and storage bans: $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second within twelve months, and $300 for each additional offense in that period. The city may also bar a repeat offender from specific areas for up to 30 days, and persistent violators can be referred to the district attorney for criminal trespass, punishable by up to 30 days in jail plus a fine.
Violations & Fines
First-time camping or storage violations under Sections 9.51.030-9.51.040 draw a $50 fine, rising to $150 for a second offense within 12 months and $300 for each further offense. Section 9.51.070.B lets the city bar repeat offenders from an area for up to 30 days and refer persistent violators for criminal trespass, punishable by up to 30 days in jail plus a fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice does Merced give before clearing a homeless encampment?
What happens to belongings taken during an encampment cleanup?
What is the fine for illegal camping in Merced?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Merced
California rules heatmap·Compare Merced to another location·View the California homelessness & encampment rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.