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

Article XX of the Oxnard Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 2966, addresses camping in public areas citywide. Sec. 7-320(A) states it is unlawful to camp or occupy camp facilities in public areas without a city-issued permit, and Sec. 7-320(B) separately bans cooking food in public areas except as allowed by code or specific permit. "Camp" is defined broadly in the article's definitions section to include pitching or occupying camp facilities such as tents or temporary shelters, or using camp paraphernalia such as sleeping bags, cots, tarpaulins or cookware, whenever the circumstances show the area is being used as a living accommodation.

Sec. 7-321 governs what happens to belongings left in public places: it is unlawful to store personal property, including camp facilities and paraphernalia, in any public place unless the city manager otherwise allows it. Before removal, the city must post a notice at the location warning that unclaimed property will be deemed abandoned and subject to removal or destruction if not taken within 48 hours; property that poses an imminent health or safety threat, is contraband, or is evidence of a crime can be removed immediately without that notice period.

Removed items are inventoried, labeled, and stored by the city for 90 days, during which an owner who can identify the property and its approximate location can reclaim it. Anything still unclaimed after 90 days may be donated to a nonprofit, dedicated to public use, or destroyed, and intentionally abandoned property may be summarily abated at any time.