Palm Springs, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

040 makes it unlawful to camp or maintain an encampment on any public property, including streets, sidewalks, parks, open space and waterways, unless the city manager specifically authorizes it, and separately bars sleeping on any public sidewalk, street, alleyway, median, parkway or right-of-way at any time. Subsection (c) additionally bans camping or sleeping anywhere it poses an immediate threat to a person, to public health or safety, or disrupts a business, religious institution, school or government service, regardless of shelter availability. Subsection (d) flatly bans camping within two blocks of a posted school or shelter, in any open space or waterway, within a transit hub or along rail tracks, and in any park the city manager finds poses a substantial health and safety risk, again regardless of shelter availability.

070(b) limits enforcement of the general camping and sleeping bans in subsections (a) and (b) to times when no shelter is reasonably available to that specific person, but the location-specific bans in subsections (c) and (d) apply at all times. 050 requires the city to post a written notice, in English and Spanish, on each tent or structure giving a minimum of 72 hours to remove belongings, followed by photographing the site, opening bags and containers to check for storable items, and impounding property of apparent value at the police department rather than discarding it outright.