Redwood City, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Chapter 49 of the Redwood City Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 2550 on September 8, 2025, makes it "unlawful and a public nuisance" to place or maintain an encampment on public property when an available shelter location exists for that person (Sec. A), but the prohibition cannot be enforced against someone who has not declined an offer of shelter or otherwise has no access to it (Sec. B). Before removing personal effects, the City must give written notice: at least 48 hours if the encampment sits within 200 feet of a "sensitive area" (schools, Cañada College, the San Mateo County Navigation Center at 275 Blomquist Street, or any waterway including Redwood Creek, Cordilleras Creek, Bayfront Canal or Redwood Shores Lagoon), or 72 hours for all other encampments (Sec.

A). Notice must state the date and time occupants must vacate, warn that unaccompanied items may be discarded, and give a phone number and address for questions (Sec. C). Items posing an imminent safety threat, contraband, evidence, or items blocking pedestrian or vehicle traffic can be removed immediately without that notice (Sec. B). City representatives must itemize and photograph everything removed and store it for 90 days at no cost; unclaimed items after 90 days may be discarded, recycled, or donated (Sec. E-G). For abandoned sites the City may treat apparent garbage as removable on sight and must post a notice giving 48 or 72 hours (matching the sensitive-area distance rule) before discarding non-garbage items (Sec. H). The City Manager may adopt further implementing policies and procedures under Sec. 4.