Salt Lake City, UT Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 11.12.080
- Removal window
- 5 minutes after police request
- Default penalty
- Class B misdemeanor (§ 1.12.050)
- Max fine
- $1,000
- Covered property
- Streets, parks, playgrounds, public grounds
Summary
Salt Lake City makes it unlawful to camp, cook, build a fire, or pitch a tent on public grounds, streets, parks, or playgrounds without authorization, with a five-minute removal order once police intervene.
It is unlawful for any person to camp, lodge, cook, make a fire or pitch a tent, fly, lean to, tarpaulin, or any other type of camping equipment on any "public grounds"... upon any portion of a "street"... or in any park or playground, unless allowed by section 15.08.080 of this code. It is unlawful for any person using or benefiting from the use of any of the foregoing items of camping equipment to fail to remove the same for more than five (5) minutes after being requested to do so by any police officer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 11.12.080 outlaws camping, lodging, cooking, fires, and tents or tarps on any public grounds, street, park, or playground unless a permit under § 15.08.080 allows it. "Public grounds" covers federal, state, and city-owned property where camping isn't authorized. Anyone using camping gear must remove it within five minutes of a police officer's request or face prosecution.
Violations & Fines
No penalty is set in § 11.12.080 itself, so the citywide default under § 1.12.050 applies: a class B misdemeanor, up to a $1,000 fine and/or six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is camping on Salt Lake City streets or in parks legal?
How fast must a camp be removed if police ask?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah homelessness & encampment rules overview
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Encampment Sanitation in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle encampment sanitation.