Imperial County, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- Countywide, not just parks
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 6 months jail
- Exempt sites
- Wiest Lake, Red Hill Marina, Palo Verde
- Long-stay permit
- Required beyond 14 days
Summary
Camping, dwelling or sheltering in a vehicle, shanty or open area anywhere in unincorporated Imperial County without the landowner's written permission is unlawful under the county Camping Ordinance.
It is unlawful within the jurisdiction of Imperial County to do any of the following: A. To camp in, dwell in, or inhabit any campsite, area, property or structure other than with the written permission of the lawful owner thereof...; B. To construct, maintain, or allow to remain, any shanty, shack or abandoned vehicle used for purposes of human habitation; C. To camp in, dwell in, or inhabit an abandoned vehicle.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 62 - 9-25).
Full Breakdown
The Imperial County Camping Ordinance bans camping, dwelling in a vehicle, or building a shanty or shack for habitation anywhere in the unincorporated county without the landowner's written permission, and bars parking a camping vehicle outside a licensed campground, RV park or the specific county parks that allow it (Wiest Lake, Red Hill Marina, Palo Verde, Sunbeam Lake, Ocotillo). A shanty or inhabited abandoned vehicle is treated as a dangerous building subject to abatement. Stays beyond 14 days require a director-issued permit.
Violations & Fines
Unauthorized camping or an inhabited shanty is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and six months in jail; continuing more than 24 hours after citation counts as a new, separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sleeping in a vehicle legal anywhere in Imperial County?
What happens to an unauthorized shanty or camp structure?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Imperial County
California rules heatmap·Compare Imperial County to another location·View the California homelessness & encampment rules overview
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