San Jacinto, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Chapter 9.10, adopted by Ordinance 24-05, starts from a broad rule. Section 9.10.030(A) makes it unlawful to camp, occupy camp facilities or use camp paraphernalia on any public property within the city, except as provided in the chapter or authorized by the city manager. "Camping" under § 9.10.020 means residing in or using public property for one or more nights for living accommodation purposes, such as sleeping or preparing to sleep, storing personal belongings, making a fire, using tents or cooking meals, when it reasonably appears the person is using the property as living accommodation with intent to camp.

Subsections B and C are the part that applies regardless of shelter space or beds. Subsection B bans camping or maintaining an encampment that poses an immediate threat or unreasonable risk of harm to any person or to public health or safety, or that disrupts vital government services. Subsection C lists the locations: within one thousand feet of a school, youth center or day care center, within one thousand feet of any shelter, in any waterway or its banks, within any transit hub including bus stops and on or along train tracks and platforms, in any park where the city manager determines there is a substantial public health and safety risk, within one thousand feet of critical infrastructure or public utilities, and in wildfire risk areas shown on the San Jacinto Wildfire Risk Map posted on the city's website and on file with the city clerk.

Cleanup runs through § 9.10.040. It is unlawful to store personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, on public property, and the city manager together with the city attorney is authorized to adopt guidelines for the removal, storage and destruction of that property. The chapter itself prints no notice period.

Enforcement limits sit in § 9.10.050. A first and second violation is an infraction under Chapter 1.24, and later violations by the same person are misdemeanors. Officers cannot issue a criminal citation for a § 9.10.030(A) violation between nine p.m. and five-thirty a.m., or when the person is on public property at a time when there is no available shelter. Available shelter means shelter reasonably available at the time, offered to and refused by the individual, with no disability or circumstance preventing its use. Subsections 9.10.030(B) and (C) stay enforceable at all times.