Los Angeles County conducts CARE-style encampment cleanups in unincorporated areas under Title 13.36 with mandatory 72-hour notice and property storage protections required by Lavan v. City of Los Angeles.
Encampment sanitation operations in unincorporated LA County are coordinated by the Sheriff's Department, Department of Public Works, and Department of Health Services Housing for Health teams. Title 13.36 authorizes removal of obstructions in public rights-of-way after notice. Lavan v. City of Los Angeles (9th Cir. 2012) requires the County to post written notice at least 72 hours in advance, store unattended personal property for at least 90 days, and provide a retrieval address. Bulky items, biohazards, and abandoned property may be discarded if documented. CARE+ teams perform deep cleans every two to four weeks at chronic locations. Incorporated cities run separate programs through their public works or sanitation bureaus.
Refusing to relocate during a posted cleanup can lead to citation under Title 13.36 and removal of belongings, but the County must store retrievable property 90 days under Lavan or face civil liability and federal injunction.
See how Santa Monica's encampment sanitation rules stack up against other locations.
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