Sunnyvale, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Chapter 9.63 of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code, adopted by Ordinance 3058-15, makes it unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities, use camp paraphernalia, or cause a disturbance or nuisance in any park, street, or other public property except as otherwise authorized by the code (§ 9.63.030). A separate provision, § 9.63.040, bars storing personal property or unattended property, including camp facilities and paraphernalia, in the same public areas. "Camp" is defined as erecting or occupying camp facilities for apparent overnight occupancy or using camp paraphernalia such as tarpaulins, mattresses, lanterns, stoves, or non-city cooking equipment (§ 9.63.020). Property left unattended for twelve hours or more is deemed "unattended per se."

Enforcement is graduated under § 9.63.050: a department of public safety officer may not cite or arrest anyone for a chapter violation without first orally requesting the person to stop, then, if noncompliant, tendering a written warning that citation or arrest may follow, and only then proceeding to citation or arrest if the person still refuses to cooperate. Where no one is present to remove unattended property, the city must post the area at least seventy-two hours before removing and storing the property under the city's administrative encampment-removal procedures and applicable state and federal law. Owners get ninety days to reclaim stored property before the city may destroy it. The chapter's stated purpose is keeping parks, streets, sidewalks, and other public areas clean, sanitary, safe, attractive, and accessible for their intended public uses (§ 9.63.010).