Palos Verdes Estates Municipal Code Ch. 8.64 Unlawful Camping

For purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed below:

Camp

To pitch, erect, create or occupy an encampment, or to use camp paraphernalia for the purpose of, or in a way that facilitates, creating outdoor living accommodations or remaining outdoors overnight in a fixed location.

Camp Paraphernalia

Personal property used to facilitate occupancy of an area including, but not limited to, mattresses, couches, dressers, or other furniture as well as personal property typically associated with camping such as tarps, cots, beds, sleeping bags, hammocks, bedding, camp stoves, cooking equipment, buckets, and similar equipment.

Encampment

One or more temporary, makeshift, or hand-built structures, including tents, that are used to shelter one or more persons or their belongings and that are not authorized to be placed in their existing location by the property owner. Encampment includes any camp paraphernalia and personal property associated with, or located in or around, the structures or tents.

Public Property

Any real property, or interest or easement thereon, owned, leased, controlled, or maintained by the City or other public entities.

(Ord. 771, 3/10/2026)

It is unlawful for any person to camp in or upon any public property including, but not limited to, any street, sidewalk, trail or park.

(Ord. 771, 3/10/2026)

This chapter shall not apply to any person camping, occupying camp facilities, or using camp paraphernalia, or to any person storing personal property, including camp facilities and camp paraphernalia, on any public property designated by the City or property owner for such purposes. The City Council may, by resolution or ordinance, establish one or more specified areas of public property for such purposes.

(Ord. 771, 3/10/2026)

A. Except as otherwise provided in this code or by resolution of the city council, any personal property left unattended at a location where camping is prohibited under Section 8.64.020 shall be considered abandoned and may be removed or impounded by the city or by peace officers in accordance with agency procedures.

B. Unless the public health and safety necessitates the immediate disposal of property collected under subsection A, such property may be recovered by the owner according to procedures established by the city manager, or designee, or by the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department.

(Ord. 771, 3/10/2026)