Abatement of encampments.
Riverside Municipal Code § 9.11.040
in effect9.11.040 - Abatement of encampments.
The City Manager may remove personal property, camping paraphernalia, and all other property, contraband, litter, and waste found at an encampment or at a location where a person is engaged in unlawful camping in compliance with the following procedures:
A. Written notice required prior to abatement.
1. A written notice of clean-up will be posted on each tent or structure and in any other distinct areas of the encampment providing notice of the date of clean-up and giving a minimum of 24 hours for persons to remove their personal property.
2. After 24 hours, the City Manager shall conduct abatement of the site on the date posted on the notice of clean-up. If abatement is delayed or rescheduled, the City Manager may conduct abatement within 48 hours of the posted notice of clean-up without reposting a new notice of clean-up. If abatement is delayed longer, the City Manager shall repost a notice of clean-up with a new date.
B. The City Manager shall follow these additional procedures when persons are present at an encampment during abatement:
1. When shelter is available, the City Manager shall offer any person at an encampment with shelter and service information and direct them to remove their belongings from the site.
2. Any person who returns to an encampment during abatement shall be allowed to remove their personal property from the site. Personal property left behind will be deemed abandoned.
3. Any person arrested for a criminal offense or an outstanding warrant shall not be required to abandon personal property they identify as their own. Unless the person requests the personal property be discarded or entrusted to another, all personal property of apparent value will be taken by City for impoundment in accordance with existing policy and procedure. Where the owner of the items cannot be readily identified or discovered, the City Manager shall follow the abatement process in this section.
C. The City Manager shall document the abatement process as follows:
1. Photograph or video record the site before, during, and after the abatement process.
2. Open backpacks, purses, suitcases, and other small storage containers to determine whether they contain items eligible for storage.
3. Set out items contained in bags or suitcases and photograph the items.
D. Unclaimed items found in abatement shall be eligible for storage if:
1. Circumstances indicate that the item belongs to a person,
2. The item has apparent utility in its current condition and circumstances, and
3. The item can be safely retrieved from the site.
Examples of items potentially eligible for storage include identification and associated paperwork, medication stored in medication bottles with identifying information, art, art supplies, musical instruments, and items that reasonably appear to have sentimental value in their current condition. An item need not be in a new or perfect condition to have apparent utility.
E. An eligible item found during an abatement shall be put into storage, unless it meets one the following disqualifying conditions:
1. Hazardous, including items contaminated with human waste, animal waste, or bugs, explosives, weapons, liquids, drug paraphernalia, or mold;
2. Likely to become hazardous in storage, including perishables, wet materials that might become moldy, and items covered in mud;
3. Bulky items that are practically un-storable, due to large size, weight, or other similar characteristic;
4. Contraband or stolen; or
5. Is on the City Manager's current list, published on the City's website, of common types of items that, in the experience of City staff, individuals regularly abandon during abatement, and there is no contrary indication as to the specific item.
F. The City Manager shall record each eligible item to be stored, including the location it was found and the date of storage. Any stored items shall be kept in storage at least 60 calendar days and then may be disposed.
G. After abatement has concluded and when eligible items are collected and will be placed in storage by City, the City Manager shall post notices at the location of the abatement that includes information how a person can claim stored items. Information about retrieval of stored items shall also be available on the City's website. A person may retrieve stored items based on a description with sufficient specificity to demonstrate ownership. A person may retrieve stored items without inquiry into the person's criminal background or outstanding warrants.
H. Expedited abatement.
1. In an expedited abatement, the City Manager shall follow the same abatement and storage procedures in Section 9.11.040 but shall post a notice of clean-up giving a minimum of three hours for all persons to remove their personal property.
2. The City Manager shall prioritize and expedite the removal of an encampment if:
a. The City receives direction from County of Riverside or other governmental authority that abatement of the encampment is necessary to preserve public health or safety, including to address known or suspected outbreaks of diseases; or
b. The City Manager observes or reasonably suspects the encampment creates a condition that presents a significant risk of property damage, bodily injury or death.
(Ord. 7689, § 4(Exh. A), 2024)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT9PESAMO_CH9.11CAEN_9.11.040ABENFetched: 11/1/2026