Homeless Encampment Removal — Sacramento Property Owners' Guide

Sacramento City won't sweep an encampment on private property. That's on you. Under Sacramento City Code §12.20, the owner is responsible for removal, and left unattended these camps compound fast — tents attract more tents, then a fire hazard, then a code violation.

The fix is a two-part play: get the current camp legally cleared, then run consistent nightly patrols so the next one never forms. Prevention costs $15/night. Reactive cleanup after the fire marshal shows up runs into five figures.

FAQ — homeless encampment removal

Can I just tell them to leave?

Verbally, yes — but without documentation the person is often back that night. California requires a 72-hour posted notice before you can dispose of personal property. Our team posts, photographs, and preserves the notice window.

Does the city help with private property encampments?

Not with removal. Sacramento's 311 will refer to the county HOT team for social services, but the physical clearing and the ongoing deterrent are the owner's obligation. That's the gap our patrol fills.

How many nights of patrol before a camp stops re-forming?

In our experience with Sacramento multifamily and vacant industrial: 10-14 consecutive nights of visible marked SUV presence between 10pm-4am. After that, camps route to the next unpatrolled block.