CA Review JRT
Meeting Date: Sept. 30, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contact: Shaun Lawton, Lieutenant
[email protected], 442-339-2288
Jason Arnotti, Lieutenant
[email protected], 442-339-5554
Subject: Update on the Police Department’s Enforcement Efforts on Unlawful Camping in Vehicles, Oversized Vehicles and Other Parking Violations Districts: All
Rec
ommended Action
Receive an update on the Police Department’s enforcement efforts on unlawful camping in vehicles, oversized vehicles and other illegal parking violations.
Executive Summary
The City of Carlsbad continues to experience challenges with oversized vehicles, unlawful camping in vehicles and other illegal parking violations that impact quality of life and community safety.
The Police and Housing & Homeless Services departments have been working together on a balanced approach to help people experiencing homelessness secure housing while enforcing city laws that prohibit illegal parking and camping in vehicles in public spaces. Enforcement for these issues is guided by the Carlsbad Municipal Code and California state law.
This report is intended to inform the City Council about enforcement efforts since the City Council amended the Municipal Code last March to prohibit camping in vehicles in public spaces such as parks, beaches and city-owned property and parking lots. This report also provides an overview of the enforcement of oversized vehicles and other parking violations.
Explanation & Analysis
Unlawful camping in vehicles
The City Council amended the Carlsbad Municipal Code on March 18, 2025, to address quality- of-life concerns related to homelessness and people living in vehicles. The law, Ordinance No.
CS-487, amended Municipal Code Section 8.36 to prohibit camping in public spaces, including in vehicles. Enforcement of this prohibition requires the person to have access to adequate Sept. 30, 2025
Item #6 Page 1 of 7
temporary shelter and willfully refuse such shelter. The law took effect 30 days later, on April 18, 2025. Municipal Code Section 8.36 is provided as Exhibit 1.
Before enforcement began, the Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team conducted public outreach to inform individuals living in vehicles about the new law and to provide them with available resources. The education period, which took place between the adoption of the municipal code on April 18, 2025, and July 31, 2025, has now ended.
After these educational efforts, the Police Department conducted multiple special operations, which resulted in the following:
• 32 written warnings (does not include verbal warnings) • 29 citations
• 13 vehicles towed
• 5 arrests
It is important to note that enforcement varies depending on the situation. For example, an officer may contact someone sleeping in their vehicle who has an outstanding warrant. That individual may then be booked into jail, but that will not result in a citation for unlawful camping. Similarly, a citation cannot be issued unless direct contact is made with the person in the vehicle — for instance, an officer can’t issue a citation if an individual refuses to open their door. In that case, officers generally will use another municipal code section to conduct enforcement if a violation is noted.
Oversized vehicle parking violations and illegal parking violations Parking enforcement in Carlsbad employs a layered approach, with police officers, community service officers and the Senior Volunteer Patrol each playing a role.
The Carlsbad Police Department issued a total of 7,786 parking citations and warnings from Jan. 1-Sept. 1, 2025. The department’s efforts focused on violations that impact safety, accessibility and quality of life.
Citations and warnings issued by officers
Violation Jan - March April - June Jul - Sept 1
Oversized vehicle 59 47 131
Timed parking 193 161 85
Street sweeping 362 445 195
Unregistered vehicles 157 176 100
No parking zones 45 74 127
72-hour violations 20 57 33
Other violations 219 482 327
Totals 1,055 1,442 1,098
T
imed parking enforcement shows that the highest concentration of violations occurs on State Street, Grand Avenue, Beech Avenue, Christiansen Way and Oak Avenue.
Sept. 30, 2025
Item #6 Page 2 of 7
Other violations
Category Jan - March April - June July - Sept 1
Bike lane 20 71 61
Disabled parking space 44 80 54
Parking too close to crosswalk 10 46 19
Obstructing a hydrant 9 25 14
18+ inches from curb/wrong way 15 38 18
License plate issues 18 31 9
Not parked within the space 21 48 32
*Not all “other violations” are listed
Senior Volunteer Patrol enforcement
By integrating volunteers into this effort, the department expands its reach and enhances visibility without diverting sworn officers from higher-priority calls.
Notices, warnings and citations by Senior Volunteer Patrol members Category Jan - Sep 1
72-hour parking violation notices 2,323
Expired registration warnings 900
Handicap warnings and citations 511
Parking too close to crosswalk warnings 457
Total 4,191
Most useful measure
Notices for violating the city’s 72-hour parking limit continue to be the most effective tool in addressing abandoned vehicles and improving parking space turnover.
Fiscal Analysis
There is no fiscal impact from receiving this report.
Next Steps
The Police Department will continue its enforcement efforts on unlawful camping in vehicles, oversized vehicles, and other parking violations that impact traffic safety, curbside access, and the community’s character.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by California Environmental Quality Act Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and does not require environment review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) and 15061(b)(3), because the proposed action to report on enforcement efforts is an organizational or administrative government activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Any subsequent action or direction stemming from the proposed action may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA or the CEQA Guidelines.
Exhibits
1. Carlsbad Municipal Code, Chapter 8.36, Unlawful Camping, Fires on Public Property Sept. 30, 2025
Item #6 Page 3 of 7
CHAPTER 8.36
UNLAWFUL CAMPING, FIRES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, AND STORAGE OF
PROPERTY
§ 8.36.010. Purpose.
Public places within the city should be readily accessible to residents and the public at large.
The use of public places for camping can interfere with the rights of others to use these places for the purposes for which they were intended. Camping in these places can also endanger the public health and the environment when camping-related waste and human waste are disposed of improperly, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas, such as native habitat, open spaces and watercourses. Human presence in open spaces, other than on designated trails, can also increase the risk of wildfire danger and possible injuries to and from threatened wildlife.
Additionally, camping on private outdoor property without permission of the owner or lessee interferes with the owner or lessee's property rights and desire to utilize the private outdoor property for lawful and authorized purposes.
The purpose of this chapter is to maintain public places and private outdoor property within the city in a clean and accessible condition and to protect the public health, safety, and environment by ensuring that camping occurs only in those designated areas where appropriate provisions have been made for handling camping-related waste, food preparation, and fires. (Ord. NS-542 § 1, 2000; Ord. CS-405 § 2, 2021)
§
8.36.020. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
"Beach" means those areas as defined in Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 11.32.020. "Camp" means to use camping implements in an outdoor area or to erect or occupy a camp facility for living accommodations purposes such as sleeping activities, preparations to sleep (including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping), storing personal property, or making a campfire. These activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that the participants in these activities are in fact using the area as a living accommodation regardless of the intent of the participants or the nature of any other activities in which they may also be engaging. "Camping" does not include picnicking, sitting, lying, or sleeping in an outdoor area or in a camp facility that is not being used for living accommodations purposes. This definition shall not limit enforcement of Chapter 8.38 "Obstruction of Property, Trespass and Disorderly Conduct."
"Camp facility" means a tent, hut, tarpaulin, or other temporary outdoor shelter used for sleeping, living accommodations purposes, or carrying on cooking activities. "Camp facility" also includes a vehicle of any kind, whether or not the vehicle is operable, while parked and being used for sleeping or living quarters.
"Camping implements" means cots, beds, hammocks, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, luggage, back-packs, kitchen utensils, cookware, clothing, and similar gear or materials. "City personnel" means the Police Department and its third-party contractors and any other city employees or third-party contractors designated by the City Manager.
City of Carlsbad, CA
§ 8.36.010 § 8.36.020
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"Highway" means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to public use for purposes of vehicular travel.
"Open space" means any parcel of land or water which is unimproved and devoted to an open space use, and which is designated as an Open Space Zone in Title 21 of this code. "Park" means those areas as defined in Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 11.32.010. "Parkway" means the area of the street between the back of the curb and the sidewalk that typically is planted and landscaped.
"Person" is defined as any natural person, firm, association, business, trust, organization, corporation, partnership, company, or any other entity recognized by law as the subject of rights or duties.
"Personal property" includes the following items:
"Public place" means any property in the city-owned, leased, licensed, or operated by a public entity that is accessible to the public, including any of the following: parks, beaches, alleyways, parking lots, passageways, rights-of-way, landscaped areas or parkways, streets, highways, open space, sidewalks, curbs, and public educational institutions. "Shelter" means a structure designed to provide homeless persons and unstably housed individuals with overnight sleeping accommodations and relief from the elements. The "shelter" may offer meals, clothing, and supportive and self-sufficiency development services. "Shelter" may include a safe parking lot owned, leased, or operated by the city, another public entity, or a non-profit entity.
"Sidewalk" means that portion of a highway, other than the roadway, set apart by curbs, barriers, markings, or other delineation, for pedestrian travel.
"Store" means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to place for safekeeping, or to put in place or leave in a particular place, whether attended or unattended. "Street" means every highway, avenue, lane, alley, court, place, square, sidewalk, parkway, curb, bikeway, or other public way in the city dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated by state law.
"Tent" means a collapsible shelter made of fabric, such as nylon or canvas, or a tarp stretched and sustained by supports, which is not open on all sides and which hinders an unobstructed view behind or into the area surrounded by the fabric.
Medication, medical devices, eyeglasses, or other prescription lenses; 1.
Sleeping bag or bed roll which is sanitary and non-verminous; 2.
Tents in usable and reasonably good condition; 3.
Clothes stored in a manner protecting them from the elements, which are not unsanitary, soiled, or verminous;
4. Nonperishable food items; and 5.
Personal property with an estimated individual fair market value of at least $50.00. 6.
City of Carlsbad, CA
§ 8.36.020 § 8.36.020
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"Unattended personal property" means no person is present with an item or items of personal property who asserts or claims ownership over the personal property. Indicia of unattended personal property includes, but is not limited to, the act of leaving the personal property in a public place so that it may be appropriated by the next comer. Personal property is not considered "unattended" if a person is present with the personal property and the person claims ownership over the personal property.
"Vehicle" has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 670, as it may be amended from time to time.
(Ord. NS-542 § 1, 2000; Ord. CS-405 § 2, 2021; Ord. CS-487, 3/18/2025) § 8.36.030. Unlawful camping.
(Ord. NS-542 § 1, 2000; Ord. CS-405 § 2, 2021)
A. Public Property.
1. It is unlawful for any person to:
a. Camp or sleep in open space at any time.
b. Camp or sleep upon any public street, public park, public beach, or other public place, except in areas which have been specifically posted, designated, or permitted for such purposes, if the person has access to adequate temporary shelter, whether because they have the means to pay for it or because it is realistically available to them for free, and the person willfully refuses such shelter for any reason unrelated to the exercise of a state or federal constitutional right.
2. It is not the intent of this section to prohibit lawful protesting, picketing, demonstrating, signature gathering, voter registration, leafleting, or any other lawful activity.
B. Private Property.
1. It is unlawful for any person to camp on any private outdoor property without the express written or verbal permission of the owner or lessee of such property.
2. This subsection is not intended to:
a. Prohibit overnight camping on private residential property by friends or family of the property owner, so long as the owner consents to the camping activity. b. Prohibit or make unlawful, activities of an owner of private property or other lawful user of private property that are normally associated with and incidental to the lawful and authorized use of private property for residential or other purposes. c. Prohibit or make unlawful, activities of a property owner or other lawful user if such activities are expressly authorized by Title 21 of this code or other applicable laws, ordinances and regulations.
C. The City Manager or designee may issue a temporary permit to allow camping on public or private property in connection with special events (Chapter 8.17) or emergency services (Chapter 6.04).
City of Carlsbad, CA
§ 8.36.020 § 8.36.040
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§ 8.36.040. Fires and cooking on public property.
(Ord. CS-405 § 2, 2021)
§ 8.36.050. Storage of personal property in public places. (Ord. CS-405 § 2, 2021)
§ 8.36.060. Severability.
If any portion of this chapter, or its application to particular persons or circumstances, is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, the decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter or the application of the chapter to persons or circumstances not similarly situated. (Ord. CS-405 § 2, 2021)
A. It is unlawful for any person to start or maintain any fire in a public place, except in such areas specifically designated by the City Manager or designee for such fires, including stoves, barbecue pits, and fire rings.
B. It is unlawful for any person to cook food in a public place, except as otherwise allowed by this code or by license or permit, or except in locations specifically designated by the City Manager or designee.
A. Unlawful Storage. It is unlawful for any person to store or leave unattended any personal property, including camp facilities or camping implements, in a public place between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., except as otherwise provided by this code or pursuant to a valid license or permit. This subsection is not intended to permit storage of personal property where otherwise prohibited by this code.
B. Property Removal. City personnel may remove and store personal property that is unlawfully stored, unattended, or otherwise found in an unlawful encampment pursuant to applicable written and publicly available police department policies and procedures.
C. Obstruction or Interference with Property Removal. It is unlawful to willfully interfere with, resist, delay, or otherwise obstruct city personnel from moving, removing, impounding, or discarding personal property pursuant to Section 8.36.050(B).
City of Carlsbad, CA
§ 8.36.040 § 8.36.060
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Item #6 Page 7 of 7
Adriana Trujillo
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Mayor & Council,
michael ajdour < michaelajd@yahoo .com >
Monday, September 29, 2025 12: 15 PM
City Clerk
Item 6 on 9/30/25 agenda
All Receive - Agenda Item # i::;;,
For the Information of the:
CITY COUNCIL
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From my perspective, the area around Chase Field & Pine Park has improved slowly but significantly.
Big thanks to Shaun Lawton for his tenacity on this.
Sincerely,
Julie Ajdour
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
en attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i 1 Adriana Trujillo
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Mayor, Council, and Staff,
Teri Jacobs <[email protected] >
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 10:14 AM
City Clerk
9/30 Council Agenda Item #6
All Receive - Agenda Item # ~
For the Informa tion of the:
ITY COUNCIL
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Thank you to Lt's Lawton and Arnotti for the information presented in the agenda packet. Thank you also to Captain Smith, Lt. DeVelasco, and Sgt. Melissa Zavala for facilitating the community meeting pertaining to this issue. Finally, thank you's to Council Member Burkholder, City Manager Patnoe, Asst. City Manager Cobian, Police Chief Calderwood, the entire HOT Team, our Housing and Homeless Dept. and service providers! The areas of concern appear to have improved; however, some vehicles have merely moved to other less visible areas.
Hopefully, they have been contacted and are awaiting assistance provided by the grant awarded to the city.
The issue remains that there are those that choose an urban camping lifestyle and take advantage of our city's hospitality . The streets of Carlsbad and the Village Coaster Station were not intended to be campgrounds . I have complete confidence that areas of concern are being monitored by CPD and those needing assistance will accept it. My question is what becomes of those that refuse services? Regards,
Teri Jacobs
Resident Dist 1
Sent from my iPad
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Enforcement Efforts on Unlawful
Camping in Vehicles, Oversized
Vehicles and Other Parking Violations
Shaun Lawton, Police Lieutenant
Jason Arnotti, Police Lieutenant
Sept. 30, 2025
1 TODAY’S PRESENTATION
Overview of the City’s Vehicle Camping Ordinance
Summarize education, enforcement and outreach efforts
Review citywide parking enforcement
Outline future strategies and next steps
2 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
The City of Carlsbad continues to face challenges
with oversized vehicles, unlawful camping in
vehicles, and other illegal parking violations, which
impact quality of life and community safety.
OVERVIEW
3 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
VEHICLE CAMPING ORDINANCE TIMELINE
March 25, 2025
City Council adopted Municipal Code
No. CS-487, amending chapter 8.36
Warning & Education Period
June 12, 2025
Enforcement began
April 18, 2025
The ordinance became
effective with a warning
period
5 Mar 2025 Sept 2025
OBJECTIVES
Community
Concerns
Compassion &
Support for
Individuals in Need
Public Access
& Safety
6 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
ENFORCEMENT APPROACH
1. The city continues its approach of first offering shelter and services prior to citing a person.
2. If services are refused, the city’s Homeless Outreach Team officers then can issue warnings.
3. If the unlawful behavior continues, citations are an available tool for officers to use.
7 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
ENFORCEMENT APPROACH & RESULTS
Enforcement Drivers: Respond to community complaints
and conduct proactive patrols
Team Effort: Homeless outreach officers, parking
enforcement officers and Housing & Homeless Services
Department work together
8 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
9 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
Citations
32 Warnings
40 13
Vehicle tows
5 Arrests
ENFORCEMENT RESULTS SINCE JUNE 2025
• Citation must be issued to an individual
• Other options available to the officer:
• Parking citations
• Other Municipal codes
• Vehicle/ Penal codes
• 72 Hour parking notice
NAVIGATING ENFORCEMENT
10 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
CITYWIDE PARKING ENFORCEMENT
11 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
Jan. 1 – Sept. 1, 2025
CITYWIDE PARKING ENFORCEMENT
Professional Staff Enforcement Summary
Category Q1 Q2 July - Sept 1
Timed Parking 193 161 85
Street Sweeping 362 445 295
Unregistered Vehicles 157 176 100
No Parking Zones 45 74 127
72-Hour Violations 20 57 33
Oversized Vehicles 59 47 131
Other Violations 219 482 327
Total Citations/Warnings 1,055 1,442 1,098
12 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
CITYWIDE PARKING ENFORCEMENT
Other Violations Highlights*
Category Q1 Q2 July - Sept 1
Bike Lane 20 71 61
Disabled Parking 44 80 54
Daylighting (AB 413) 10 46 19
Hydrant Obstruction 9 25 14
18” from Curb/Wrong Way 15 38 18
Tabs/Plate Issues 18 31 9
Not Parked in Space 21 48 32
*Not all “other violations” are listed
13 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
Senior Volunteer Patrol Summary
Category Jan – Sept 1
72-Hour Parking Violation Notices 2,323
Expired Registration Warnings 900
Handicap Warnings and Citations 511
AB 413 Daylighting Warnings 457
Total 4,191
CITYWIDE PARKING ENFORCEMENT
14 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
NEXT STEPS
• Address violations that impact mobility and curbside
access, particularly in high-demand zones
• Monitor enforcement trends for the remainder of the
calendar year and adjust as necessary
• Collaborate with other city departments to prioritize outreach, engineering and enforcement efforts
15 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING
QUESTIONS?
16 ITEM 6: UNLAWFUL VEHICLE CAMPING