What is encampment management?

The BeautifySJ Encampment Management Program works hard to find a balance between helping those living in encampments and addressing the needs of the broader community.

Our goal is to keep our public spaces safe and clean while also supporting people living in encampments. Reporting an encampment helps us ensure that both unhoused individuals and the broader community are supported.

Not every report will result in an abatement. When possible, we take time to educate encampment residents about our Good Neighbor guidelines and enroll them in our trash services. But, there are times when an encampment can’t stay where it is. In situations where an abatement is necessary, BeautifySJ provides at least three days’ notice, and outreach teams visit the area, ensuring unhoused residents know what resources are available.

Report an Encampment ^

The BeautifySJ Encampment Management Program uses an encampment intake form to gather information about reported encampments in San José and assess them to determine appropriate actions.

REPORT AN ENCAMPMENT HERE

Setback Locations & Conditions ^

Unhoused encampments are removed when they are in setback areas. Setback locations and conditions include:

Good Neighbor Guidelines ^

Code of conduct guidelines to help keep our shared community safe.

• Encampment is kept within a 12x12x12 area or within a lived-in vehicle (no items on the roof, under, or outside of the vehicle)
• Public right-of-way is not blocked by the encampment or trash
• Trash is set out for pickup
• Biowaste is properly stored

Good Neighbor Guidelines flyers can be found here in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Weekly trash services ^

Every week, approximately 180 active encampments are visited by Encampment Management Teams that educate, engage, and collect trash at homeless encampments. This effort is a part of the City of San José’s blight reduction strategy.

CLICK HERE FOR TRASH SERVICE MAP

Cash for Trash

The Cash for Trash Program helps battle blight in San José by incentivizing unhoused residents to pick up trash at encampments. Unhoused residents can exchange their collected trash for pre-loaded, fee-free debit cards.

RV Pollution Prevention ^

The RV Pollution Prevention Program (RVP3) provides essential sanitary services to residents living in RVs, ensuring that waste is properly managed and disposed of. By offering these services, the program helps prevent the spread of contaminants, protects local waterways, and contributes to a cleaner and healthier environment for the entire community.

Interagency Coordination ^

The BeautifySJ Interagency Team is responsible for coordinating contracts and services to maintain clean waterways, highways and neighborhoods with other jurisdictions.

Interagency coordination is aimed at keeping San José clean by providing cross-jurisdictional coordination around trash/blight activities, and ensuring good communication with and response from external partners such as Caltrans, Union Pacific, Valley Water, Santa Clara County, and PG&E.

Escalated Cleanups ^

There are no abatements (i.e., encampments are not being removed) during escalated cleanups.

The City of San José conducts escalated cleanups when sites contain abandoned, burnt, broken or disassembled items, substantial amounts of trash and large items, or hazardous or flammable material that poses an immediate health or safety hazard.

During an escalated cleanup, BeautifySJ staff removes all items and materials outside of organized living spaces.

Abatements ^

During abatements, the City of San José will remove all items and materials remaining in the area, including items left within sight of the current encampment area and/or waterway.

Personal property collected will be stored at a City facility for 90 days unless it’s perishable, dirty or soiled, contaminated, hazardous or explosive, disassembled or broken items (including electronic parts stripped for copper, bike parts, pallets, or wood or other metal parts), weapons, obvious trash, or items that present an immediate health or safety hazard.

For questions about personal property storage, please refer to the Personal Property Storage Multilingual FAQ document here.

Prevention - No Encampment Zones ^

A No Encampment Zone is an area where encampments are not allowed. Once clearly marked with signage, the City of San José can immediately remove any encampments found in the area—no 72-hour notice is required.

No Encampment Zones are located along waterways to protect the environment and comply with stormwater permit regulations. They are also located along Emergency Interim Housing (EIH) sites to prevent new encampments from forming nearby. These zones help protect people, neighborhoods, and our environment.

Resources ^

• No Encampment Zones FAQ
• Encampment Management Program Flyer
• June 2025 Neighborhood Forum - Panel Discussion (Video)

For More Information ^