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San Jose council adds implementation review to van‑lording, trespass ordinances after debate
Summary
The City Council approved measures to tighten trespass enforcement language and curb van‑lording while directing staff to return with an implementation plan and possible wording changes to avoid unintended penalties for people living in vehicles.
San Jose City Council on June 17 approved changes tied to two related ordinances aimed at giving property owners clearer tools to remove trespassers and targeting “van‑lording” — people or companies that lease space in vehicles and RVs for others — while delaying full enforcement so the city can return with implementation details.
The council voted 9–1 to adopt a substitute motion that accepted the existing trespass ordinance language but asked staff to return with an information memo on how the city will implement trespassing enforcement and to consider alternative language on van‑lording that focuses on landlords who lease out RVs rather than criminalizing people living in vehicles. Councilmember Campos voted no.
Why this matters: Council members and advocates said existing laws leave property owners without a clear, consistent process for asking police to remove people who remain on private property. At the same time…
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