Carlsbad council introduces ordinance to curb overnight vehicle dwelling, pairs enforcement with outreach

The Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance amending Chapter 8.36 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code to allow enforcement of public-camping prohibitions in vehicles, while staff emphasized the measure would be implemented alongside outreach and shelter services.

Mandy Mills, the city’s housing and homeless services director, said the proposal aims for “a balanced approach to helping people experiencing homelessness secure housing while continuing to reduce the impacts of homelessness on the community.” Police Chief Christy Calderwood told the council enforcement would be used alongside outreach: warnings and referrals are the first tools, and citations or arrests would remain options when unlawful behavior continues or services are refused.

Why it matters

City staff told the council the number of people living in vehicles in Carlsbad nearly doubled between two Point-in-Time counts, rising from 29 to 56. Regionwide, the number of people living in vehicles increased 44% between comparable counts. Staff and commissioners said vehicular homelessness is a growing regional trend and the city has been pursuing grant-funded outreach and housing strategies that staff said must work alongside any enforcement changes.

What the ordinance would do

Staff proposed updating the definition of camping in Chapter 8.36 to include vehicles, enabling the city to apply its existing public-camping prohibitions to people living in cars, vans and other vehicles when enforcement is appropriate. Assistant City Attorney Jennifer True said the change would allow “the existing camping ordinance…to be applied more effectively” to vehicles. The ordinance was introduced for a first reading; if adopted after a second reading it would take effect 30 days after adoption.

Service and enforcement framework

- Outreach and housing grants: Housing Director Mandy Mills told the council the city has secured multiple state grants to assist people living outdoors and in vehicles including: - A $2,300,000 grant (three-year) focused on the Village and Barrio area that led to 15 households moved to temporary housing and 13 to permanent housing in the program’s first six months. - An $11,400,000 collaborative grant (three-year) focused along State Route 78 in partnership with Oceanside. - A newly approved $2,000,000 Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) grant targeted to downtown and beach areas; staff estimate the program could transition roughly 112 people living in vehicles into permanent housing over the grant period. - Outreach hours and HOT team: Mills and Chief Calderwood described expanded outreach, including early-morning and late-night contact times to meet people who are sleeping in vehicles. Chief Calderwood described the HOT (Homeless Outreach Team) as a six-officer, one-sergeant unit that uses a combination of social services, education and enforcement. Mills described partnerships with motels that accept pets and a temporary-boarding arrangement with the local Humane Society to address animal-related barriers to housing.

Public comment

Vanessa Forsyth, speaking for the Sierra Club in Carlsbad, urged that the city not criminalize people who live in vehicles and suggested the city consider designated overnight parking options. A second speaker, Lori Robin, said she supported the staff recommendation and opposed establishing a safe-parking lot in Carlsbad, citing the need to prioritize permanent housing and services.

Council discussion and vote

Council members asked detailed questions about the Point-in-Time methodology, the geographic reach of the proposed ordinance, and how enforcement would be applied. Chief Calderwood and Mills said enforcement would be paired with outreach and that citations would be used only after warnings and offers of services were refused or when unlawful behavior takes place. Council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance; staff said they will report semiannually on enforcement and service delivery as part of the homelessness report.

Speakers