The City generally does not perform public encampment cleanups on private property. The City will follow the Tacoma Municipal Code to work with private property owners to ensure encampments are abated.

Property owners are responsible for addressing homeless encampments that occur on their property.

Code Compliance responds to encampment-related issues on private properties and will follow normal code compliance procedures per the Tacoma Municipal Code.

The City offers property owners resources such as No Trespass orders and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessments to assist property owners in mitigating future issues. In limited circumstances, the City may be able to assist private property owners with a removal of an encampment at no cost. For more information, contact SeeClickFix or dial 311.

Encampments are generally removed by the property owner, in partnership with Tacoma Police. If they do not correct the issue on their own, the City may abate the encampment at the expense of the property owner.

The City generally does not perform encampment cleanups on non-City owned public property.

If the City receives a complaint of an encampment on non-City owned public property, (WSDOT, Tacoma Schools, Sound Transit) the property owner is notified of the issue by City staff.

Tacoma residents concerned with an unauthorized encampment on a non- City owned public property are encouraged to contact the property owner directly to learn about their response plan.

• Authorized Encampment – Temporary homeless encampments that are sanctioned under Ordinance No. 28460, which requires them to be located on property that is owned by the City, faith based organizations or non-profits, are permitted and provide basic human amenities for a specific amount for time.
• Basic Human Amenities – Amenities include portable toilets, waste receptacles, potable water and handwashing stations.
• Chronically Homeless – Federal definition which defines a chronically homeless person as “either (1) an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has been continuously homeless for a year or more, OR (2) an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition who has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.”
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) - Provides guidelines for property owners to use to lower or prevent environmental factors from creating an opportunity for crime.
• Emergency Shelter – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines emergency shelter as “any facility, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary or transitional shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of the homeless.”
• Emphasis Area – A geographic zone that is routinely patrolled to prevent health and safety concerns related to encampment activity.
• Encampment Cleanup – The removal of debris and waste created by people living outdoors on public or private property and the reclamation of the site.
• HOT – Homelessness Outreach Team, which is a cross function team of Tacoma Police Officers, EMS personnel, mental health providers and outreach staff who work with people experiencing homelessness to connect them with services while also enforcing laws.
• Mitigation – Alleviating and/or reducing the health and safety impacts on people living in encampments and those who live or work in surrounding areas.
• People Experiencing Homelessness - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines people experiencing homelessness as “an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; as well an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.”
• Short-Term Transitional Housing – Housing options for people who have been experiencing homelessness that provides stable housing while they receive services to find permanent housing solutions.
• Site Activation – The process of making public spaces more dynamic and engaging for the surrounding to community.
• Site Monitoring – Patrolling of reclaimed public spaces to prevent health and safety concerns related to encampment activity.
• Site Reclamation - The process of making public and private spaces safer and more welcoming for people who live or work in the area to be, while discouraging criminal activity and loitering.
• Unaccompanied minors – People ages 12-17 who do not have a parent or guardian with them.
• Unauthorized Encampment – Homeless camps on public or private property that do not meet requirements under Ordinance No. 28460.