With the busy summer season here and the opening of the City’s fifth Safe Parking site, which includes space for oversized vehicles, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) will increase parking enforcement in the beach communities, including addressing violations of the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance. This comes after a month of outreach about the pending enforcement and, most importantly, the availability of spaces in the City’s Safe Parking Program.  

Of all the areas across the city, SDPD receives the most reports about people living out of their vehicles or campers at the beach communities, including around Mission Bay and Robb Field.  

In late May, the City opened the H Barracks lot, which, combined with the other four City-funded Safe Parking lots, nearly doubled the program’s capacity to just under 400 spaces, including room for oversized vehicles (RVs). With space available at H Barracks, police can enforce the Oversized Vehicle Ordinance in compliance with recent legal settlements. The ordinance restricts overnight parking of large vehicles, including RVs, between the hours of 2–6 a.m. Supportive services, including referrals to the City’s Safe Parking Program, are offered at each SDPD contact.  

“We get hundreds of complaints just regarding motorhomes, RV parking, illegal dumping – all kinds of things that are occurring – so our focus is to get out and engage with folks that may or may not be living in their motorhomes at the beach and encourage them to go to the new H Barracks Safe Parking lot,” said Steve Shebloski, Captain of SDPD’s Neighborhood Policing Division. “People that aren’t living in their motorhomes – that are just parking oversized vehicles for free at the beach essentially saving spots – that is not providing free, safe or equitable access for everyone to access the beach areas during our summer months. For people that are experiencing homelessness and living in their vehicle, our goal is to get them to accept Safe Parking options."

The beach areas are regularly patrolled by SDPD’s Northern, Western and Neighborhood Policing Divisions, with officers taking enforcement actions as appropriate. So far this year in the Mission Bay area alone, hundreds of citations have been issued for violations of posted parking regulations, including restricted hours and parking lot closures, along with violations like double-parked vehicles and out-of-marked stalls. Reports of violations should be made through the City’s Get It Done online application and will be directed to SDPD so officers can respond.  

The Safe Parking Program provides people with a secure place to stay while accessing services and pursuing permanent housing. In addition to a safe and legal place to stay, Safe Parking sites include restrooms, housing navigation, mental health services and job training. Participants work with case managers to create individual housing goals. The program serves a high percentage of individuals who are experiencing homelessness for the first time, many of whom have income through benefits or employment and need only modest assistance to get back on their feet.