LAPD Clears Homeless Belongings from Venice Beach Pergola, Enforces 60-Gallon Ordinance Rule

On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Los Angeles Police officers encountered a collection of personal belongings believed to belong to a homeless individual beneath Venice Beach's historic pergola. Items, including a shopping cart filled with various personal effects, prompted the officers to request assistance from the city's Parks and Recreation crew to clear the area. The individual later returned to claim his belongings, and officers informed him of Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 56.11, which regulates storage of personal property in public spaces. Under this ordinance, individuals experiencing homelessness are allowed to keep belongings in public areas if they fit within a 60-gallon container and do not obstruct paths or create hazards. Items exceeding this limit, known as "bulky items"—such as furniture or appliances—are prohibited on public property. Exceptions apply only to essential mobility aids like bicycles, walkers, crutches, or wheelchairs. Section 56.11, amended in 2016, was enacted to balance public access to clean, safe public spaces with the needs of those without stable housing to maintain access to essential belongings. The ordinance allows the city to impound unattended property, and in cases of excess property, a 24-hour notice is typically provided. The amendment also restricts the seizure of bulky items unless they pose a health or safety risk or obstruct public access, following a federal court ruling that deemed blanket size-based seizure unconstitutional. The individual at Venice Beach complied, consolidating his belongings within the allowed limit before departing the area.