Judge Blocks L.A.'s Effort to Dismantle Homeless RVs

Ruling says city lacks legal authority to implement state law allowing RV seizures

Feb. 22, 2026 at 11:00am

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A judge has struck down the latest effort by the city of Los Angeles to tow and destroy broken down recreational vehicles, handing a legal victory to a group of Westside homeless advocates. The judge said the city lacks the legal authority to carry out a state law that permits the dismantling of abandoned or inoperable RVs in certain parts of the state.

Why it matters

This ruling is a setback for the city's attempts to address the growing issue of homeless RVs, which some officials view as a public safety concern but advocates argue provide crucial shelter for unhoused residents. The decision highlights the legal complexities and competing interests surrounding efforts to manage the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles.

The details

The judge's ruling found that Assembly Bill 630, which allows Los Angeles and Alameda counties to create programs for taking apart and discarding RVs worth up to $4,000, does not grant that authority to the city of Los Angeles itself. The city had voted to instruct the city attorney to implement AB 630, but a coalition of homeless advocates sued, arguing the city was 'recklessly charging ahead' with a program it had no legal power to execute.

  • In October 2025, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 630 into law.
  • In December 2025, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-3 to instruct the city attorney to implement AB 630.
  • In January 2026, the CD11 Coalition for Human Rights filed a lawsuit against the city's plan to implement AB 630.

The players

Judge Curtis A. Kin

The Superior Court judge who ruled that the city of Los Angeles lacks the legal authority to carry out the state law allowing RV seizures.

CD11 Coalition for Human Rights

A group of organizations and individuals who advocate for the 'human and civil rights of unhoused and vehicularly housed people' in Council District 11.

Traci Park

The Los Angeles City Councilmember who represents coastal neighborhoods and voiced dismay over the judge's decision, calling it 'another example of activist lawsuits impeding our ability to address urgent public health and safety concerns.'

Shayla Myers

The attorney who represented the CD11 Coalition in the lawsuit against the city's plan to implement AB 630.

Mark Gonzalez

The California Assembly Member who authored AB 630 and is now working on a new bill to ensure all 88 cities within L.A. County can dispose of broken down RVs.

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What they’re saying

“AB 630 provides no such authority to the City of Los Angeles.”

— Judge Curtis A. Kin, Superior Court Judge (Los Angeles Times)

“Residents are rightfully fed up. We cannot allow inoperable, abandoned vehicles to become a permanent fixture of our streetscape. Nor can we enable 'vanlords' to exploit the homeless.”

— Traci Park, Los Angeles City Councilmember (Los Angeles Times)

“The goal was never to penalize an individual who's unhoused. The goal here is to get rid of those bad actors and get [homeless] folks the wraparound services they need.”

— Mark Gonzalez, California Assembly Member (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez said he is working on a new bill to ensure that all 88 cities within L.A. County can dispose of broken down RVs, indicating he will continue to pursue legislative solutions to address the issue.

The takeaway

This ruling highlights the legal and political complexities surrounding efforts to address homelessness in Los Angeles, where advocates argue that dismantling RVs would deprive unhoused residents of crucial shelter, while city officials view the vehicles as public safety concerns. The case underscores the need for collaborative, evidence-based approaches that balance the needs of the homeless population with the concerns of the broader community.