How to remove a camper truck from private property in California

Short answer: In Mendocino County, a camper truck on private property generally cannot be removed by County Code Enforcement under the County’s abandoned vehicle program; private-property towing is governed by California Vehicle Code towing rules, and the property owner or person in lawful possession must comply with those requirements before arranging removal.[1][2][3] If the vehicle is on public County road or public property, Code Enforcement may remove it, but that does not appear to be the situation you asked about.[1][3]

What controls the removal

Mendocino County states that Code Enforcement can remove vehicles only if they are abandoned on public County roads or public property, and that the AVA Program serves public-right-of-way locations, not private property.[1][3] The County’s Code Enforcement page also says vehicles may be tagged under California Vehicle Code § 22669 (abandoned) or related provisions and removed only after County authorization.[1]

For private property, the main authority is California Vehicle Code § 22658, which allows the owner or lawful possessor of private property to cause removal only under specified circumstances and only with the required notices, signage, and tow procedures.[2][4]

If the camper truck is on private property in Mendocino County

1. Confirm you are the property owner or lawful possessor

Under California Vehicle Code § 22658, only the owner or person in lawful possession of the private property may authorize removal.[4]

2. Check whether the statutory basis for towing exists

A vehicle may be removed from private property if one of the listed conditions is met, including:

• proper no-parking signage at entrances,
• the vehicle has been issued a parking violation notice and 96 hours have passed,
• the vehicle is inoperable and the owner has notified law enforcement and 24 hours have elapsed, or
• the lot is a single-family dwelling parcel.[4]

3. Give the required tow authorization

For private-property towing, the towing company generally must obtain written authorization from the property owner, lawful possessor, or authorized agent, with required details about the vehicle and the grounds for removal.[4]

4. Notify law enforcement

The towing party must notify the local traffic law enforcement agency within one hour after authorizing the tow.[4] The tow company also must notify local law enforcement after removal once the vehicle is in transit.[4]

5. Use a lawful towing company

The vehicle should be towed by a company that complies with California Vehicle Code § 22658, including notice, recordkeeping, and storage-location requirements.[4]

Important caution for “camper trucks”

Whether the vehicle is treated as a “camper truck,” pickup with camper shell, RV-style truck, or another type of vehicle usually does not change the basic private-property towing rules. What matters is:

• where it is parked,
• whether the property is private or public,
• whether the statutory prerequisites for private-property towing are met, and
• whether the vehicle falls under any local or HOA/mobilehome-park rules that may add requirements.[4][5]

If the vehicle is in a mobilehome park, special rules may apply under California Civil Code § 798.28.5, including a seven-day posted notice before removal from a resident’s driveway or designated space in many situations.[5]

Practical takeaway

If you want to remove a camper truck from private property in Mendocino County:

1. Verify you have authority over the property.
2. Make sure the vehicle qualifies for tow under California Vehicle Code § 22658.
3. Post or serve any required notice.
4. Give written authorization to a licensed tow company.
5. Ensure the tow company notifies law enforcement and follows storage/notice rules.

If you are asking about a camper truck on someone else’s private property and you are not the property owner or agent, you generally should not arrange the tow yourself.