If you are an owner or operator of a business or commercial property and have concerns regarding issues of unwanted persons or criminal activity on your property, there are resources available to help you in addressing your issues successfully. The City created a helpful Quick Resources card, which is a useful information sheet to keep on hand.

Protecting Your Property: Taking the Proactive Approach

Many nuisance or criminal activities can be prevented by businesses and property owners taking a proactive approach to protecting private properties. Here are a few things businesses and property owners can do:

• Post signs on your property such as "No Trespassing" 
• Secure trash enclosures
• Do not leave empty cardboard boxes where they are publicly accessible
• Reduce foliage that may be used as hiding spots for people/property
• Ensure adequate lighting
• Increase presence or implement private security measures
• Do not feed or give money to non-patrons

Enforcement and Contacting the City of Palm Desert

• For life-threatening emergencies, please immediately call 9-1-1
• To report a non-emergency issue, please use Palm Desert InTouch

Submit a Trespass Form:

A 602 Letter, also known as a Trespass Letter of Authority, is issued by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. It is a formal request by a business or property owner to prosecute anyone who is loitering or engaging in any unlawful activity on their property. 

NOTICE: State law has recently changed and now requires these letters to be notarized.  

Please read our updated instructions. 

1. Download the new 602 Letter(PDF).
2. Have the document notarized by a public notary or bring it to Palm Desert City Hall and it will be notarized for you free of charge.
3. Submit the document to the Code Compliance Division at City Hall
4. Resubmissions will be required on a yearly basis.

When to Call the Code Enforcement Hotline at (760) 776-6360:

• Inhabiting of your or your neighbor's commercial property
• Abandoned shopping carts or other unclaimed property
• Excessive trash, debris, or outdoor storage

When to Call the Police Department at (760) 836-3215:

• Drug activity or the presence of drugs or paraphernalia
• Loitering outside of establishments that sell alcohol
• Trespassing
• Impeding access to businesses
• Aggressive panhandling, suspicious person or vehicle