Letter of Agency Program for Businesses

Law enforcement officers do not normally have the authority to go onto private property, which is not open to the public, and remove individuals or request them to leave without the consent or authority of the property owner. If an officer observes someone on private property when the business is closed, or a problem is reported by someone who does not have the authority to sign a trespass complaint, the officer must contact the person who is legally responsible for the property.

If you are encountering trespassing issues on your property, the Woodland Police Department offers a Letter of Agency (LOA) program that allows officers to respond to your property and address trespass complaints without you needing to be present every time.

This is an extremely useful tool and is strongly recommended for vacant properties, vacant lots, businesses or any properties upon which public nuisance activity and/or crime problems, including transient activity, drug activity, graffiti, or general trespass, are occurring.


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What is needed to participate in the LOA Program?

Submitting a Letter of Agency request form with the Woodland Police Department gives officers permission to act on behalf of the property owner or manager in trespass situations. In addition, officers who observe trespassers on private property can address the problem immediately, rather than having to wait, contact a property owner or manager, if one can be located, or take no action at all. A Letter of Agency will need to be filed with the Woodland Police Department. Email WPDrecords@cityofwoodland.gov the completed form.

Note: Person(s) signing and submitting the LOA form will fully cooperate in subsequent prosecution.

If a property owner/agent is present before officers arrive, and the person trespassing is still on the premises, they will need to place the trespassing party under Citizen’s Arrest.

Letter of Agency Document

  1. Letter of Agency