Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Bellingham, WA (2026)
2 verified homelessness & encampment rules for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
Bellingham bars sitting or lying on public sidewalks from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the downtown and Fairhaven business districts, plus any city-designated shelter protection area, with narrow exceptions.
Bellingham Downtown Sidewalk Sit-Lie Ban
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 10.24.070
A. Prohibition. No person shall sit or lie down upon a public sidewalk, or upon a blanket, chair, stool, bollard, planter, fountain, railing or any other object placed upon a public sidewalk, during the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the following zones: 1. Central Business District... 2. The Fairhaven Business District... E. A violation of this section shall be a civil infraction and...
Encampment Sanitation
Bellingham permits temporary homeless building encampments only with mandated trash patrols, county-approved toilet counts, and food-safety compliance under a city temporary use permit.
Bellingham Encampment Sanitation Requirements
Significant RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 20.15.030(F), (G)
F. Trash receptacles must be provided in multiple locations throughout the temporary building encampment. A regular trash patrol in the immediate vicinity of the site must be provided. G. The number of toilets required for each encampment will be determined by the director on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Whatcom County health department after a review of factors such as the pot...
Looking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Whatcom County →