Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Columbia, SC (2026)
2 verified homelessness & encampment rules for Columbia, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
Columbia bans sitting, lying down, sleeping or storing property on public streets, sidewalks, benches and medians, and bans the same conduct on any public property when it blocks building entrances. Eleven listed activities, from parade-watching to medical emergencies, are exempted from enforcement.
Columbia Sit-Lie Ban on Public Streets
Significant RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 14-105(c), (d)
Public streets. It shall be unlawful to camp, to sleep, to store personal property, to sit or to lie down on any public street, as defined above...Other public property. Blocking ingress and egress. It shall be unlawful to camp, to sleep, to store personal property, to sit or to lie down on any public property so as to interfere with ingress or egress from buildings.
Encampment Sanitation
Columbia bans camping and storing personal property in any city-owned park, defining camping as erecting tents or shelters, sleeping in one spot for a substantial period, or regularly cooking meals. A warning must be given before arrest, and eleven listed activities are carved out as exceptions.
Columbia Urban Camping Ban in Parks
Significant RestrictionsColumbia, SC Code of Ordinances § 14-105(a), (b), (e)
Camp shall mean residing in or using a public street, sidewalk, or park for private living accommodations, such as erecting tents or other temporary structures or objects providing shelter; sleeping in a single place for any substantial prolonged period of time; regularly cooking or preparing meals; or other similar activities...Public parks. It shall be unlawful to camp or to store personal pr...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Columbia city rules.
Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Richland County →