Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Kennewick, WA (2026)
2 verified homelessness & encampment rules for Kennewick, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
Kennewick bars sitting or lying on a public sidewalk or right-of-way between 6:00 a.m. and midnight inside four designated zones, mostly downtown and along Clearwater Avenue. KMC 10.08.140 exempts medical emergencies, disabilities, permitted businesses and events, and requires a warning before enforcement.
Kennewick Sidewalk Sitting Ban, Set Zones
Significant RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code § 10.08.140 (Ord. 24-6051 Sec. 1, 2024; Ord. 6024 Sec. 1, 2023; Ord. 5760 Sec. 1, 2018)
(1)Prohibition.(a)No person may sit or lie down upon a public sidewalk or right-of-way, or upon a blanket, chair, stool, or any other object placed upon a public sidewalk or right-of-way, during the hours between 6:00 a.m. and midnight in the zones designated in this section. ... (4)The zones where the conduct described in subsection (1) is prohibited are as follows:(a)From Clearwater Avenue to...
Encampment Sanitation
Camping, sleeping overnight, or storing gear on Kennewick's rights-of-way, parks, trails, or other City property is unlawful; the City must post 72 hours' notice, or none if there's a safety risk, before removing an encampment.
Kennewick Unlawful Camping and Encampment Removal
Heavy RestrictionsKennewick Municipal Code § 9.54.020 (Ord. 25-6084 Sec. 1, 2025)
It is unlawful for any person to camp in the following City-owned and/or City-maintained areas, except as otherwise provided by the Kennewick Municipal Code or where specifically designated: (1)Any right-of-way;(2)Any trail, park, or park facility;(3)Any publicly owned parking lot or publicly owned area, improved or unimproved;(4)Any publicly owned storm water drainage facility; or(5)Any other ...
Looking for Benton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kennewick city rules.
Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Benton County →