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Homelessness & Encampment Rules in San Rafael, CA (2026)

2 verified homelessness & encampment rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Sit-Lie Rules

San Rafael's municipal code broadly bans placing, keeping or maintaining any obstruction on a public sidewalk under §8.12.110: a general provision the city can apply against blocked passage from belongings, encampments or displays, unless another code section separately authorizes it.

San Rafael Sidewalk Obstruction Ban

Significant Restrictions

San Rafael Municipal Code § 8.12.110

It is unlawful for any person to place, keep, maintain or allow any obstruction upon any sidewalk in the city of San Rafael, except as may be otherwise provided in this code.

Encampment Sanitation

San Rafael bans camping outright in parks, parking garages, public facilities, near playgrounds and schools, and on sidewalks and rights-of-way, and imposes strict size, setback, and structure limits on camping elsewhere on public property.

San Rafael Public Camping Restrictions

Significant Restrictions

San Rafael Municipal Code § 19.50.030

A. Prohibited Camping. 1. Park. No person or persons shall camp in or on any park, or portion thereof. 2. Parking garages. No person or persons shall camp in or on the premises of any parking garage... 4. Playgrounds. No person or persons shall camp within 100 feet of any playground. 5. Schools. No person or persons shall camp within 250 feet of the property boundary of any school. 6. Public ri...

Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.

Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Marin County