Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Santa Clara, CA (2026)
2 verified homelessness & encampment rules for Santa Clara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
Santa Clara makes it unlawful to loiter, stand or sit on a public street, sidewalk or crosswalk in a way that blocks or hinders the passage of people or vehicles, or to annoy or molest passersby, and separately bars blocking the entrance to a church, hall, theater or similar public assembly place.
Santa Clara Sidewalk Sitting and Loitering Rule
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 12.05.010 (Obstructing vehicles or pedestrians prohibited generally)
It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter, stand or sit in or upon any public highway, street, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk in the City so as to in any manner hinder or obstruct the free passage thereon of persons or vehicles passing along the same or so as to in any manner annoy or molest persons passing along the same.
Encampment Sanitation
Santa Clara Code Chapter 12.50 makes it unlawful to camp or lodge, including sleeping in a parked vehicle, on any public street, publicly owned property, public park, parking lot, vacant lot, drainage culvert, or other place readily open to the public. SCCC § 12.50.010(a) bans the conduct citywide except in a licensed public campground, and the City enforces it as a criminal, civil, or administrative matter.
Santa Clara Public Camping Ban Rules
Heavy RestrictionsSanta Clara City Code § 12.50.010(a)
No person shall camp or lodge on a public street (including in a vehicle parked on a public street), on publicly owned property, and other prohibited public places; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit camping in public campgrounds pursuant to a permit or license authorized under Federal, State or local statute or ordinance.
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Clara city rules.
Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Santa Clara County →