Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Santa Fe, NM (2026)
2 verified homelessness & encampment rules for Santa Fe, New Mexico, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
Santa Fe has no ordinance that specifically bans sitting or lying on a sidewalk. Instead, Section 23-4.8 of the city code makes it unlawful to display goods for sale, set up stands, scales or other obstructions on a sidewalk, or in any manner obstruct a sidewalk or hinder the public's use of it, except during authorized Plaza events.
Santa Fe Has No Sit-Lie Law, Only General Sidewalk-Obstruction Ban
Significant RestrictionsSanta Fe City Code § 23-4.8
A. It is unlawful for any person to expose for sale or display on any stands or counters goods, wares or merchandise on any sidewalk in the city, to maintain any scales, weighing machines, counter display stand or other obstruction between the wall or property line of a building and the curb line of the street; or to in any manner obstruct any sidewalk or hinder its use by the public, except as...
Encampment Sanitation
Santa Fe outlaws camping or lodging on any city-owned property under Section 23-4.12 SFCC 1987. Inside a city park, camping requires a permit from the city; everywhere else on city property it is prohibited outright, and the ordinance defines camping broadly enough to cover sleeping in a parked vehicle or trailer.
Santa Fe Bans Unpermitted Camping on City Property
Heavy RestrictionsSFCC 1987 § 23-4.12
A.Within any city park, it is unlawful to camp or lodge therein, without first having obtained a permit from the city.B.Camping or lodging on city property is prohibited, except as permitted in paragraph A of this section.C.For the purposes of this section, camping includes sleeping in a motor vehicle or trailer.