Homelessness & Encampment Rules in West Palm Beach, FL (2026)
2 verified homelessness & encampment rules for West Palm Beach, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
West Palm Beach bans public camping or sleeping on any public property after police give notice, under City Code § 54-147(b), including erecting a tent or storing bedding on a sidewalk or public right-of-way. Violators face the general penalty of up to a $500 fine or 60 days in jail under § 1-13, alongside citation procedures in Fla. Stat. §§ 162.22-.23.
West Palm Beach Public Camping and Sleeping Ban
Heavy RestrictionsWest Palm Beach City Code § 54-147(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person, after having been informed and given notice by a police officer that the following conduct is in violation of a city ordinance, to engage in: (1) Public camping or sleeping on any public property including, but not limited to, any public building or its ground and any public right-of-way under the jurisdiction of the city. (2) Construct or maintain any build...
Encampment Sanitation
West Palm Beach bans camping or sleeping on any public property, including buildings, grounds and rights-of-way, once a police officer has given notice that the conduct violates city ordinance. Sec. 54-147(b) also bars building tents or structures for lodging on public land, with enforcement tied to state code-enforcement remedies.
West Palm Beach Public Camping Ban
Heavy RestrictionsWest Palm Beach City Code Secs. 54-146, 54-147(b), 54-148
Public camping or sleeping means: (1)Lodging or residing overnight in a temporary outdoor habitation used as a dwelling or living space and evidenced by the erection of a tent or other temporary shelter, the presence of bedding or pillows, or the storage of personal belongings; or(2)Lodging or residing overnight in an outdoor space without a tent or other temporary shelter. (b)It shall be unlaw...
Looking for Palm Beach County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement West Palm Beach city rules.
Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Palm Beach County →