Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Butte County, CA (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Butte County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
Sitting, lying or sleeping on any public highway, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk in unincorporated Butte County is unlawful under Sec. 15-14(b), unless the person is physically disabled, watching a legally conducted parade, or resting on a lawfully installed bench. The rule sits inside the county's broader loitering ordinance and carries the general penalty for undesignated Code violations.
Butte County Sidewalk Sit-Lie Ban
Significant RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 15-14(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to:...(b)Sit, lie, sleep in or upon any public highway, alley, sidewalk or cross-walk or other public way for pedestrian travel, unless:(1)Necessitated by the physical disability of the person,(2)Reasonably necessary in order to view a legally conducted parade, or(3)On a bench lawfully installed for such purpose.
Encampment Sanitation
Camping is flatly prohibited in Bidwell River Park, the county-controlled Sacramento River and Chico Creek parkland in the unincorporated area, and a house trailer may not be parked there for more than six hours in any calendar month. Dumping garbage, filth, or rubbish anywhere in the park is separately banned.
No Camping in Bidwell River Park
Heavy RestrictionsButte County Code of Ordinances § 16-17
It is unlawful to camp in Bidwell River Park. It is unlawful to park a house trailer in the park for a period longer than six (6) hours in any calendar month.
Homelessness & Encampment Rules by City in Butte County
1 cities in Butte County have their own homelessness & encampment rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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