3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in King County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated King County does not enforce a sit-lie ordinance, but Seattle's SMC 15.48.040 prohibits sitting or lying on downtown sidewalks between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., and Bellevue and Kent have similar narrow daytime restrictions in commercial cores.
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA), formed jointly by Seattle and King County in 2019, coordinates encampment outreach, sanitation, and resolution. Cleanups follow protocols requiring advance notice, belongings storage, and shelter offers.
King County and Seattle authorize transitional bridge housing including tiny-house villages, enhanced shelters, and safe parking, operated under contract by KCRHA, the Low Income Housing Institute, Mary's Place, and DESC, with streamlined permitting.
1 cities in King County have their own homelessness & encampment rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for King County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
King County Ordinance Hub →