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Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Sonoma County, CA (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Sonoma County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Sit-Lie Rules

Unincorporated Sonoma County bars sitting, standing or lying on a sidewalk in a way that blocks foot traffic, but only after a peace officer has asked the person to move on.

Sonoma County Sidewalk Obstruction Rule

Some Restrictions

Sonoma County Code § 19-7

No person shall stand, sit, or lay upon any sidewalk or pedestrian thoroughfare so as to obstruct the free pedestrian traffic thereon after being requested by a peace officer to move on. No person shall sit or stand at the entrance to or exit of any public building, church, hall, theater, school or other place of public assemblage in any manner so as to obstruct such entrance or exit after bein...

Encampment Sanitation

Unincorporated Sonoma County bans camping on public property near buildings, homes, schools, waterways, fire zones and shelters at all times, and bars it elsewhere from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily under County Code § 19-15.

Sonoma County Public Camping Ban

Significant Restrictions

Sonoma County Code § 19-15

It shall be unlawful at all times of the day for any person or persons to camp on any public property (1) inside any public building, inside any fully-fenced area attached to a public building, or within twenty-five feet (25') of any entrance or exit to a public building, (2) within fifty feet (50') of any house or other permanent structure used as a residence (3) within one hundred feet (100')...

Homelessness & Encampment Rules by City in Sonoma County

1 cities in Sonoma County have their own homelessness & encampment rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

All Sonoma County ordinances

See every category we cover for Sonoma County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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