Los Angeles, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: LAMC §41.18 Encampment Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Driveway clearance required
- 10 feet
- Building entrance/exit clearance
- 5 feet
- Fire hydrant clearance
- 2 feet
- School / day care center buffer
- 500 feet (flat prohibition)
- Park / library designated buffer (max)
- Up to 500 feet by Council resolution
- Notice required before designated-zone enforcement
- 14 calendar days of posted signage
Summary
LAMC § 41.18 prohibits sitting, lying, sleeping, or storing personal property in the public right-of-way in specific locations, including within 10 feet of driveways, 5 feet of building entrances, and 2 feet of fire hydrants. The City Council may designate additional prohibited zones near parks, libraries, shelters, and other sensitive uses after posting 14-day notice.
(a) No person shall obstruct a street, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way: (1) by sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property, in a manner that impedes passage, as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L, No. 101-336, 104 Stat. 328 (1990), as amended from time to time; (2) by sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property, within ten feet of any operational or utilizable driveway or loading dock; (3) by sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property, within five feet of any operational or utilizable building entrance or exit; (4) by sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property, within two feet of any fire hydrant, fire plug, or other fire department connection; (5) by sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, using, maintaining, or placing personal property, within the public right-of-way in a manner that obstructs or unreasonably interferes with the use of the right-of-way for any activity for which the City has issued a permit.
Full Breakdown
Subsection (a) establishes baseline clearance distances from driveways, entrances, exits, and fire hydrants. Subsection (c) allows the City Council to create additional prohibited zones, up to 500 feet from parks or libraries, up to 1,000 feet from homeless shelters or navigation centers opened after January 1, 2018, but requires Council action by resolution with specific documented findings plus 14 days of posted signage before enforcement. Subsection (e) independently creates a 500-foot buffer around every school and day care center, with no additional resolution needed. Willful resistance of a City employee enforcing this section is a criminal misdemeanor; all other violations are civil infractions or administrative citations.
Violations & Fines
Willful resistance of an authorized City employee is a misdemeanor under LAMC § 11.00. All other violations are infractions under LAMC § 11.00(m) or administrative citations under LAMC § 11.2.01 et seq.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone sit or lie on a Los Angeles sidewalk anywhere?
Is there a citywide buffer around schools?
What are the penalties for a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
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