San Antonio Municipal Code Chapter 21 prohibits camping, sleeping, or storing personal property on public sidewalks, parks, and rights-of-way. SAPD's Mental Health Unit and the Office of Homeless Strategy coordinate diversion to Haven for Hope before citing under Martin v. Boise constraints.
SAMC Chapter 21 makes it unlawful to camp, sleep overnight, or store personal property on public sidewalks, parks, plazas, the River Walk, and city rights-of-way. The Office of Homeless Strategy coordinates with Haven for Hope, the 22-acre downtown homeless campus operating since 2010, to offer shelter intake before any citation issues. SAPD's Mental Health Unit and Centro San Antonio Outreach handle field contacts. Under Martin v. Boise (Ninth Circuit, 2018), San Antonio generally avoids citing when emergency shelter is unavailable, though the 2024 Grants Pass decision narrowed that doctrine. Personal property left on public ROW is bagged and stored before disposal under sanitation protocols.
Chapter 21 camping is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per occurrence. Personal property left on public ROW may be impounded after posted notice, with a claim window before disposal under city sanitation protocols.
See how San Antonio's lamc §41.18 encampment rule rules stack up against other locations.
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