Bellingham, WA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- BMC 20.15.030(F)-(I)
- Toilet count
- Set case-by-case with county health dept
- Max occupancy
- 1 bed per 35 sq ft
- Permitted zones
- Industrial, commercial, public only
Summary
Bellingham permits temporary homeless building encampments only with mandated trash patrols, county-approved toilet counts, and food-safety compliance under a city temporary use permit.
F. Trash receptacles must be provided in multiple locations throughout the temporary building encampment. A regular trash patrol in the immediate vicinity of the site must be provided. G. The number of toilets required for each encampment will be determined by the director on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Whatcom County health department after a review of factors such as the potential number and composition of guests.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
BMC 20.15.030 governs temporary building encampments sited in industrial, commercial and public zones. Sponsors must place trash receptacles throughout the site and run a regular trash patrol nearby (subsection F). The code sets no fixed toilet ratio: the planning director determines the number required case by case after consulting the Whatcom County health department on expected guest numbers (subsection G). Food donations and storage must follow public health guidelines required by the Whatcom health department (subsection H), and the sponsor must permit city and county inspections to verify compliance with drinking water, solid waste and human waste rules (subsection I).
Violations & Fines
Operating an encampment without the required temporary use permit, or violating its sanitation conditions, lets the director close the shelter under BMC 20.15.090 until compliance is achieved; closure decisions are appealable to the hearing examiner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides how many toilets a Bellingham homeless encampment needs?
Can a temporary building encampment be sited in a residential neighborhood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellingham
Compare Bellingham to another location·View the Washington homelessness & encampment rules overview
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