King County, WA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

D. The host and managing agency will assure all applicable public health regulations, including but not limited to the following, will be met:

1. Sanitary portable toilets;

2. Hand washing stations by the toilets;

3. Food preparation or service tents;

4. Security tents;

5. Refuse receptacles; and

6. Disposal of all garbage and debris before vacating the encampment site at the end of the permit period;

E. The homeless encampment shall be within a half mile of a public transportation stop or the sponsor or host must demonstrate the ability for residents to obtain access to the nearest public transportation stop through sponsor or host provided van or car pools. During hours when public transportation is not available, the sponsor or host shall also make transportation available to anyone who is rejected from or ordered to leave the homeless encampment;

F. The homeless encampment site must be buffered from surrounding properties with:

1. A minimum twenty-foot setback in each direction from the boundary of the lot on which the homeless encampment is located, excluding access;

2. Established vegetation sufficiently dense to obscure view; or

3. A six foot high, view-obscuring fence;

G. No permanent structures shall be erected on the homeless encampment site;

H. A regular trash patrol in the immediate vicinity of the homeless encampment site shall be provided;