Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Sonoma County, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Buffer from residences
50 feet, no camping ever
Buffer from schools/daycares
100 feet
Buffer from shelters/navigation centers
25 feet
General public property hours
Banned 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
Private property
Requires owner's written permission

Summary

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.

City-specific rules exist: Santa Rosa has its own encampment sanitation rules that differ from Sonoma County's county-level regulations. If you live in Santa Rosa, check the city-specific page instead.

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') of the property line of any property used as a school, preschool, playground, daycare, or other licensed childcare facility, (4) within one hundred fifty feet (150') of the high water mark of the waters of the state as defined by subdivision (e) of California Water Code § 13050, or within a Regulatory Floodway, whichever is greater, (5) within a Very High Fire Severity Zone, (6) within any public park, except as authorized under Chapter 20 of this Code, or (7) within any public highway, road, or street (8) within any public sidewalk, easement, or right of way, where the presence of the person or their property thereon hinders or obstructs the free passage, access, or movement of any persons, bicycles, or vehicles travelling or attempting to pass along the same right of way, and (9) within twenty-five feet (25') of a facility that provides shelter, safe sleeping, or safe parking to homeless persons, or that serves as a homeless services navigation center.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

County Code § 19-15 bans camping on public property at all times within set buffers: 25 feet of a public building entrance, 50 feet of a residence, 100 feet of a school or daycare, 150 feet of the high water mark or a floodway, inside a Very High Fire Severity Zone, in parks, on roads and sidewalks that block passage, and within 25 feet of a homeless shelter or navigation center. On other public property, camping is barred daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Camping on private land requires the owner's written permission. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a $100-$500 fine or up to 60 days in county jail, or both.

Violations & Fines

Misdemeanor; fine of $100-$500, up to 60 days in county jail, or both, per Sec. 19-15(f).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I camp anywhere in unincorporated Sonoma County?
No. Camping is banned outright near buildings, homes, schools, waterways, fire-hazard zones, parks and shelters, and banned 7 a.m.-9 p.m. everywhere else on public property under Sec. 19-15.
Does this apply inside the City of Santa Rosa or City of Sonoma?
No. This is the county code for unincorporated areas only; Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Sonoma and the other five cities enforce their own separate camping rules.
Is sleeping in a car by the road allowed?
Yes, the ordinance carves out an exception letting a person pull off the road and sleep, inside or outside their vehicle, when necessary for safety.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Sonoma County

All Sonoma County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California homelessness & encampment rules overview

Get notified when Encampment Sanitation in Sonoma County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Encampment Sanitation in Cities Across Sonoma County