Unincorporated King County does not enforce a sit-lie ordinance, but Seattle's SMC 15.48.040 prohibits sitting or lying on downtown sidewalks between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., and Bellevue and Kent have similar narrow daytime restrictions in commercial cores.
Sit-lie laws regulate the use of public sidewalks in commercial districts. Seattle's ordinance, in effect since 1993 and amended after Martin v. Boise, applies only to specific downtown and neighborhood business districts and only during business hours. Police must offer a warning and information about shelter or services before issuing a citation. Bellevue and Kent enforce similar narrow geographic and time-limited rules. Unincorporated King County and most suburban cities have no general sit-lie prohibition. The Ninth Circuit's Martin and Grants Pass decisions limit cities from criminalizing simply sitting or sleeping outside when no shelter beds are available, shaping local enforcement practice.
First Seattle sit-lie violations typically result in a verbal warning. Repeat or refusal to move can lead to a misdemeanor citation, though most cases are diverted to community court or service referrals through the LEAD program.
Bellevue, WA
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Bellevue, WA
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Bellevue, WA
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Bellevue, WA
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See how Bellevue's sit-lie rules rules stack up against other locations.
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