Billings restricts sitting, lying, or sleeping on downtown sidewalks during business hours under BMC Chapter 36 streets and Chapter 27 conduct rules, with constitutional limits from Martin v. Boise.
Billings Municipal Code regulates sidewalk obstruction under Chapter 36 governing streets and rights-of-way and Chapter 27 governing conduct in public spaces. Downtown business district areas face additional restrictions on sitting, lying, or storing belongings during posted business hours. Enforcement is constitutionally constrained under the Ninth Circuit's Martin v. Boise decision, which prohibits criminalizing sleeping in public when no shelter beds are available. Billings Police generally connect individuals with shelter services through Montana Rescue Mission and the Yellowstone Continuum of Care before citation. Repeated violations after warning and shelter offer can result in misdemeanor citations.
Sitting, lying, or sleeping on sidewalks in violation of posted rules can trigger misdemeanor citations under BMC Chapter 27 or Chapter 36 once shelter has been offered and refused.
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See how Billings's sit-lie rules rules stack up against other locations.
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