Cathedral City, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)

The rule sits in Title 12 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Cathedral City Municipal Code, inside Chapter 12.12 on enforcement and obedience. Section 12.12.050 has two operative sentences. The first makes it unlawful to stand upon any street, sidewalk or other public way open for pedestrian travel, or otherwise occupy any portion of it, in such a manner as to annoy or molest a pedestrian, or so as to obstruct or unreasonably interfere with the free passage of pedestrians, motor vehicles or other modes of travel. The second sentence is the sit-lie rule itself: no person shall sit, lie or sleep upon any street, sidewalk or other public way. As printed, that second sentence carries no annoyance or obstruction element, so the conduct named is the offense.

Two exceptions are written into the section. It does not apply to persons sitting on the curb portion of any sidewalk or street while attending or viewing a parade permitted under the code, and it does not apply to persons sitting upon benches or other seating facilities provided for such purposes by municipal authority.

Enforcement authority comes from § 12.12.010, which gives the officers of the Cathedral City police department, and officers assigned by the chief of police, authority to enforce all traffic laws of the city. The section prints no hours of operation, no warning requirement, no distance-from-a-doorway rule and no shelter or services referral step. It traces to Ordinance 15 of 1982 and shows no later amendment note. The City Council of Cathedral City, in Riverside County, California, adopts and amends this title by ordinance.