Collierville, TN Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)

The sit-lie provision in the Town of Collierville is division (A)(2) of § 130.017 of the Collierville Code of Ordinances. It is an obstruction rule, not a flat ban on sitting in public. The conduct prohibited is to loiter, stand, sit, or lie in or upon any public or quasi-public sidewalk, street, curb, cross-walk, walkway area, mall, or that portion of private property utilized for public use, so as to hinder or obstruct unreasonably the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles. The word unreasonably is the legal hinge: a person who sits on a sidewalk without impeding passage is outside the text.

Two triggers apply to the first sentence. The offense requires that the person was first warned by a police officer, or that a no loitering sign or signs have been posted. In practice that means a Collierville police officer's warning, or posted signage, comes before a violation under that sentence. The second sentence has no warning or sign condition: it is unlawful for any person to block, obstruct, or prevent free access to the entrance to any building open to the public.

A companion rule sits in § 130.021, Interference with Traffic, which makes it unlawful to stand, sit or engage in any activity whatever on any public street, sidewalk, bridge or public ground in such manner as to prevent, obstruct or interfere unreasonably with the free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. That section carries no warning requirement.

Section 130.017(A)(3) defines public place for the loitering section as an area generally visible to public view, including streets, sidewalks, bridges, alleys, plazas, parks, driveways, parking lots, automobiles, and buildings open to the general public. The Collierville Police Department enforces these sections. The excerpt shown is the full text of division (A)(2).