Orange County and its cities cannot enforce sit-lie or anti-camping ordinances against unsheltered residents when no shelter beds are available, under Martin v. Boise (9th Circuit 2018) and subsequent Ninth Circuit case law shaping county enforcement.
The Ninth Circuit's 2018 Martin v. Boise decision held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits enforcing public-camping or sit-lie laws against homeless individuals who lack access to shelter, an interpretation governing Orange County. The 2024 U.S. Supreme Court Grants Pass v. Johnson decision narrowed Martin but California voters and Governor Newsom retained shelter-based enforcement standards through executive policy. OC operates a Continuum of Care and shelters in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Tustin, and Costa Mesa to maintain enforcement availability. The county's flood-control beds (Bridges at Kraemer, Yale Navigation Center) figure into capacity calculations.
Issuing sit-lie or camping citations without verifying shelter capacity, sweeping encampments without notice, or using force can expose the county to ADA, due-process, and Section 1983 civil-rights claims.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa Municipal Code Title 13 establishes noise standards that vary by zoning district. Industrial and commercial noise crossing into residential zones ...
Costa Mesa, CA
Outdoor music at residences, parks, and events in Costa Mesa must comply with CMMC Title 13 noise standards. Amplified outdoor music requires compliance with...
Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa regulates amplified music under CMMC Chapter XIII noise control. Music and sound-producing devices must comply with exterior noise standards at th...
Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa defines abandoned vehicles as those left on public streets for more than 72 hours without being moved or those that are inoperable. The city proac...
Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa prohibits commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW from parking on restricted streets between 2 AM and 6 AM, or for more than 3 hours on any pub...
Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa requires vehicles to park on improved surfaces under its development and property maintenance standards. Driveway design must meet zoning requirem...
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