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

Section 12.06.110 of the Highland Municipal Code, added by Ord. 473 in 2025, is the City of Highland's sit-lie and obstruction rule. Subsection A lists the acts: stand, sit, linger, idle, loiter or lay down. It lists the places: any street, alley, highway, right-of-way, sidewalk, park or other public property, or in or about the entrance or exit of any public building, whether on foot or in an automobile or other vehicle. It then lists three triggers. The conduct must obstruct or hinder the free passage of persons along the public way, or obstruct or hinder persons entering and exiting a public building, or create a health or safety hazard for the community or for the patrons of the public place, or impede passage within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the code prints the statute's name as American with Disabilities Act). Sitting on a sidewalk that leaves room to pass is not described as a violation on its face; the trigger is obstruction, hazard or blocked access.

Subsection B adds a separate duty. No person in violation can refuse or fail to disperse or vacate when directed by a police officer, designated city officials or an agent acting on their behalf. In the City of Highland, policing is provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff acting under contract, which the code defines as the Highland police department in Chapter 10.20.

The rule sits beside the camping ban in § 12.06.100, the property storage rules in § 12.06.120 and the automotive dwelling ban in § 12.06.130. Section 12.06.150 exempts camping activity in city-designated areas permitted as a temporary use or special event, or at a gathering sponsored or conducted by the city; the text of that exception refers to camping and property storage, not to obstruction.