Las Vegas, NV Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- LVMC 10.86.010
- Covers
- All public rights-of-way, incl. sidewalks
- Before citing
- Mandatory warning + resource referral
- 3rd offense/12 mo.
- 10-day minimum jail term
- Alternative
- Court-ordered treatment program
Summary
Sitting, lying down, or camping in any Las Vegas public right-of-way, streets, alleys, and sidewalks, is a citable offense, with mandatory jail time after repeat violations within a year.
(A)It is unlawful for a person to do any of the following within any public right-of-way:(1)Sit or lie down;(2)Sit or lie down on a blanket, stool, or any other object; or(3)Camp or lodge.(B)(1)"Camp or lodge" means:(a)Sleeping or otherwise being in a temporary shelter outdoors;(b)Sleeping outdoors;...or(d)Laying down bedding or setting up a tent, shelter, or similar structure for purposes of sleeping or temporary living.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).
Full Breakdown
LVMC 10.86.010 makes it unlawful to sit, lie down, sit on a blanket or stool, or camp/lodge, sleeping outdoors, cooking over an open flame, or setting up a tent or bedding, anywhere within a public right-of-way, defined to include the full width of any street, sidewalk, alley, trail, or drainage easement. Under 10.86.020, officers must first warn violators and tell them about the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center before citing. Affirmative defenses cover medical emergencies, wheelchair or walker users, permitted businesses/events, and people waiting for transit or building access.
Violations & Fines
Warning first, then a misdemeanor citation. A third conviction within 12 months carries a mandatory minimum 10-day jail term, or a court-ordered treatment/specialty-court program instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can police arrest someone the first time they're caught sitting on a sidewalk?
What happens after repeat violations?
Are there exceptions to the ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Las Vegas
Compare Las Vegas to another location·View the Nevada homelessness & encampment rules overview
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Sit-Lie Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Clark County handle sit-lie rules.