Palm Beach County, FL Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Where it applies
- Unincorporated county only
- Beach curfew
- 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Max penalty
- $500 fine or 60 days jail
- Defense
- Ownership or owner's permission
- Enacted
- 1974, amended 1998
Summary
County Code § 18-2 makes it unlawful to occupy, lodge, or sleep in the open on private property, vacant lots, or under bridges without the owner's permission, and separately bans sleeping on public beaches from midnight to 6 a.m.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person at any time to occupy, lodge, or sleep in the open on private property, in vacant lots, in or under any bridge or structure, in any railroad car, without owning the same or without permission of the owner or person entitled to possession of same.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy, lodge or sleep upon any public beach between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., without owning the same or without permission of the owner or person entitled to possession of same.
Full Breakdown
In unincorporated Palm Beach County, Code § 18-2 prohibits occupying, lodging, or sleeping in the open on private property, in vacant lots, in or under any bridge or structure, or in a railroad car, unless the person owns the property or has the owner's permission. A second clause separately bars occupying, lodging, or sleeping on any public beach between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The ordinance applies only outside the county's 39 municipalities. West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, and the Town of Palm Beach itself all enforce their own separate camping and lodging rules within city limits.
Violations & Fines
Section 18-2 sets no specific fine, so the Code's general penalty at § 1-11 applies: up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in county jail, or both, with each day of violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this ordinance apply inside West Palm Beach or Boca Raton?
What counts as unlawful lodging under § 18-2?
Is sleeping on the beach ever allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida homelessness & encampment rules overview
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