New York, NY Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)

Unlike Seattle or San Francisco, New York City never enacted a sit-lie law, so merely sitting or lying on a sidewalk is not itself an offense. The enforceable provision is New York Penal Law 240.20(5): a person commits disorderly conduct when, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, they obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic. An officer must show both intent and real obstruction, not just presence. Disorderly conduct is a violation, not a crime, carrying up to 15 days in jail. Cleanups of encampments run separately under city sanitation and outreach protocols.