Nicholasville, KY Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)

The rule in Sec. 12-1.1(a) turns on purpose and place, not on status. No person, whether acting individually or in a group, and whether acting for himself or herself or for any organization, association or corporation, may stand, sit or remain on or in any public right-of-way, or on or in any public street, sidewalk or highway for the purpose of soliciting contributions of any kind from the drivers or passengers of vehicles using the street. Sitting on a sidewalk for any other reason is not what this section addresses.

There is one carve-out. The provision does not prohibit a purely charitable organization from using right-of-way, but not streets, to give notice of off-street activities. The section also closes the permit route: no city permit is issued for charitable solicitation at any location where the solicitation is prohibited by Sec. 12-1.1.

Sec. 19-13 handles obstruction more broadly. Sec. 19-13(a) says no person shall place, throw, deposit or allow to accumulate or grow on any street, alley, sidewalk, pathway, gutter or other public right-of-way, easement or public property a list of items including furniture, signs, rubbish, junk and weeds, or any other obstruction or encroachment of any nature that may impede or hinder traversal or use by persons with disabilities or any other person traveling on or using the street, alley, sidewalk or other public property. Under Sec. 19-13(b), such items can be removed immediately by the city without notice to the property owner.