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Odessa, TX Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Offense
Class C misdemeanor
Banned hours
11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Covers
Sidewalks, streets, alleys, public property
Max fine
$500 under general penalty section
Adopted
Ordinance 2023-31, effective Nov. 28, 2023

Summary

Odessa makes it a class C misdemeanor to sleep or camp between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on any sidewalk, street, alley, or other public right-of-way, with belongings subject to removal as a nuisance.

Camp or camping. Includes to stay or sleep in, or a property overnight (during the hours between 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) ... it is hereby declared to be a class C misdemeanor offense for a person to camp: ... (2) In, upon, or at a public right-of-way including a sidewalk, street, alley, highway, culvert, or any other public property.

View official code

Full Breakdown

City Code Section 1-13-9 bans camping anywhere on a public right-of-way -- sidewalk, street, alley, highway, or culvert -- and at any municipal facility, defining "camping" as staying or sleeping on the property overnight between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., with no minimum gear required to trigger the offense. Violators face a class C misdemeanor charge, and the city treats camping in violation as a nuisance it can abate by removing tents, bedding, and other property left behind. Adopted by Ordinance 2023-31 on November 28, 2023, the rule exempts vehicles legally parked on a street, campers with written city permission, and designated park camping areas.

Violations & Fines

Camping in a public right-of-way or municipal facility is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500 under section 1-1-9, plus removal of tents, bedding, and belongings as an abatable nuisance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Odessa's camping ban target the homeless specifically?
No. Section 1-13-9 applies to anyone sleeping or camping overnight in a public right-of-way or municipal facility, regardless of housing status, and is enforced as a general nuisance and misdemeanor offense.
Can I sleep in my RV on an Odessa street overnight?
Yes, if it is temporarily and lawfully parked under state law and city ordinance -- that counts as an affirmative defense under subsection (d)(1) of the camping ordinance.
What happens to my belongings if I'm cited for camping?
The city can abate the violation by removing tents, bedding, and other personal property left in the right-of-way or at a municipal facility, since the code treats it as a nuisance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Odessa

Encampment SanitationFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterHeavy Restrictions

All Odessa rules

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