Riverside Municipal Code restricts sitting, lying, or storing personal items on public sidewalks in defined commercial corridors during business hours, balancing pedestrian access with constitutional limits set by Martin v. Boise.
RMC sections in the public-conduct chapter prohibit obstructing sidewalks and commercial walkways during posted hours, with citations available after warning where shelter beds are accessible. Following the Ninth Circuit's Martin v. Boise ruling, enforcement may not criminalize sleeping on public property when no shelter is available. Riverside Police coordinate with Path of Life Ministries and county outreach teams to offer shelter before citing, particularly in downtown and University Avenue corridors. Personal property cannot be summarily destroyed without notice and storage opportunity per Lavan v. Los Angeles.
Sitting, lying, or blocking sidewalk passage in regulated zones during enforcement hours after warning leads to infraction citations, escalating fines, and potential property-storage referral.
Riverside, CA
Riverside prohibits sidewalk obstructions without a permit and requires a continuous 48-inch ADA path. A-frame signs, merchandise, dumpsters, and unattended ...
Riverside, CA
Riverside conducts encampment sanitation cleanups along the Santa Ana River corridor and city rights-of-way using posted notice, outreach offers, and supervi...
See how Riverside's sit-lie rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.