Roswell, GA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 8.5.3
- Covers
- Highways, alleys, sidewalks, crosswalks
- Exception
- Physical disability only
- Penalty
- General § 1.1.3, up to $2,000 / 180 days
- Warning required
- No (unlike urban camping § 8.5.4)
Summary
Roswell, Georgia bans sitting, lying or sleeping on any public street, sidewalk, alley or crosswalk under § 8.5.3, with a narrow exception for people who cannot avoid it due to physical disability. The section sets no penalty of its own, so violators face the code's citywide default fine and jail exposure under § 1.1.3.
Section 8.5.3 - Sitting or Lying on Streets. A person shall not sit, lie or sleep in or upon any public highway, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk or other place open for pedestrian travel, except when necessitated by physical disability of such person.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
3 targets the physical act of sitting or lying down: a person shall not sit, lie or sleep in or upon any public highway, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk or other place open for pedestrian travel, except when necessitated by physical disability of such person. The rule is broader than a typical sit-lie ordinance because it covers highways and alleys as well as sidewalks and crosswalks, and it applies at all hours, with no daytime or nighttime carve-out. The only built-in exception is for a person who cannot avoid sitting or lying because of a physical disability.
3 carries no penalty clause or warning requirement of its own. 00, imprisonment of up to 180 days, community service of up to 180 days, or a combination, with the judge of the municipal court setting the actual sentence and each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense. Roswell police officers and code enforcement officers may issue a citation returnable to the City of Roswell Municipal Court.
Violations & Fines
Sitting, lying or sleeping on a Roswell street, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk without a qualifying physical disability is a Code of Ordinances violation. Because § 8.5.3 sets no penalty of its own, § 1.1.3's general penalty applies: up to a $2,000.00 fine, up to 180 days in jail, up to 180 days of community service, or any combination, with each day of continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to sit on a sidewalk in Roswell, Georgia?
What's the penalty for violating Roswell's sit-lie rule?
Does Roswell have to warn me before citing me under this section?
Are there any exceptions to Roswell's sit-lie ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roswell
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Sit-Lie Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle sit-lie rules.