Thousand Oaks, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime sleeping ban
- 6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., no exceptions
- Nighttime sleeping ban
- 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m., only if shelter space available
- Open Space sleeping
- Prohibited at all times
- Protected activity
- Protesting, picketing, permitted events exempted
Summary
Thousand Oaks restricts sitting, lying down, or sleeping in public places, like sidewalks, streets, and doorways, when it blocks pedestrian or vehicle traffic. Sleeping in public is banned outright between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., but the overnight ban (10 p.m.–6 a.m.) only applies if shelter beds are actually available and there's a viable alternative. Sleeping in COSCA-designated Open Space is banned at all hours.
(1) No person shall sit or lie down upon a public place or in doorways or entrances to buildings in such a way as to impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic. ... (3) No person shall be permitted to sleep in a public place between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (4) No person shall be permitted to sleep in a public place between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. unless there are no sleeping spaces practically available in any shelter or if there does not exist any viable alternative to sleeping in a public place.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-78: 2026 S-78 Supplement contains: Current city legislation passed through March 31, 2026).
Full Breakdown
The section exempts sleeping in Open Space entirely: that's banned at all times regardless of shelter availability. It also carves out protected activity: people patronizing a permitted sidewalk business or dining area, attendees of a permitted parade, festival, or rally, and anyone protesting, picketing, demonstrating, or voter-registering are excluded from the prohibitions. The overnight sleeping restriction's shelter-availability condition tracks the reasoning courts have applied to Eighth Amendment challenges against anti-camping laws.
Violations & Fines
Violations are enforced as Code violations; the section itself sets out prohibitions and exceptions rather than a distinct fine schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for sleeping outside overnight if the shelters are full?
Does this ban protesting on sidewalks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thousand Oaks
California rules heatmap·Compare Thousand Oaks to another location·View the California homelessness & encampment rules overview
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