Wichita Falls, TX Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 94-7.1
- Adopted
- Ordinance 42-2025, 8/19/2025
- Trigger
- Warning required before citation
- Where it applies
- CBD, parks, trails, school zones
- Mental state
- Not required for conviction
Summary
Wichita Falls bans sitting, lying, or sleeping outdoors in designated pedestrian zones after a police warning, under an ordinance adopted August 2025.
A person commits an offense if, after having been notified by a law enforcement officer that the conduct violates this section: (1) The person is asleep outdoors; or (2) The person sits or lies down in the right-of-way or easement between the roadway and the abutting property line or structure, or an object placed in that area.
Full Breakdown
Under Section 94-7.1, it's an offense to sit, lie down, or sleep outdoors in the public right-of-way after a law enforcement officer has warned that the conduct violates the section. The ban applies only in defined zones: public parks and recreational facilities, the hike and bike trail, the Central Business District, high-pedestrian-traffic zones, and within 500 feet of school zones and child-care facilities. Exceptions cover medical emergencies, disabilities, bus-stop waiting, benches, lines for goods or services, and permitted events. No culpable mental state is required to convict.
Violations & Fines
Class C misdemeanor citation after a warning; no intent required to prove; fines set under the city's general penalty provision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can police cite someone the first time they see them sitting on a sidewalk?
Does the sit-lie ban cover the whole city?
Are there exceptions to the ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wichita Falls
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Wichita Falls to another location·View the Texas homelessness & encampment rules overview
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