Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Pennsylvania (2026)
4 rules on the books across Pennsylvania, 3 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Sit-Lie Rules
Citywide rules against sitting or lying on public sidewalks during specified daytime hours in commercial corridors, including how courts have constrained enforcement.
Philadelphia
Significant RestrictionsPhiladelphia bans lying on a sidewalk outright and sitting for more than one hour in any two-hour period, but only…
Read full rule →Harrisburg
Light RestrictionsThe City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has no section that mentions sitting or lying on sidewalks. Section 3-341.2…
Read full rule →Encampment Sanitation
How cities provide trash, hygiene, and bulky-item pickup at encampments, the CARE/CARE+ cleanups in LA, and the storage-of-belongings rules from Lavan v. LA.
Bethlehem
Significant RestrictionsBethlehem's park code bans camping in any city park unless the Director of Parks and Public Property gives written…
Read full rule →Philadelphia
Some RestrictionsPhiladelphia Code § 10-501(3) bars camping on any private property without the written permission of the owner or…
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