Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Texas (2026)

Dallas makes it a criminal offense to sleep or doze in a street, alley, park, or other public place, or in a vacant lot…

San Marcos makes it unlawful to camp in any public area, streets, sidewalks, parks, and pedestrian ways, unless the…

In Austin's Downtown Community Court district, sitting or lying in the sidewalk right-of-way or sleeping outdoors is a…

Conroe bars sitting, lying down or sleeping outdoors on a public sidewalk or street right-of-way, but only after a law…

In Georgetown's Downtown Overlay District, Section 9.12.030 makes it unlawful to sit or lie down on a public sidewalk…

Harlingen bars sitting, standing, or lying on public sidewalks, streets, or walkways after a police warning or posted…

Odessa makes it a class C misdemeanor to sleep or camp between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on any sidewalk, street, alley, or…

Taylor bars sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk, street, alleyway or other property within the Downtown Overlay…

Texarkana prohibits sleeping on sidewalks, streets, alleys, or any public place or thoroughfare in the city, and on…

Victoria makes it a criminal offense to sleep or lie in public rights-of-way, streets, sidewalks, alleys, and parks…

Celina bans sitting, lying, or standing on public sidewalks after a police warning or posted sign if it blocks…

Edinburg bans sitting, lying, or standing on a public sidewalk after a police warning or posted sign if it unreasonably…

Irving makes it a misdemeanor to stand, remain or congregate on a public street or sidewalk in a way that obstructs…

Longview makes it a misdemeanor to sleep or lounge on public sidewalks, streets, or other public property when it…

Mission bans standing, remaining, or congregating on a public street or sidewalk in a way that blocks other people's…

Pharr bans blocking sidewalks with goods, vehicles, or any other objects, criminalizing conduct that includes sitting…

San Antonio bars sitting or lying in the downtown right-of-way when it blocks pedestrians, but only after a police…

Wichita Falls bans sitting, lying, or sleeping outdoors in designated pedestrian zones after a police warning, under an…

Dallas City Code Chapter 31 restricts sitting or lying on public sidewalks in central business district hours and near…

El Paso restricts sitting, lying, or storing belongings on downtown sidewalks during business hours under…

Fort Worth does not ban sitting or lying on sidewalks outright. Under City Code § 30-5, blocking a street or sidewalk…

Houston Code Chapter 40 restricts obstructing sidewalks and public rights-of-way. Enforcement against unhoused…

Lubbock enforces sidewalk obstruction and public-sleeping rules under city code and Texas HB 1925, which makes camping…

Arlington enforces general obstruction-of-sidewalk and entertainment-district public-conduct rules but has no broad…

Bexar County has no ordinance prohibiting sitting or lying on public property in unincorporated areas. San Antonio's…

Corpus Christi prohibits obstructing public sidewalks, doorways, and rights-of-way. The city does not have a…

Harris County has no countywide sit-lie ordinance regulating sitting or sleeping on public sidewalks. Texas counties…

Plano enforces general obstruction and pedestrian-right-of-way ordinances rather than a dedicated sit-lie rule. Sitting…

Baytown makes it a misdemeanor to camp or loiter in any public place, including streets, sidewalks, parks, parking…

Camping in any public area within Cedar Park city limits is unlawful, covering tents, bedding, overnight vehicle…

Conroe makes it an offense to camp in any public area, streets, parks, drainage easements or common areas, unless it's…

El Paso outlaws camping in any city park, no tents, shacks, other shelters, or bedrolls, unless city council…

Fort Worth bans unauthorized camping on private property citywide. Section 23-21 makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by…

Garland bans camping outright in the Downtown Overlay District and closes the smaller Downtown Square from 2 a.m. to 5…

Camping, tents, and unauthorized personal-property piles in any public place, parks, sidewalks, rights-of-way, are a…

Longview outlaws camping in tents or temporary lodging anywhere within city limits, with narrow exceptions for camping…

Overnight camping, tent erection, and overnight vehicle or RV parking are banned on every city-owned park, playground…

Richardson makes it a criminal offense to be found asleep on any sidewalk, street, alley, public thoroughfare or park…

Rowlett makes it a criminal offense to sleep overnight in any public transportation facility, public place, vacant lot…

San Angelo bans camping on any municipal facility or public right-of-way, including sidewalks, streets, alleys, and…

San Antonio makes it unlawful to camp in any public place outside city-designated areas under City Code Sec. 21-28, a…

Shenandoah, Texas bans camping in any public area outside a single city-designated 1.878-acre camping area, defining…

Camping anywhere in Town Square's public space is unlawful under City Code Sec. 5-209 unless a special-events permit…

Taylor bans camping in any public area within the city limits under City Code section 19-10, adopted in January 2023…

Waco makes it a criminal offense to camp on designated public property, including sidewalks, streets, rights-of-way…

Sec. 10-3-45 makes it a Class C misdemeanor to camp on a municipal facility or public right-of-way between midnight and…

Bryan prohibits camping on any public street or public place, defined to include erecting shelter, sleeping, storing…

Setting up a tent on Dallas city property is a criminal offense. Section 31-13.1 of the city code bars placing…

Leander makes it unlawful to camp or sleep in any public area within city limits, backing the Texas public-camping ban…

Rockwall bans lodging or temporary habitation in public parks, culverts, drainage ways, and under bridges or viaducts…

San Marcos makes it unlawful to camp anywhere in a public area, streets, parks, rights-of-way, parking lots, except in…

Texarkana makes it unlawful to sleep on sidewalks, streets, alleys, or any public place, backing the city's enforcement…

Before Austin clears a homeless encampment, staff posts closure signs at least 72 hours in advance, 7 days on parkland…

Celina makes it a misdemeanor to leave belongings, tents, or vehicles on any street, sidewalk, or public ground for…

Camping overnight on any Irving park property is unlawful unless it is part of a city-provided program, under City Code…

Texas Penal Code section 48.05 (created by 2021's HB 1925) bans camping in a public place without consent, and Mission…

Victoria makes it a criminal offense to camp in public rights-of-way, parks, and other public areas, backing up the…

Camping in any undesignated public area is a criminal offense under § 94-7, enacted to implement the Texas…

Camping in any public place in Laredo is a Class C misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code section 48.05, the statewide ban…

Texas Penal Code § 48.05 makes it a Class C misdemeanor to camp on any public property in Odessa, streets, parks, or…