Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Virginia (2026)
7 rules on the books across Virginia, 5 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.
Virginia Beach
Heavy RestrictionsVirginia Beach outlaws sitting, reclining, or lying down on any street, sidewalk, alley, curb, or business entrance…
Read full rule →Lynchburg
Significant RestrictionsLynchburg bars anyone from loitering, sitting or lying on public sidewalks, streets or rights-of-way in a way that…
Read full rule →Richmond
Some RestrictionsRichmond City Code § 19-110 defines "loiter" to include standing, sitting or lying upon any public street, sidewalk…
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.
Alexandria
Heavy RestrictionsAlexandria bans camping or using any public park for living accommodations under City Code § 6-1-8(a)(6). The ordinance…
Read full rule →Richmond
Heavy RestrictionsRichmond City Code § 8-273 makes it unlawful to camp, tent, encamp or quarter on any public grounds, park, playfield…
Read full rule →Roanoke
Significant RestrictionsRoanoke makes it a Class 4 misdemeanor to camp on any city-owned street, sidewalk, alley or right-of-way within the…
Read full rule →Virginia Beach
Significant RestrictionsVirginia Beach bans sleeping in public parks or on public property overnight and bars overnight camper occupancy on…
Read full rule →