Criminalization of Homelessness

What Is the Criminalization of Homelessness?

The legal line runs between who a person is and what they do. In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled in Robinson v. California that a state cannot make it a crime simply to have a condition, like addiction. In 2024, it ruled that camping bans punish conduct, not the condition of being homeless, so the Eighth Amendment does not stop cities from enforcing them. The practical problem remains: a person with no bed has no legal way to avoid the conduct.

What a Camping Ban Looks Like in Grants Pass

The Supreme Court case that reshaped these laws came from Grants Pass, Oregon, a city of about 38,000 where about 600 people are homeless on a given day. Gloria Johnson and John Logan, the two longtime residents who sued, slept in their vehicles. The city’s definition of camping included sleeping in any vehicle, so a car or van did not count as shelter under the law.

A federal district court found that Grants Pass had “zero emergency shelter beds.” The Gospel Rescue Mission offered 138 beds for at least 602 people, and its rules shut some people out. CarrieLynn Hill would have had to check in the nebulizer she uses every four hours as medical equipment, with no way to use it in her room. Debra Blake’s disabilities kept her from working, so she could not meet the mission’s 40-hour work requirement (Sotomayor dissent, Grants Pass v. Johnson).

For someone in that position, the penalties stack up in a fixed order.

How a camping citation escalates in Grants Pass, Oregon

1. 1 First citation A $295 fine Issued for sleeping outside or in a vehicle on public property. It rises to $537.60 if unpaid.
2. 2 Two citations in a year Barred from the park Officers can issue an order excluding the person from the park for 30 days.
3. 3 Back in the park Criminal trespass Camping after the order is a crime, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine.

Source: City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, 603 U.S. (2024), majority opinion and Justice Sotomayor's dissent describing the Grants Pass Municipal Code.

A fine that a person with no income cannot pay does not end the cycle. The criminal record that can follow shows up on the next apartment application and the next job screening, which makes getting housed harder.

Grants Pass is one city’s version. Other laws ban sitting or lying on sidewalks, sleeping in cars, or panhandling, and encampment sweeps can clear a camp and throw away the tents, IDs, and medicine inside.

What the Evidence Says Works

The best-tested alternative is Housing First, which gives people a stable home first and then offers voluntary treatment and services. It does not require sobriety or a job before someone gets a key. Programs can pay the rent with a housing voucher paired with services, which our Section 8 explainer walks through.

The strongest test of Housing First is a randomized trial in Denver, and it cut arrests, jail time, and shelter use at once. Researchers followed 724 people who had cycled through homelessness and jail. Half were offered supportive housing and half got the usual services. After one year, 86% of those offered housing were still housed, and after three years, 77% were (Urban Institute).

Supportive housing cut police and shelter use in Denver's randomized trial

Category	Value
Detox facility visits: 65% fewer	65%
Arrests: 40% fewer	40%
Shelter visits: 40% fewer	40%
Police contacts: 34% fewer	34%
Jail stays: 30% fewer	30%
Days in jail: 27% fewer	27%

Values are reductions for people offered supportive housing compared with a randomized control group over three years. Source: Urban Institute, July 2021.

The Denver trial was one study in one city, and it found no significant change in emergency room visits, so it does not settle every question about every program. It is still stronger evidence than anything offered for enforcement, and we found no comparable study showing that camping bans reduce homelessness.

What the Grants Pass Ruling Changed

For several years before the ruling, federal courts in nine Western states followed a 2018 decision, Martin v. Boise. It barred cities from punishing people for sleeping outside when there were more homeless people than available shelter beds.

In City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, decided June 28, 2024, a 6-3 majority ended that rule. The Court held that enforcing general laws against camping on public property is not cruel and unusual punishment, so bans that lower courts had blocked became enforceable.

The ruling left several things in place.

• It did not make homelessness itself a crime. Cities choose whether to pass or enforce a ban.
• It did not require any city or state to pass one.
• It did not settle other legal claims. In 2012, a federal appeals court ruled in Lavan v. City of Los Angeles that seizing and destroying homeless people’s unattended belongings violated the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, and that ruling still stands.
• It did not limit Housing First. Cities and states remain free to fund housing instead.

Which States Have Statewide Camping Bans

The National Homelessness Law Center counts 11 states that passed statewide camping bans in the last four years. We confirmed ten by bill number: nine passed and signed, and Missouri’s, which its state Supreme Court struck down. Several of those bills share language with model legislation from the Cicero Institute, a Texas think tank founded by investor Joe Lonsdale (Rolling Stone).

What this lookup shows is statewide public-camping laws. What it does not show is city and county ordinances, sit-and-lie rules, vehicle-dwelling rules, encampment sweeps, or how many shelter beds exist where you live. A state with no statewide law can still have strict local rules.

Does your state have a statewide camping ban?

Choose your state to see whether a statewide public-camping law has passed, what it does, and where to find local help.

Choose your state to see its rules Select a state AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

A quick reference, not legal advice. Local rules vary and can change quickly. Anyone facing a citation should contact local legal aid or a public defender.

Statewide camping bans

• Statewide ban passed and signed (9 states)
• Passed, then struck down by a court (1 state)
• No statewide law identified; local rules may still apply

Sources: National Homelessness Law Center, state laws criminalizing homelessness; NPR, Cicero camping-ban model spreads to states (May 2024); NPR, first felony camping arrests; NHLC count of 11 states (July 21, 2026); Indiana Capital Chronicle, SEA 285 takes effect (June 25, 2026); National Homelessness Law Center, Louisiana HB 211 (June 2026); WBIW, Gov. Braun signs statewide camping ban (March 9, 2026); KPLC, Louisiana lawmakers pass camping bill (June 2, 2026). Verified September 24, 2026.

Statewide camping bans

State	Statewide camping ban	Local rules
Alabama	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Alaska	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Arizona	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Arkansas	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
California	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Colorado	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Connecticut	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Delaware	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
District of Columbia	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Florida	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Georgia	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Hawaii	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Idaho	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Illinois	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Indiana	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Iowa	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Kansas	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Kentucky	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Louisiana	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Maine	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Maryland	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Massachusetts	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Michigan	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Minnesota	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Mississippi	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Missouri	No. A statewide ban passed, then a court struck it down.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Montana	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Nebraska	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Nevada	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
New Hampshire	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
New Jersey	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
New Mexico	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
New York	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
North Carolina	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
North Dakota	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Ohio	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Oklahoma	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Oregon	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Pennsylvania	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Rhode Island	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
South Carolina	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
South Dakota	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Tennessee	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Texas	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Utah	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Vermont	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Virginia	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Washington	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
West Virginia	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Wisconsin	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Wyoming	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.

See all states in a table

All states Statewide ban passed and signed (9 states)Passed, then struck down by a court (1 state)No statewide law identified; local rules may still apply Showing 51 of 51 states

State	Statewide camping ban	What the law does	Local rules
Alabama	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Alaska	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Arizona	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Arkansas	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
California	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Colorado	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Connecticut	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Delaware	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
District of Columbia	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Florida	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	HB 1365 (2024) bans public camping and lets residents sue cities that allow it.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Georgia	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	SB 62 (2024): requires localities to enforce public-camping bans.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Hawaii	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Idaho	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Illinois	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Indiana	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	SEA 285, signed by Gov. Mike Braun in March 2026, in effect July 1: camping on public land is a Class C misdemeanor, up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. No one can be prosecuted if no shelter or mental-health bed is available within five miles.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Iowa	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Kansas	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Kentucky	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	HB 5, the Safer Kentucky Act (2024): unlawful camping is a misdemeanor.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Louisiana	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	HB 211, the Streets to Success Act, signed June 2026: unauthorized camping on public property carries up to $500 and six months in jail; repeat offenses up to $1,000 and one to two years, with or without hard labor.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Maine	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Maryland	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Massachusetts	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Michigan	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Minnesota	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Mississippi	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Missouri	No. A statewide ban passed, then a court struck it down.	Passed a statewide camping ban; the Missouri Supreme Court struck it down.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Montana	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Nebraska	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Nevada	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
New Hampshire	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
New Jersey	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
New Mexico	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
New York	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
North Carolina	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
North Dakota	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Ohio	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Oklahoma	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	SB 1854 (2024): bans camping on state land and rights-of-way.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Oregon	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Pennsylvania	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Rhode Island	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
South Carolina	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
South Dakota	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Tennessee	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	HB 978 (2022): camping on public property is a felony, up to six years in prison. Felony arrests began in 2026.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Texas	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	HB 1925 (2021): public camping is a Class C misdemeanor, fine up to $500.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Utah	Yes. A statewide public-camping ban has passed and been signed.	HB 499 (2023): requires cities to enforce camping bans.	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Vermont	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Virginia	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Washington	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
West Virginia	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Wisconsin	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.
Wyoming	No statewide law identified. Local rules may still apply.	—	Cities and counties can pass their own camping, sleeping, or vehicle-dwelling rules whatever the state law says. Check your city or county code.

Sources: National Homelessness Law Center, state laws criminalizing homelessness; NPR, Cicero camping-ban model spreads to states (May 2024); NPR, first felony camping arrests; NHLC count of 11 states (July 21, 2026); Indiana Capital Chronicle, SEA 285 takes effect (June 25, 2026); National Homelessness Law Center, Louisiana HB 211 (June 2026); WBIW, Gov. Braun signs statewide camping ban (March 9, 2026); KPLC, Louisiana lawmakers pass camping bill (June 2, 2026). Verified September 24, 2026.

The statewide map is the smaller part of the picture. A 2021 National Homelessness Law Center study found 48 states with at least one law criminalizing some act tied to homelessness, and more than 300 cities have added their own since 2024.

Federal Homelessness Policy in 2026

Federal money is where the fight moved next. In July 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14321, which ended federal support for Housing First, pushed civil commitment for people with mental illness, and let agencies favor grants to cities that enforce camping bans. The 2025 budget law also ended the exemption for people experiencing homelessness from SNAP’s work requirements, effective July 4, 2025.

1. Jun 2024 Grants Pass v. Johnson A 6-3 Supreme Court rules camping bans are not cruel and unusual punishment, even in a city with no emergency shelter beds.
2. 2024-25 Camping bans spread Hundreds of city laws and new statewide bans follow, several sharing language with the Cicero model.
3. Jul 2025 Trump EO 14321 Ends federal support for Housing First and lets agencies favor cities that enforce camping bans.
4. Apr 2026 Court rules the HUD shift unlawful A federal judge and a federal appeals court rule the funding overhaul unlawful.
5. Mar-Jun 2026 Indiana and Louisiana pass bans Indiana's took effect July 1. Louisiana's carries up to six months in jail, and up to two years for repeat offenses.
6. Aug 2026 HUD grant notice vacated A federal judge strikes HUD's FY2026 notice for skipping public comment.
7. Sep 2026 Appeals court lets HUD proceed The 1st Circuit pauses the August ruling while the appeal continues.

Sources: Supreme Court; White House; NPR; NACo; WBIW; KPLC; National Homelessness Law Center.

From the Supreme Court to the White House: Jun 2024: Grants Pass v. Johnson (A 6-3 Supreme Court rules camping bans are not cruel and unusual punishment, even in a city with no emergency shelter beds.). 2024-25: Camping bans spread (Hundreds of city laws and new statewide bans follow, several sharing language with the Cicero model.). Jul 2025: Trump EO 14321 (Ends federal support for Housing First and lets agencies favor cities that enforce camping bans.). Apr 2026: Court rules the HUD shift unlawful (A federal judge and a federal appeals court rule the funding overhaul unlawful.). Mar-Jun 2026: Indiana and Louisiana pass bans (Indiana's took effect July 1. Louisiana's carries up to six months in jail, and up to two years for repeat offenses.). Aug 2026: HUD grant notice vacated (A federal judge strikes HUD's FY2026 notice for skipping public comment.). Sep 2026: Appeals court lets HUD proceed (The 1st Circuit pauses the August ruling while the appeal continues.).

Five Questions Before a City Passes a Camping Ban

When a camping ban comes before your city council, these questions test whether it comes with a plan to get people housed. Each one asks for a number or a written procedure the city can publish.

1. Where can people legally sleep tonight? How many shelter beds are open, who is eligible, and how far are they from where people are camping?
2. What happens to people’s belongings? Is there written notice before a sweep, storage for tents, IDs, and medicine, and a way to get them back?
3. What will enforcement cost? Count police time, court time, jail beds, cleanup crews, and property storage, not only the ordinance itself. Some cities send health workers instead of police to crisis calls, one of the reforms compared in what the evidence shows on police reform.
4. How will the city measure success? Ask for housing placements and returns to homelessness, not camps cleared or citations written.
5. What housing comes with it? How many permanent units, rental-assistance slots, and outreach workers does the city fund alongside the ban?

What Criminalization Is Not

Not every rule about public space criminalizes homelessness, and stretching the term weakens the case against the real thing.

A city can regulate genuine conduct: blocking a fire exit, dumping waste, or threatening people. It can offer shelter and services, and it can close a park at night when shelter beds are open and people can reach them.

The line is whether the law punishes an act a person without a home cannot avoid. A fine for sleeping outside in a city with no open shelter bed punishes someone for having nowhere to go, and that is the practice this page describes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to be homeless in the United States? Being homeless is not itself a crime. In much of the country, though, sleeping or camping in public can be, and after Grants Pass v. Johnson cities may enforce those bans even when no shelter is available.

Why do cities keep passing camping bans? Visible encampments create political pressure, and a ban can look like fast action. Groups like the Cicero Institute also promote model bills to state lawmakers.

Can a city clear an encampment? After Grants Pass, generally yes. How the city does it still matters, because taking and destroying people’s belongings without notice can violate the Constitution, as the Lavan ruling above shows.

What is a Continuum of Care? It is the local group of agencies that coordinates HUD homelessness money and housing placements in a city or region. It is usually the fastest route to a housing assessment, and HUD lists every one by state.

What You Can Do

1. If your city is considering a camping ban, read the proposed ordinance and bring the five questions above to public comment. Ask the council to publish open shelter beds, enforcement costs, and how it will measure housing placements before it votes.
2. If your state has a camping-ban bill, find the bill text and its committee schedule at openstates.org. Ask your state legislators whether it funds any housing or only adds penalties, and ask for a no vote on penalties with no housing attached.
3. If someone you know is facing a citation, start with local legal aid, a public defender, or your local Continuum of Care, all linked in the state lookup above. Many citations can be challenged. This page is not legal advice, and rules vary by city.
4. Support the legal fight. Democracy Forward and the National Homelessness Law Center are litigating the HUD changes and tracking state bills.
5. Ask Congress to protect Housing First. Call your U.S. House member and senators at the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and ask them to protect Housing First funding and oppose tying homelessness grants to camping-ban enforcement. Use the letter and call script below.