Is it illegal to live in your car in California?

Is it illegal to live in your car in California?



I would say, no. CNN reports the following concerning people living in their cars: "There are 12 parking lots across Santa Barbara that have been set up to accommodate the growing middle-class homelessness. These lots are believed to be part of the first program of its kind in the United States, according to organizers."

CNN goes on to say that you CAN be arrested for illegally parking. I guess it depends on where your car is -

It is not illegal to live in your car. You must be very careful where you do park overnight as you could be getting towed or a ticket. There are places such as rest areas that sometimes restrict the number of hours a car can be parked there (i.e. 2 days and not moved is not allowed). If you are parking on private property such as a shopping center parking lot, then no, you are not allowed to just stay there and sleep in your car. If you go to a truck stop and park your car and sleep in it say for one night, that would be allowable also. But keep staying there would not be permitted. It will be harder and harder for the homeless people to keep living and sleeping in their cars.

Guess they have to park their cars and sleep in the door ways, under the cover of the drive through banks and under bridges like they do here in Atlanta.