Living in a car might not be a common sight but for many Americans, their vehicle/car becomes a permanent living space when they are away from home. Living in a car is convenient but it also has problems like taking bath, showering, or how you can manage human waste. Moreover, you have to consider the laws of different states when it comes to living in a car.
Whether it’s legal to live in a car depends on what state you live in or what state you are planning to visit with your car. Different states have different laws regarding living in a car. Some states will allow you to live in a car but you have to follow the parking rules like you might not be allowed to park on city main streets, the highway, public property, etc. However, there are places that are open for overnight visitors to stay in their cars.
Living In A Car Law By States
There are no nationwide laws available in the USA about living in a car. However, every state has its own laws about sleeping in the car. So the best solution would be to find designated overnight parking areas ahead of time. Below you will find state-by-state laws regarding living in a car.
| State | Overnight Parking At Rest Stops | Sleeping In Car Laws |
| Alabama | Not allowed | No parking on highways you can be arrested for having control of a vehicle while intoxicated, even if the car isn’t moving. It’s banned in some cities like Fairhope |
| Alaska | Nothing specified | Parking and sleeping in car laws vary by city You may not be allowed to park on public property not marked as the official parking In Anchorage, you cannot park on a street, public parking space, or public way for over 24 hours, except from Friday noon to Monday noon. |
| Arizona | Allowed, but no camping outside the car | Some cities like Phoenix ban camping, including car camping You can be arrested for having control of your vehicle while intoxicated. |
| Arkansas | Allowed for safety purposes only, no camping | Parking laws vary by city. In general, obey street parking signs and time limits. |
| California | 8-hour limit at rest stops, no overnight parking or camping | Many cities ban sleeping in cars in undesignated areas You may find designated overnight parking lotsNo parking on freeways, except for emergencies |
| Colorado | Not allowed | There are designated overnight parking areas in the state. You can be arrested for having control of your vehicle while intoxicated. You can’t park on controlled-access highways. |
| Connecticut | Not allowed | Parking laws vary by citySome cities prohibit overnight parking on city streets between certain hours |
| Delaware | The 4-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | Parking laws vary by city |
| Florida | The 3-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | Highway shoulders are reserved for emergency vehicles Some cities or counties ban sleeping in cars entirely, including The KeysYou can be arrested for having control of your car while intoxicated, even if it’s not moving. |
| Georgia | Not allowed | Highway shoulders are reserved for emergency vehicles. Make sure you’re not violating city or county parking laws or signs. |
| Hawaii | Not allowed | You can’t sleep or live in your vehicle on any public roadway between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.You can’t use private property without the owner’s consent. |
| Idaho | Allowed with a 10-hour limit, no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| Illinois | The 3-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Indiana | Not allowed | No specific laws |
| Lowa | Allowed for one night under special circumstances, such as emergencies, no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| Kansas | Allowed for one night only, no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| Kentucky | The 4-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Louisiana | Not allowed | No specific laws |
| Maine | Not allowed | No specific laws |
| Maryland | The 3-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Massachusetts | Not allowed | No specific laws |
| Michigan | The 4-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Minnesota | The 4-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Mississippi | Allowed, but no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| Missouri | Allowed, but no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| Montana | Allowed, but no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| Nebraska | 10-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Nevada | Allowed with a 24-hour limit, camping allowed | No specific laws |
| New Hampshire | The 4-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| New Jersey | Overnight parking may be available in some areas, no camping | No specific laws |
| New Mexico | Allowed with a 24-hour limit, no camping | No specific laws |
| New York | The 3-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| North Carolina | The 4-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| North Dakota | Allowed, but no camping | No specific laws |
| Ohio | The 3-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | RVs are allowed overnight parking along with some areas of the Turnpike. |
| Oklahoma | Allowed, but no camping | No specific laws |
| Oregon | Allowed with a 12-hour limit, no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| Pennsylvania | 2-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Rhode Island | Allowed, but no camping | No specific laws |
| South Carolina | Not allowed | No specific laws |
| South Dakota | The 4-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Tennessee | 2-hour limit for parking, no overnight parking or camping | No specific laws |
| Texas | Allowed with a 24-hour limit, no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| Utah | Not allowed overnight, extended stays are allowed at the police’s discretion | No specific laws |
| Vermont | Not allowed | No specific laws |
| Virginia | Not allowed | No specific laws |
| Washington | Allowed with an 8-hour limit, no camping outside the vehicle | No specific laws |
| West Virginia | Allowed, but no camping | No specific laws |
| Wisconsin | Not allowed | No specific laws |
| Wyoming | Sleeping in vehicles is allowed for those who need rest to drive safely, no camping outside the vehicle or extended stays | No specific laws |
Essential Car Living/Sleeping Kits
If you want to live or sleep in your car comfortably then you must have some common car living kits in your car. So if you are wondering what items you should carry with you then the below list will help you sort things out! Let’s check them.
Clothes & Sleeping Gear
When you are living in a car, chances are you will be caring for all the required clothes. As a general rule, you should have a change of clothing every night while you are staying in a car. So you should carry –
1. An extra pair of socks
2. An extra pair of shoes
3. A beanie
4. Pillow
5. Sleeping bag
6. Extra blanket
7. Blow-up mattress
Toiletries
If you want to keep fresh when you are living in a car then you should carry some toiletries with you. You might not carry many things because it might get stuffy inside the car so you should carry toiletries like –
1. Dry shampoo
2. Wet wipes
3. Roll-on deodorant
4. Toilet paper
5. Hand sanitizer
Electronics
Nowadays electronics play a very vital role in our life and it helps us stay connected with others. When you are living in a car you will be using electronic devices like GPS, music players, mobile chargers, etc. So important electronic devices are –
1. Car phone charger
2. Power bank
3. Wi-Fi router (if necessary)
4. Flashlight
5. Bed phones
First AID
This is a very important car living kit because you don’t know what you might encounter while you are living in a car. So consider caring a first AID box that includes –
1. Band-aids and bandages in a variety of sizes
2. Disinfectant
3. Antiseptic ointment
4. A burn care product
5. Throat lozenges
6. Painkillers (preferably not aspirin)
7. Anti-nausea medication
8. Anti-diarrhea medication
9. Antihistamines
10. Rehydration sachets with electrolytes
FAQs About Living In A Car
1. What Are The Safest Places To Stay Overnight In A Car?
There are quite a few places where you can park overnight and safely stay in your car. Some of the places are –
1. Walmart
2. Casinos
3. Rest Stops
4. Welcome Information Center’s
5. BLM Land
6. Grocery Stores
7. Shopping Malls
8. Fast Food Outlets
9. Parking Lots
10. City Street Parking
2. Is It Legal To Sleep In A Walmart Parking Lot?
Walmart has no problem with people sleeping in Walmart car parking. But before you decide to sleep in Walmart’s parking lot you have to check the law of that state. Many states allow sleeping in a parking lot while there are other states that don’t allow sleeping in a parking lot.
3. Can You Sleep In McDonald’s Parking Lot?
No, you can’t sleep in McDonald’s parking lot because it is private property and they don’t allow anybody to sleep in their parking lot.
4. When Is It Illegal To Sleep In Your Car?
If you are in a city or state where sleeping in a car is illegal then you can’t sleep in your car. If you are allowed to sleep in your car then you have to consider the parking lot laws of that city or state. There are many states that allow you to sleep in your car but don’t allow you to sleep in the parking lot. In this type of situation, you have to find another place to park your car and sleep in it.
5. Where Is It Legal To Sleep In Your Car?
There are many places where you can sleep in your car legally. Some of the places are –
1. Rest areas
2. Campgrounds
3. 24-hour retailers
4. Private property with permission
5. Truckstops
6. Your own private property
References:
1. https://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-Your-Car
2. https://recombu.com/cars/article/is-it-legal-to-live-in-your-car
Last Updated on February 3, 2022 by
Magalie D. is a Diploma holder in Public Administration & Management from McGill University of Canada. She shares management tips here in MGTBlog when she has nothing to do and gets some free time after working in a multinational company at Toronto.
