Can You Legally Sleep in Your Car in Lubbock?

Maybe you're between places right now and need a safe place to shut your brain off for a few hours and get some sleep. It happens to the best of us. I've known plenty of people who have had no choice but to tough it out and live in their car for a period of time.

So, what are you supposed to do? Let's take a closer look at what the City has to say about sleeping in your car.

A person is resting inside a red car

Can You Legally Sleep In Your Car In Lubbock?

I wasn't able to find a current Lubbock ordinance that flat-out bans sleeping in your car. The most important thing seems to be where you park.

Lubbock's parking code says you can't just stop anywhere and decide to call it bedtime. If you park on private property without permission, you'll get yourself in trouble for trespassing. Some businesses even prohibit parking after hours.

a person waving from a vehicle

So, Where Can You Sleep In Your Car?

Safest answer?

In a place you have permission to be.

A private property owner can give you permission to park and sleep, or you could go to a campground or location that is specifically for overnight stays. It might work out better than parking at Walmart and hoping nobody cares or notices.

The friends I have who have slept in their cars have all seemed to prefer parking at Walmart, but since they are no longer open 24-hours, it might be a little more difficult to get away with. I don't want to give you bad advice, so I'd say Walmart is probably not the best idea...

Also, do your best not to sleep in your car in a place that is blocking traffic, a fire lane, an entrance, or in a restricted area. Doing that could definitely get you into trouble.

black and orange backpack on car seat

The Bottom Line

Sleeping in your car isn't automatically illegal in Lubbock; you have to find a place to park where you're okay being there. Otherwise, you're really taking your chances. If you're already living in your car, you're probably already under a lot of stress. The last thing you need is a stupid parking ticket. Be careful!