When Overnight Parking Disappears, Where Can People Go?
No Place to Go Project | October 2026
In September 2026, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors advanced four ordinances restricting parking along Combie Road, East Bennett Road, Old State Highway 49, and Van Norden Lake Road.
The ordinances returned to the Board on October 6 for final adoption. County records now identify numbered ordinances for three of the roads, although the complete final voting record has not yet been made publicly accessible through the county's online meeting system.
These developments raise an important question for Nevada County: As legal overnight parking locations become more limited, where can people who live in their vehicles safely go?
A Problem That Cannot Be Solved by Parking Restrictions Alone
For some Nevada County residents, a car, van, or recreational vehicle is the only shelter they have.
Moving these vehicles from one road to another does not resolve homelessness. It may simply push people farther from services, employment, and community support—or into more isolated locations.
During the September 15 Board meeting, representatives of No Place to Go Project and other community members urged supervisors to consider safe parking alternatives.
Several supervisors acknowledged the need for places where people living in vehicles could stay safely. The discussion included the possibility of working with churches and other community organizations that might have suitable parking areas.
This represents an opportunity for Nevada County to explore practical solutions that address both neighborhood concerns and the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
What Is a Safe Parking Program?
Safe parking programs provide designated places where people living in vehicles can park overnight without fear of being moved along simply because they have nowhere else to stay.
Depending on the program, these sites may provide:
Designated overnight parking spaces
Access to toilets, handwashing facilities, and trash disposal
Rules addressing safety, noise, cleanliness, and respectful behavior
Coordination with local service providers
Assistance connecting participants with housing and other resources
Programs vary considerably. Some are operated by nonprofit organizations, while others use parking lots provided by churches or community partners.
Small programs may accommodate only a handful of vehicles, making them potentially suitable for rural communities.
Safe parking is not a substitute for permanent housing. It is an interim response that can provide greater stability while people work toward better housing options.
Exploring Solutions for Rural Nevada County
No Place to Go Project is researching safe parking programs in California and other states to better understand how they operate, what they cost, and what would be required to establish similar programs locally.
Our research is examining practical questions about insurance, sanitation, staffing, participant requirements, safety, and partnerships between property owners and service organizations.
We are particularly interested in small programs that might work in rural communities, where resources are limited and large urban approaches may not be appropriate.
No Place to Go Project does not intend to operate a safe parking facility. Our goal is to provide research, encourage discussion, and help community organizations and local officials identify workable approaches.
Housing Remains the Goal
We believe housing is a human right. Everyone needs a safe place to live, and Nevada County needs more affordable and permanent housing opportunities.
Until those opportunities are available to everyone who needs them, practical interim solutions deserve consideration.
Safe parking will not end homelessness. But providing a safe place to park may help prevent an already difficult situation from becoming worse.
Sources and further reading
Nevada County Board of Supervisors — September 15, 2026 Meeting
Nevada County — October 6, 2026 East Bennett Road Ordinance Record
Original reporting: The Mountain Messenger, September 18, 2026
Safe Parking Programs: An Investment to Tackle Homelessness.
Safe Parking Programs Considered as an Investment
Selected highlights of Supervisor Response to Grand Jury Report
Selected Highlights of Supervisor Responses to Grand Jury Report
A Long and Winding Road
A Long and Winding Road for the Homeless of Nevada County: Grand Jury Report 2024-2025
