Establishment of Buffer Zone at Entrances and Exits to Health Care Facilities, Places of Worship, and School Grounds
San Diego Municipal Code § 52.1003
in effect§52.1003 Establishment of Buffer Zone at Entrances and Exits to Health Care Facilities, Places of Worship, and School Grounds
(a) Obstructing Access. No person shall obstruct an entrance or exit or access to a parking lot at a health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds.
(b) Harassment and Intimidation Prohibited. Within a radius of 100 feet of a health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds, no person shall:
(1) approach within eight feet of a person in the public right-of-way or sidewalk area who is seeking to enter or exit a health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds to harass or intimidate that person; or
(2) harass or intimidate a person in the public right-of-way or sidewalk area who is seeking to enter or exit a health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds.
(c) Consent Required. Within a radius of 100 feet of a health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds, unless the person or motor vehicle occupant consents, no person shall:
(1) knowingly and willfully approach within eight feet of a person in the public right-of-way or sidewalk area who is seeking to enter or exit a health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds, to:
(i) pass a leaflet or handbill to that person;
(ii) display a sign to that person; or
(iii) engage in oral protest, education, or counseling.
(2) knowingly and willfully approach within eight feet of an occupant of a motor vehicle seeking to enter or exit a parking lot, to:
(i) pass a leaflet or handbill to the motor vehicle occupant;
(ii) display a sign to the motor vehicle occupant; or
(iii) engage in oral protest, education, or counseling.
(d) Measuring Eight Feet. For purposes of this Division, eight feet shall be measured from the extension of the body of the person seeking to enter or exit a health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds or the exterior of the occupied motor vehicle seeking to enter or exit a parking lot to the extension of the body of, or any sign or object held by, another person.
(e) Measuring 100 Feet. For purposes of this Division, 100 feet shall be measured from the main entrance door, or if the property is fenced and gated then from the main entrance gate, of the health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds.
(f) Exemptions. Section 52.1003 does not apply to:
(1) law enforcement or public safety officials acting in the scope of their employment; and
(2) employees, agents, or volunteers of the health care facility, place of worship, or school or school district operating on school grounds acting within the scope of their employment, agency, or volunteer service.
(“Establishment of Buffer Zone at Entrances and Exits to Health Care Facilities, Places of Worship, and School Grounds” added 6-11-2024 by O-21822 N.S.; effective 7-11-2024.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter05/Ch05Art02Division10.pdf#page=3Fetched: 10/28/2026