Amendments to the Public Order Act (ZJRM-1)
Article 1 (Amendment to Article 10)
The existing Article 10 is supplemented with new paragraphs 2 through 8, which read:
(2) Overnight stays or dwelling in vehicles in public parking areas is permitted if:
- it does not disturb public order or peace,
- no external equipment is deployed (awnings, tables, chairs, grills, cookers, etc.),
- the same vehicle is not parked in the same place for more than five consecutive days,
- the vehicle is properly registered and roadworthy according to motor vehicle regulations,
- after five days, the same vehicle must not return to that parking location for at least fourteen consecutive days, to prevent circumvention by temporarily leaving and returning.
(3) For the purposes of this article, “dwelling in a vehicle” means temporary or longer-term sleeping, resting, or living in a vehicle without external impacts on the surroundings. Such use shall not be considered camping under Article 18 of this Act.
(4) Vehicle dwelling is prohibited in the following locations:
- lawns, parks, and public walking areas,
- areas designated by municipalities as non-permissible for overnight stays,
- natural and cultural heritage sites or protected areas, where prohibited by special legislation.
(5) If the conditions in paragraphs (2) and (3) are met, such vehicle dwelling shall not be considered a public order offense or illegal camping, and is permitted without additional restrictions, except those listed in paragraph (4).
(6) A vehicle used for dwelling must be registered and technically sound. Deregistered, partially disassembled, or clearly unroadworthy vehicles shall not be considered suitable for dwelling under this Act.
(7) A municipality or parking operator (including concessionaires) may provide access to utility hookups (electricity, water, waste disposal), but shall not make vehicle hookup a requirement for the right to park and dwell. Use of such hookups must remain voluntary and may not serve as a precondition for overnight stays.
(8) For the purposes of this Act, a public parking area means any surface owned by the municipality or state intended for general vehicle use, regardless of operator. Parking lots designated solely for residents or specific buildings (e.g. apartment blocks) are not considered public.
Article 2 (Amendment to Article 18)
The title of Article 18 is changed to:
(Camping and external use of space)
Two new paragraphs are added:
(2) Without prejudice to Article 10, camping shall only be considered to occur when external equipment or surrounding space is used (awnings, chairs, cookers, etc.) or when the vehicle serves as an overnight shelter in locations where this is not explicitly permitted, and the conditions of Article 10 are not met.
(3) Vehicle dwelling without external influence that complies with Article 10 shall not be considered camping and is allowed on public parking areas, unless a municipal ordinance explicitly prohibits it under the 33% limit set in Article 31.
Article 3 (Addition of new Article 31 – Transitional provisions)
A new Article 31 is added:
Article 31 (Ensuring access to vehicle dwelling)
(1) All municipalities must, within 6 months of this Act’s entry into force, define by ordinance which parking areas prohibit vehicle dwelling. If no ordinance is adopted in time, it shall be considered that vehicle dwelling is allowed on all public parking areas under that municipality’s jurisdiction in accordance with this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), municipalities must ensure that dwelling in vehicles under Article 10 is allowed on at least 33% of all public parking areas within their territory. This requirement is binding and may not be overridden, reduced, or reinterpreted.
(2a) Municipalities may designate paid zones for vehicle dwelling. In such cases, at least 50% of the areas under paragraph (2) must be available free of charge or for a symbolic fee. Prices must not be discriminatory, must be clearly defined and publicly posted in advance, and must reflect actual maintenance costs.
(3) If a municipality fails to meet these obligations, it shall be considered that vehicle dwelling is permitted on all public parking areas within its jurisdiction until a compliant ordinance is adopted.
Article 4 (Entry into force)
This Act shall enter into force fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.
Explanation
The purpose of these amendments is to:
- enable the right to live in vehicles for social, economic, or lifestyle reasons,
- clearly distinguish between respectful vehicle dwelling and unauthorized camping,
- prevent unjust punishment and harassment of individuals who live peacefully in their vehicles,
- ensure that municipalities cannot arbitrarily restrict such dwelling without clear and transparent regulation,
- prevent misuse of public areas by unregistered or unsafe vehicles,
- prevent covert exclusion through compulsory hookups or excessive pricing,
- block circumvention of the five-day limit by short-term relocations,
- ensure fair and shared use of urban space, with a balanced mix of paid and free parking for vehicle dwellers.