California legal term
transient in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “transient” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “transient” mean in California criminal law?
“transient” means a person who has no residence. “Residence” means one or more addresses at which a person regularly resides, regardless of the number of days or nights spent there, such as a shelter or structure that can be located by a street address, including, but not limited to, houses, apartment buildings, motels, hotels, homeless shelters, and recreational and other vehicles. (Cal. Penal Code § 290.011)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.