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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Provided Information - 5/5/2026CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY 451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 304 P.O. BOX 145476, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84114-5476 SLCCOUNCIL.COM TEL 801-535-7600 FAX 801-535-7651 COUNCIL STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY TO:City Council Members FROM: Michael Sanders Budget & Policy Analyst DATE: May 05, 2026 RE:UPDATES TO THE NO CAMPING ORDINANCE Following the April 14 Work Session, the Council had a question regarding the penalties for violating the ordinance. The current draft of the camping ordinance does not specify a penalty. As a result, violations would default to a Class B misdemeanor, consistent with the existing camping ordinance. A Class B misdemeanor carries a statutory maximum penalty of up to $1,000 in fines and/or up to six months in jail. However, actual penalties are determined by the Justice Court. For a summary list of questions with YouTube links to the Administration’s response during the April 14 Work Session, see Attachment 3. The Council has indicated they would like to hear back from the administration on the questions raised at and following the briefing before considering taking action on this item. The public hearing is an opportunity for the Council to hear public feedback on the draft ordinance and potentially incorporate that feedback. The Council Office is maintaining a project page on this item at: https://link.slc.gov/camping ISSUE AT-A-GLANCE The Council will be briefed on a proposal to update the current camping ordinance to address growing challenges arising from the increased use of public spaces (parks, sidewalks, park strips, etc.) as living spaces for use such as sleeping, storing property or preparing meals. The proposal updates the definition of camping and consolidates existing rules to be clearer and focused on behaviors that cause problems, while aiming for humane and compassionate enforcement. This proposal will accomplish one of the actions outlined in the Public Safety Plan Below is a summary of the key changes to the camping definition. Schedule: Page | 2 Camping now includes more than tents—covers broader “living accommodation” behaviors. Applies to all public property (not just parks), including sidewalks. New definition includes: o Sleeping outdoors or in vehicles on public property during closed hours (11 PM–5 AM) o Leaving personal property unattended on public property closed to the public o Using public space or vehicles as a residence or dwelling for living accommodation purposes “Living accommodation purposes” (2+ indicators like sleeping, storing items, cooking, hygiene, or setting up structures) Goal of the briefing: Provide feedback to the Administration and prepare to consider the ordinance at a future formal meeting A Public Hearing for this item is scheduled for May 5th. POLICY QUESTIONS 1. Does Council support the current list of indicators of “living accommodation purposes used to establish unlawful camping when public property (and vehicles on public property) is being used as a residence/dwelling? a. Should the “two or more indicators” approach be adjusted (e.g., add/remove indicators)? 2. Does Council support the proposal’s prohibition of sleeping outdoors and addition of a prohibition of sleeping in vehicles tied to public property closure and/or nighttime hours (11:00 PM–5:00 AM)? a. Are there specific areas or circumstances where Council wants extended exceptions or expanded prohibitions)? b. The Council may wish to ask how enforcing on vehicle camping provides law enforcement with clearer more enforceable standards. 3. Does Council support the proposed two-minute “no obstruction” rule for entrances/egress and public thoroughfares (sidewalks, streets, park strips, trails), including an ADA clear-passage standard? a. If Council wants a different threshold, what is the preferred standard (e.g., longer time, warning-first structure, or “reasonable opportunity to comply” language), and how should it balance practical enforceability for staff, public accessibility/safety, and reasonable notice expectations 4. The Council may wish to ask the Administration what training the Police Department will receive on the updated camping/living-accommodation provisions, and how will the Administration ensure consistent application across staff and shifts? 5. To have a clear understanding of the changes, the Council may wish to ask the Administration to provide a walk-through of a typical enforcement scenario from first contact to resolution. 6. The Council may wish to ask the Administration what the various diversified response teams roles would be during enforcement (e.g., outreach, service connection, de-escalation, follow-up). ADDITIONAL & BACKGROUND INFORMATION New definition of camping The proposal updates and clarifies the existing camping prohibitions. Currently, the ordinance addresses traditional camping—such as erecting tents or using other camping equipment on “public grounds,” streets, and in parks and playgrounds. The proposed revisions consolidate these property location terms and applies the prohibition to “public property” and seeks to clarify and modernize the definition of “camping” to address more recent concerns arising from the increased use of public property for living accommodations. This includes not only parks but also sidewalks and other public property and could apply even in situations where no camping equipment is used but the activity nonetheless constitutes camping. The new definition of camping includes: Sleeping outdoors on public property that is closed, or between 11:00 PM–5:00 AM; Sleeping in vehicles during those same closed hours/conditions; Page | 3 Leaving personal property unattended on public property closed to the public; Using a vehicle or public property as a residence/dwelling for living accommodation purposes. Using or occupying public property for “living accommodation purposes” o Living accommodation purposes is demonstrated through two or more of the following indicia: Sleeping Storing personal property Preparing or consuming meals using camp stoves or otherwise making fires in an unauthorized area Establishing or occupying sleeping quarters or otherwise laying down bedding for sleeping purposes Erecting or occupying temporary structures, including but not limited to tents, tarps, tarpaulins, huts, lean-tos, awnings, or shacks Engaging in personal hygiene activities, toileting or bathing outside designated facilities When camping is prohibited/allowed The general rule is that camping (as defined in the proposal) on public property is not allowed unless one of the listed exceptions applies: Authorization of a property owner; Along a permitted parade route in the 24 hours prior to and through the parade; After the Mayor declares a local emergency and camping is necessary Even if camping would otherwise be permitted under an applicable exception, camping in the following locations or manner is prohibited: Where there’s an immediate threat/unreasonable risk to persons, public health/safety, or vital government services; Within 1000 feet of certain facilities (overnight shelters, permanent supportive housing, designated warming/cooling centers, hospitals, urgent care, walk-in clinics for physical or mental health); Within 500 feet of daycares, senior centers, and primary/secondary schools; Within 10 feet of driveways or building entrances/exits; Within an RCO riparian corridor overlay area Additionally, vehicle camping is also subject to the parking regulations found in City Code Chapter 12.56. How encampments will be removed If an encampment is discovered, this proposal outlines the process for removal of an encampment/personal property by City employees/authorized agents if one of several conditions exists, including: After reasonable notice, an individual refuses refusal to remove their personal property (reasonable notice may include signage) Encampment appears to be abandoned personal property Probable cause of other illegal activity Immediate danger to life/health/safety (including contamination by unsanitary/hazardous waste) The proposal indicated a provision that non-abandoned encampments may not be removed during a “code blue” event. This provision is included in order to be consistent with state code on code blue alerts, 35A-16-703(6). When an encampment is being removed: Property that comes into possession of law enforcement is handled under Utah Code Title 77 and other existing City provisions/policies. Abandoned personal property and waste/unsanitary items may be immediately discarded. Obstruction of throughfares Page | 4 Currently, Section 11.12.080 requires individuals violating the camping prohibitions to remove camping equipment within five minutes after being requested to do so by a police officer. Additionally, Section 14.20.100 currently prohibits individuals from standing, lying, or sitting on any sidewalk in a manner that obstructs the free passage of pedestrians for longer than two minutes, or from willfully remaining in such a manner for more than one minute after being requested to move by a police officer. Park hours Lee Charles Miller Bird Refuge and Nature Park: 9:00 PM–5:00 AM; Donner Trail Park and East Bench Preserve: 10:00 PM–5:00 AM; “All parks… five (5) acres or less” generally closed 10:00 PM–5:00 AM, with City Creek Park at 11:00 PM–5:00 AM. Memorial House o The Memorial House shall close to public use at 12:00 a.m. (midnight). o Outdoor activities on the leased south lawn shall end by 11:30 p.m. o The Memorial House must be locked and vacant no later than 2:00 a.m. o Between 12:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., use of the building is limited to employees cleaning the premises following an event. How long will individuals have to comply with the ordinance if they are in violation? Page | 5 Attachment 1 - 04/14/2026 Work Session Briefing on the Camping Ordinance Q&A CM Lopez Chavez – How will parade route camping enforcement be handled? CM Dugan – Will Cars and RV’s are treated the same? CM Carlsen – How will alternative response teams be used? CM Carlsen – How will this ordinance solve this issue of homeless encampments simply moving from one part of the city to another following enforcement measures? CM Carlsen – If this ordinance does not help the issue of people moving throughout the city, what is the purpose of the ordinance update? CM Young – How will we measure the success of this ordinance? How will we know if we need a different tool? CM Lopez Chavez – What will the process for enforcement look like? Will resources be offered? CM Petro – How will people be notified regarding this proposal, especially in the context of people living in vehicles near schools? CM Petro – Are we pushing vulnerable people into more dangerous situations? Will the City be increasing resources for sexual assault reporting victims and improving trust building within the community? CM Dugan – How will this ordinance and the baselines/metrics help us be able to tell the story of homelessness to the State and secure better systemwide outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness? CM Wharton – Did the City look into or consider language from other cities regarding this ordinance? CM Puy – How will we ensure that the rank and file police officers enforcing this ordinance will be enforcing the ordinance in a uniform manner consistent with the spirit on the proposal of balancing the law with compassion? CM Puy – When providing notice to individuals violating the ordinance, could the City provide a document listing resources available?