Council introduces urban camping ordinance and moves related legal review to executive session
October 13, 2025 | Florence City, Florence County, South Carolina
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The Florence City Council introduced an ordinance (Bill No. 2025-39) to add a new article to Chapter 17 of the City Code addressing improper use of public places, urban camping and related matters, and directed staff to seek legal guidance in executive session.
City staff described the proposal as an "urban camping" ordinance similar to measures adopted in other South Carolina municipalities, saying it would allow the city to manage overuse of public rights-of-way, downtown plazas and park spaces and to assist individuals to facilities that provide help while allowing other users to access public spaces without encumbrance. "This will apply to our public rights of way, our plazas downtown, and our park spaces as well," staff said in open session.
Councilmembers raised questions about how the ordinance would define "public space." One councilmember moved to take up legal guidance in executive session; staff and the city attorney confirmed the item was already scheduled for executive session. Council members said the executive-session discussion will focus on legal issues and definitions before returning to open session for further consideration. No final action on the ordinance was taken in open session; the item remains at first reading pending legal review.
The item was framed by staff as consistent with ordinances in nearby municipalities; councilmembers specifically requested clarity on the geographic scope and on whether the measure would apply to all public spaces or be limited to particular categories (rights-of-way, plazas, parks). Staff said the ordinance is intended to both provide pathways to services and to ensure other users of public spaces can access them. Councilmembers did not vote on a final ordinance in open session and will receive attorney recommendations in executive session before any second reading or vote.
The council placed this and other items on the agenda for executive session at the end of the meeting to receive legal advice on the unauthorized camping ordinance and other pending legal and development matters.
City staff described the proposal as an "urban camping" ordinance similar to measures adopted in other South Carolina municipalities, saying it would allow the city to manage overuse of public rights-of-way, downtown plazas and park spaces and to assist individuals to facilities that provide help while allowing other users to access public spaces without encumbrance. "This will apply to our public rights of way, our plazas downtown, and our park spaces as well," staff said in open session.
Councilmembers raised questions about how the ordinance would define "public space." One councilmember moved to take up legal guidance in executive session; staff and the city attorney confirmed the item was already scheduled for executive session. Council members said the executive-session discussion will focus on legal issues and definitions before returning to open session for further consideration. No final action on the ordinance was taken in open session; the item remains at first reading pending legal review.
The item was framed by staff as consistent with ordinances in nearby municipalities; councilmembers specifically requested clarity on the geographic scope and on whether the measure would apply to all public spaces or be limited to particular categories (rights-of-way, plazas, parks). Staff said the ordinance is intended to both provide pathways to services and to ensure other users of public spaces can access them. Councilmembers did not vote on a final ordinance in open session and will receive attorney recommendations in executive session before any second reading or vote.
The council placed this and other items on the agenda for executive session at the end of the meeting to receive legal advice on the unauthorized camping ordinance and other pending legal and development matters.
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