Charlottesville council tables proposed ordinance to ban camping, citing need for shelter plan

Charlottesville City Council on Tuesday tabled a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited camping and storage of personal property on city property and public rights-of-way, after hours of public comment and debate about whether enforcement would criminalize people without homes. The chief of police, city staff and dozens of residents, service providers and business owners weighed in; the council voted to delay action and direct further stakeholder work before pursuing any new enforcement measures.

The proposal, presented by the Charlottesville Police Department, would have created a framework for responding to hazardous encampments, required a posted 10-business-day notice before non‑emergency removal, and permitted storage of seized items for up to 60 days before disposal. It also specified that violations would be a class 4 misdemeanor with fines of up to $250. Chief Kochis told council, “The reality is that long term solutions need to center on housing,” and framed the draft law as a tool to address immediate hazards and consistent city responses.

Why it matters: Councilors and many speakers said the ordinance risks…