The Wichita Falls City Council approved an ordinance Aug. 19 replacing Chapter 94, Section 7 of the city code to prohibit camping on most city-owned public property and to add related limits on sitting, lying and public urination and defecation.
City staff member James, who presented the ordinance, told the council the measure is intended to give officers a tool to keep sidewalks and high‑traffic public areas clear while directing people to shelters and services. "The goal isn't necessarily citations. It's encouragement, and it allows the officers to provide an opportunity to talk to them," James said during the meeting.
Supporters on the dais and in public comments described the ordinance as part of a larger, coordinated approach. Councilor Flack praised the research and framing of the proposal, saying the work on the item was ongoing and deliberate. A public commenter, Steve Sparks, asked whether private citizens would be allowed to let people camp on their own property; James replied that camping on private property is allowed now but long‑term camping on abandoned or unsafe structures would be evaluated case by case by code officers.
Under the new language presented to council, "outdoor areas" are defined as public‑access streets, parks, parking lots and other city‑owned property; "camping" is described as using those places for living accommodations or for storing belongings, including tents, fires and cooking. The ordinance includes built‑in exceptions for medical emergencies, permitted park camping and business activities, along with specific defenses tied to physical disabilities. Officers are directed to advise people about available shelters before issuing citations; sitting, lying or sleeping in restricted areas may result in a citation after a warning. Public urination or defecation in public view is categorized as a crime, with a defense available for use of a restroom.
During discussion, James cited public‑safety and public‑health concerns he said are associated with large encampments — including sanitation problems, increased rodent activity and a claimed rise in crime in some jurisdictions — and said the ordinance mirrors provisions other Texas cities have adopted. He said the city will allow permitted camping and cooking in designated park areas and noted that the rules do not apply to most brief activities such as waiting in line, bus stops or public events.
The council voted to adopt the ordinance in a voice vote. The motion passed; an effective date and codification were included in the ordinance language presented but an exact effective date was not stated aloud during the meeting. The council also approved a related resolution later in the meeting to establish a City‑County Homeless Advisory Committee to advise on coordination, services and outreach — a standing task force staff said will meet monthly for roughly 18 months to recommend strategies and better connect providers, law enforcement and public health agencies.
The ordinance and advisory committee are intended to be paired: presenters said the legal changes give officers authority while the committee and local providers continue outreach and case management efforts. James and others repeatedly told the council the aim is to encourage people to accept services from local nonprofits and shelters — including Faith Mission, Homeless Lives Matter and Catholic Charities — rather than to criminalize homelessness as a primary outcome.
Questions remain about implementation details. The ordinance requires officers to consider the "totality of the circumstances" when determining whether an area constitutes camping, and staff said case‑by‑case assessments will inform enforcement on private property. The council did not provide a detailed timetable in the meeting for how warnings, citations and referrals will be tracked or for how many citations, if any, would be expected before other enforcement actions are pursued.
City staff said further operational guidelines will be developed with police, code compliance and partner agencies and that the advisory committee will consider resource gaps and longer‑term housing solutions.