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Kings County adopts ordinance on unlawful camping, sets abatement policy and April 17 effective date
Summary
Kings County supervisors adopted an ordinance adding Article 12 to Chapter 14 of the county code to address unlawful camping and obstruction of public rights-of-way, pairing it with a county abatement policy and noncriminal referral options; the ordinance takes effect April 17, 2025.
Kings County supervisors on March 18 adopted an ordinance adding Article 12 to Chapter 14 of the Kings County Code of Ordinances that defines unlawful camping and authorizes abatement procedures on public and private property. The board approved the ordinance in a second reading; county staff said the measure will take effect 30 days after final passage on April 17, 2025.
The ordinance is coupled with an “unlawful camping abatement policy” the board approved at an earlier meeting, and county staff described the package as intended to protect public and private property while offering noncriminal pathways to services. Alex C. Walker, administrative analyst for Kings County administration, told the board, “The intent and aim of this ordinance is to apply for anyone in violation of the activities. It is not a criminalization of homelessness, rather addressing the health and safety concerns regarding unlawful camping activities.”
The ordinance clarifies enforcement options, including a noncriminal alternative: with the consent of a charged individual, an enforcement officer may deliver someone to a community-based organization that may have services available. Walker and other staff said the abatement policy provides notice requirements, site assessments, and procedures for handling personal property and pets, and that the county has coordinated the draft with department heads and the Kings County Homelessness Collaborative.
Public speakers raised concerns about criminal penalties and the ability of people experiencing homelessness to pay fines. Barbara Hill, a resident who identified herself as living in District 1, told supervisors she opposed fining people who do not have the resources to pay, saying, “I think it is a big waste to fine people a thousand dollars . . . and to criminalize being poor.” Other members of the public and representatives of community groups questioned whether local service providers have capacity and whether outreach teams use trauma-informed approaches; Walker replied that the resource list in the agenda packet was developed with local collaboratives and that Care Court and other programs may be available as alternate pathways for individuals who lack decision-making capacity.
Board members said the ordinance and policy are intended to balance public health and safety with outreach and services. County staff noted upcoming resources, including a low-barrier 200-bed shelter operated by Kings County Action Organization expected to open in summer 2025. The ordinance summary and supervisors’ votes will be published as required by state law.
Votes and formal action: the board’s recorded vote on final adoption was unanimous (5–0). The ordinance will be effective April 17, 2025. The board also directed staff to publish the required summary under state law and to continue coordination with the homelessness collaborative and service providers.
Ending: The ordinance package had been presented previously at the board’s March 11 meeting and was described at the March 18 session as the product of roughly a year of staff and stakeholder work. Staff said they will continue outreach and implementation steps, including posting the resources list and coordinating abatement site assessments and referral pathways.
