Board approves first reading of camping, county-parking ordinances to expand enforcement tools

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 approved the introduction and first reading of two ordinances that expand county authority to regulate sleeping, sitting and camping on public property and to set restrictions for county-owned parking lots.

County staff and law enforcement said the changes are intended to give officers clearer tools to address large encampments and hazardous conditions while preserving exceptions for children, employees and authorized camping.

Chief Administrative Officer Laura Schwartz told the board the update "expands the chapter to cover unauthorized sitting, sleeping, and lying across the county" and adds a new parking section that the board can flesh out later by resolution. "These changes are intended to strike a balance by addressing both public safety and environmental concerns while considering the needs of unhoused individuals," she said.

Why it matters: Sheriff’s office and District Attorney representatives told the board the ordinance fills gaps staff say exist under current trespass and penal laws, particularly on private parcels where unauthorized encampments can be hard to remove. Supporters said clearer rules and an enforcement path will let outreach teams focus on moving people toward services rather than repeatedly clearing the same sites.

Key provisions and process - Expands Title 9, Chapter 9.55 to explicitly prohibit sitting, sleeping and lying on county-owned, leased, operated, managed or maintained property, with written exceptions for small children (under 5) and for employees on breaks. - Adds Title 10, new section 10.12.145, authorizing the board by resolution to set parking rules (locations, hours and limited permits) for county-owned or operated lots; staff will return with a resolution to identify specific lots and hours. - Clarifies that hazardous materials or items creating an immediate public safety threat may be removed without delay. - Creates an administrative removal/permit requirement so any development activity that affects oak/trees or county facilities is tracked (administrative details to be refined).

Enforcement and outreach: Sheriff’s representatives reiterated the county’s outreach-plus-enforcement approach. Sergeant Josh Sprague, who supervises the county’s Homeless Outreach Team, told supervisors that outreach is the team’s primary goal but said the enforcement component provides needed motivation for some people who otherwise refuse services.

Legal and emergency exceptions: The county attorney’s office and staff noted the ordinance includes an emergency provision allowing the chief administrative officer to declare an emergency for broader enforcement. The District Attorney’s office asked the board to keep enforcement practices objective and consistent with recent legal guidance.

Board action and next steps: The board voted unanimously to approve the introduction and first reading and to set the second reading/ final passage for Jan. 28, 2025; the ordinance will take effect 30 days after adoption unless otherwise provided. Staff will return with the proposed county-parking resolution that will identify specific lots and the hours and permit process being proposed.

What’s next: Staff will refine implementing rules, circulate the parking-resolution proposal for public comment, and complete the second reading Jan. 28. The board requested continuing coordination with the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resiliency and the sheriff on how the ordinance interacts with fire-safety and outreach programs.

Ending: The board’s vote formalized changes staff said are necessary to clarify jurisdiction on county facilities and to give law enforcement consistent procedures for clearing hazardous encampments while preserving limited exemptions and an appeal pathway.