Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Orange County adopts public-camping ordinance to align with Florida law; advocates urge focus on services
Summary
The Orange County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7 approved an ordinance outlawing overnight public camping on county-controlled property to comply with Florida House Bill 1365. The measure drew both support from law enforcement and concern from advocates who urged the county to prioritize housing and services over punitive measures.
Orange County’s Board of County Commissioners voted 4–2 on Jan. 7 to adopt an ordinance that prohibits overnight public camping or sleeping on property under the county’s jurisdiction, putting local rules in place to comply with Florida’s 2024 House Bill 1365.
The ordinance creates a new Section 26-111 in the county code that defines “public camping or sleeping,” requires written notice procedures for alleged violations, and authorizes enforcement by law enforcement officers. It also directs the county administrator to designate a central email or electronic submission point where residents, business owners or the attorney general can send written notices that the county must have five business days to “cure.”
The county’s stated intent in the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
