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Spokane council adopts ordinance tightening camping and obstruction rules, emphasizes outreach and data
Summary
Spokane City Council unanimously approved an ordinance expanding enforcement options for camping and sidewalk obstruction while emphasizing outreach, data collection and priority removals near child-serving locations.
Spokane City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt Ordinance C-36-7-85, titled “Safe and Accessible Public Spaces,” revising city code to clarify obstruction, prioritize enforced removals near child-serving sites and expand tools for Spokane Police Department officers to connect people to services or escalate enforcement when outreach repeatedly fails.
Council members and administration supporters framed the ordinance as a blend of enforcement and compassion. Council member Cathcart described the measure as “prop 1 plus,” noting it retains outreach-first intent while adding clearer definitions of obstruction and priority areas the council wants officers to address. The measure passed 7-0.
The ordinance tightens the city’s rules on camping and obstruction in public rights-of-way, gives officers broader discretion to address co-occurring harms (including environmental damage and…
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