Staff read a draft beach camping and RV ordinance that would limit overnight camping on parish beaches to a total of seven days in a 30-day period, require a permit from the parish permit department and make violations punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in parish jail.

"With the exception of privately owned property, overnight camping on Cameron Parish beaches is limited to a total of 7 days in a 30 day period," the staff member reading the draft said while reciting the proposed permit and penalty language.

Several jurors said the seven-day threshold was too restrictive for recreational campers and proposed alternatives: allowing short stays (three to five days) without a permit or changing the period to permit stays of up to 30 consecutive days before a permit is required. Jurors also raised enforcement and operational questions, including where campers would obtain permits on short notice and how sewage and gray-water disposal would be handled.

Jurors and staff discussed private-property complications tied to the mean high water mark and whether the parish could enforce rules on state or privately claimed beach areas. Because of those concerns and the volume of suggested changes, jurors voted to remove the ordinance as advertised and direct staff to prepare a revised draft for re-advertising and review in January.

Next steps: staff will circulate a revised draft that addresses permit thresholds, private-property language and enforcement mechanics, and the ordinance will be re-presented and advertised before the next public hearing.