Brea Council approves ordinance 1253 for first reading tightening anti-camping rules
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Summary
The Brea City Council approved Ordinance 1253 for first reading on Jan. 21, expanding the definition of public areas, restricting camping in vehicles and retail parking lots, shortening impound timelines, and scheduling a second reading Feb. 4.
The Brea City Council on Jan. 21 approved Ordinance 1253 for first reading, adopting proposed revisions that expand the city’s definition of public areas and add prohibitions on camping in vehicles, retail shopping-center parking lots and underground locations.
Police Chief Adam Holly told the council the changes respond to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision referenced in the presentation and follow direction to strengthen the city’s anti-camping and related ordinances. Holly said staff reduced the time the police may impound abandoned personal property and added several unlawful-obstruction provisions to the code.
Holly also highlighted the city’s outreach and support work, saying the Hope Center and the Brea Resource Center are conducting street outreach and that the city’s by-name list of unhoused people fell from 18 to 9 since the last update. “These ordinances are an important tool in our toolbox,” Holly said, “to enforce laws for those who may be service resistant and to promote public safety and public health.”
Councilmember Semenov moved to accept the ordinance for first reading; a second followed and the motion passed 5–0. City staff said the second reading is scheduled for Feb. 4 and, if adopted, the ordinance provisions would take effect 30 days after adoption.
The matter remains at first reading; staff and partners emphasized that outreach and services will continue alongside enforcement actions.
