Brighton council pauses private‑property camping ban after lengthy debate over enforcement and property rights

Brighton City Council heard a lengthy presentation and robust council debate on a proposed ordinance to prohibit unauthorized camping on private property before staff removed the item for further work.

Commander Mike Domenigene, who oversees the police departmentcommunity services unit, described routine responses to tent and RV encampment calls and said the current complaint‑driven approach places heavy burdens on property owners and city staff. "This ordinance would make it unlawful for any person to camp on private property except in any location where camping is expressly authorized by the city," he said, outlining the draft's intent to give community service officers and patrol officers a direct enforcement mechanism for persistent or problematic private‑property camping.

Council members raised several concerns during more than an hour of questions and debate: the draft does not define short‑term versus long‑term camping; it currently does not explicitly allow a property owner to authorize a guest to camp on private property; and enforcement could be difficult without detailed monitoring rules. Multiple members suggested time limits (one common suggestion was a seven‑day maximum with a tear‑down period), family‑member exemptions, or a limited permitting pathway for authorized temporary stays.

City Manager Martinez responded to the council feedback and asked staff to remove the draft from the agenda so it can be revised. "Based on the comments this evening, I ask that we remove this item for further discussion," Martinez said. Staff said it will work with the city attorney and return early next year with revised language addressing exemptions, monitoring and enforcement.

What remains unresolved: No formal vote occurred on the ordinance; council direction focused on drafting clearer definitions for permissible camping (including property‑owner authorization), workable time limits, and enforcement protocols so the city does not inadvertently criminalize benign activity or make homelessness enforcement effectively punitive.