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Worcester County adopts ordinance making camping on county property a misdemeanor
Summary
After a public hearing and extended public comment, the Worcester County Commissioners on May 20 approved Bill 25‑02, amending county code to make camping on county property a misdemeanor and clarifying removal of personal property. Supporters called it an enforcement tool; social services and outreach providers urged non‑criminal alternatives and続
Worcester County Commissioners voted May 20, 2025, to adopt Bill 25‑02, an amendment to county code that converts violations for camping or sleeping on county property from a civil citation to a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a fine and establishes a process for removing personal property left on county land.
The ordinance, which the county attorney said was drafted after a work session with the state's attorney and the sheriff's office, also “clarifies a process for removing personal property that is stored or abandoned on county property,” County Attorney Roscoe Leslie told commissioners during a public hearing.
Supporters framed the change as an enforcement tool. “This ordinance is an additional tool for law enforcement to provide layers of safety for…
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