Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sutter County board approves ordinance changes to tighten rules on camping, storage of personal property
Summary
The Sutter County Board of Supervisors approved amendments to County Ordinance Code chapter 7.91 to clarify prohibited conduct, expand impoundment language and allow charging repeat violators with misdemeanors; staff said revisions aim to improve enforcement and public safety.
The Sutter County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to amend chapter 7.91 of the Sutter County ordinance code to better define and enforce prohibitions on unauthorized camping and the storage of personal property on public and private property.
County staff presented the proposed amendments during a public hearing, saying the changes will clarify prohibited conduct, strengthen impoundment provisions and provide enforcement officers discretion to escalate penalties for repeated violations. As staff summarized, “Any violation of any provision of this chapter may be charged in the discretion of the enforcing officer as a misdemeanor or an infraction,” and the code language was revised to specify that moving personal property within 100 yards does not count as removing it from a site.
The board opened the public hearing and received no public comments before returning to board discussion. Supervisor Ziegenmeier said additional enforcement tools are needed to address hazardous conditions created by unpermitted camping; Supervisor Baines moved to approve the ordinance amendments, and the board approved the motion by roll-call vote.
The amendments refine definitions and penalties and add impoundment language staff said is intended to enable more effective, timely enforcement while providing constitutional safeguards. County staff also noted coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and local nonprofit and faith-based organizations that respond to unpermitted camping and storage hotspots.
The ordinance title was read into the record and the board directed the clerk to place the matter on the Aug. 26, 2025 adoption agenda for formal codification per the usual ordinance process.
