Council defers debate on Hampton camping/storage ordinance after lengthy public comment

Hampton City Council on Tuesday deferred action on ordinance 25‑0170, a proposed change to chapter 24 of the city code that would prohibit camping, sleeping and storage on public property, until its April 8, 2026 legislative session after a lengthy public comment period and staff briefings.

City Manager Bunting and the stakeholder committee working on the draft ordinance described a multi‑month co‑design process that sought to balance neighborhood and business concerns about disruptive public camping with protections and outreach for people who are unhoused. Staff said the stakeholder group recommended tone‑setting preamble language emphasizing a "service‑first" approach, mandatory outreach before enforcement, lower initial penalties (class 4 misdemeanor for a first offense, up to $250) and access to behavioral‑health resources for repeat offenders (class 2 misdemeanor for subsequent violations to permit public‑defender and behavioral‑health court options).

City Attorney Law summarized the ordinance language on the record: it would define "camp" and "store," include exceptions for authorized uses and for property stored in lawfully parked vehicles, require documentation of outreach and warnings prior to citations, and allow the city to seize unattended property that poses health or safety hazards (items retained for 30 days unless classified as trash or hazardous). Staff representatives and the police chief said an outreach team (human services and community services board) would accompany officers for initial interventions and offers of shelter or services; the ordinance as drafted would only convert repeated refusal to relocate after documented outreach into criminal citations under the stated misdemeanor classes.

During public comment, many speakers urged council not to criminalize homelessness and cited research that citations and fines do not reduce homelessness and can worsen outcomes. Advocates and students described the risks of displacement and asked the city to invest in shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing. Other speakers, including small business owners and residents, described negative impacts of encampments on commerce, safety and access and supported additional tools to address dangerous or obstructive behavior.

After public comment and questions, Councilwoman Campbell moved to defer consideration to April 8, 2026, to allow more time for review and public input; the motion passed by roll call.