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County adopts ordinance banning public camping and creating trespass-warning process
Summary
Seminole County amended code to prohibit unauthorized camping or sleeping on county property (aligned with House Bill 1365) and created a trespass-warning process with appeal rights to the county manager; commissioners discussed signage and enforcement boundaries before passing the ordinance unanimously.
The Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 10 approved an ordinance amending chapter 175 of county code to prohibit unauthorized public camping and sleeping on county property and to establish a uniform trespass-warning and appeal process, consistent with House Bill 1365 passed by the Florida Legislature. Deputy County Manager Trisha Johnson said the ordinance defines public camping and sleeping, excludes vehicle overnighting and designated recreational camping, and authorizes the Seminole County Sheriff's Office to issue trespass warnings limited to specific county property.
Johnson outlined the enforcement steps: a first trespass warning may last up to one year, a second warning up to two years, and persons found on county property in violation of a previously issued trespass warning may be subject to arrest for trespassing. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the county manager within 10 calendar days and will be heard within 30 days, with the county manager's written decision issued within five days and final. Commissioners raised the need for property-line signage and clarification about state-owned lands where the state'level rules differ; the board approved the ordinance unanimously.
