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The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to advance a proposal that would prohibit camping on public property in the county.
The supervisors are set to vote on a decision to amend the camping ordinance at their next meeting on Sept. 24.
If the amendments were to pass, they would take effect 30 days after the adoption, according to county counsel.
Currently county rules allow camping on public property between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and have a more limited and vague definition of “camping.”
New changes would prohibit erecting a tent or any other form of shelter for the purpose of sleeping, as well as arranging bedding for the purpose of sleeping. It would also ban using a stopped or parked vehicle for the purpose of sleeping more than an hour or within 300 feet of any previous stopping point in a 24-hour period.
However, law enforcement would still have the discretion to allow people in parked cars to sleep or rest temporarily when deemed necessary for safety purposes.
According to the amended ordinance, violation of the rules would be a misdemeanor, which would result in a fine, jail time or both punishments could be imposed.
More effective and judicious enforcement
The county Sheriff’s Office said they believe that the amendments will allow deputies to enforce restrictions more effectively and judiciously against camping on public property within the county.
On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision stating that unhoused people could be prohibited from camping out in public spaces by local or state governments even if they do not have enough shelter beds.
Board chair Miguel Villapudua said that after the Supreme Court decision, the board had pledged to work with local law enforcement to clean up and reclaim public spaces in the county.
Clik here to view.
“This ordinance is one piece of that puzzle to allow our families to once again safely use parks and public facilities,” Villapudua said. “This revised no-camping ordinance is an essential tool for law enforcement and our nonprofit partners to encourage the unsheltered and incentivize using those resources, getting help to live healthy and productive lives.”
San Joaquin County’s recent 2024 Point-in-Time Count findings showed that in two years, the total number of people who experienced homelessness doubled in the county.
In 2022, San Joaquin County had a total of 2,319 people experiencing homelessness, with 42 percent being sheltered and 58 percent reporting being unsheltered.
Now, in 2024, the total number for the county is 4,732 with 27 percent sheltered and 73 percent unsheltered — a 104 percent increase from the 2022 numbers, according to the report.
Victoria Franco is a reporter based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. She is a Report for America corps member.
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