Mayor Ted Wheeler Proposes New Public Camping Regulations

Mayor Ted Wheeler proposed new public camping regulations on April 4, 2024. These regulations are different from what the Council passed last year, and which are currently enjoined by the circuit court. The ordinance would repeal the previous code provisions and replace them with these new regulations. Namely, the new regulations:

• Clarify the definition of camping.
• Clarify the prohibition on camping for individuals who have reasonable alterative shelter or who decline an offer of reasonable alternative shelter.
• Focus on the manner by which camping may not be done on public property.
• Reduce the criminal sanctions and replace the warnings with a provision encouraging diversion.

Exhibit Ais the actual City Code language that would be adopted to implement these new regulations. Exhibit Bsimply makes conforming amendments to other code provisions that cross-reference the existing City code.

"The City Attorney's Office believes these new proposed regulations would survive a legal challenge while providing the City the tools to change the status quoin Portland," said City Attorney Robert Taylor.

We anticipate these new regulations coming to Council for a first reading on Thursday, April 18 and could be voted on the following week.