Update from Mayor Wheeler’s Office - Public Camping Ordinance

On May 8, 2024, the Portland City Council unanimously approved the revised public camping ordinance introduced last month by Mayor Ted Wheeler.

These regulations are different from what the Council passed last year (2023), which is currently enjoined by the circuit court. The ordinance will 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 alternative 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.