Get the Facts About the City's Camping Ordinance

On May 28, 2019, the City Council voted to amend McMinnville’s camping ordinance (MMC 8.36). This was done in response to a number of court cases and opinions issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, which concluded that any local ordinance making camping a crime in all places at all times when shelter space was unavailable violated the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

As of June 27, 2019, it will be legal to camp overnight on most publicly owned property in McMinnville between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. This does NOT include park areas, public property located within the Urban Renewal Area, publicly owned or maintained parking lots, and all public property located within an areas zoned for residential use under MMC Chapter 17.

THE FACTS

It is now legal to camp on most publicly owned property within the city limits between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. This does not include park areas, public property located within the Urban Renewal Area, publicly owned or maintained parking lots, and public property located within an areas zoned for residential use under MMC Chapter 17.
It is now legal to use camp paraphernalia on most publicly owned property between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., including tents, tarps, sleeping bags and temporary huts that are not attached to the ground.
It is now legal to sleep in cars parking on most public property between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. This does not include park areas, public property located within the Urban Renewal Area, publicly owned or maintained parking lots, and public property located within an areas zoned for residential use under MMC Chapter 17.
It is legal to use camp stoves and small cooking devices, as long as they are used in a safe manner and in conditions that do not place any person, property or structures in danger.
It is against the law to store camp paraphernalia, such as tents, tarps, sleeping bags and other equipment, on the publicly owned property during the day (6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.).
It is against the law to camp on private property without the property owner’s permission or as sanctioned under MMC 8.36.020 under the Temporary Camping Program.
Obstructing pedestrians or vehicle travel is against the law (ORS 166.025). This means that people may not:
- Sit or lay in a manner that blocks passage of another person or vehicles or requires another person or driver to take evasive action to avoid contact.
It is against the law to litter (MMC 8.16.168). All property should be treated with respect, regardless of the value of the property and, as a community, we have a right to keep the city beautiful be requiring citizens pick up after themselves.
The City’s parking code will continue to be enforced under MMC Chapter 10.