(The Center Square) – Spokane County is considering expanding nuisance enforcement to camping on private property when the activity poses public safety risks, with the owner responsible for abatement.
The Board of County Commissioners overhauled its regulations around nuisance properties at the end of last year. That followed a revamped camping ban that the Spokane City Council passed last October to strengthen enforcement and address a treatment-resistant homeless population living downtown.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jameson Dumo now wants to address camping on private property in the unincorporated areas of Spokane County. He briefed the board on the proposal on Tuesday, explaining that the county prosecutor’s office wants to address this after it slipped through the cracks last winter.
“For example, let’s say we have a private property where the owner of the property is not present, but he is allowing a dozen campers and RVs to be pitching tents or creating waste,” Dumo told the board.
“Previously, that wasn’t something we had a fantastic route for going after,” he continued.
Dumo said the goal of last year’s overhaul was to provide a uniform way to address chronic nuisance properties by removing unauthorized individuals, abating the area and charging $250 civil infractions.
He said the previous overhaul didn’t actually address situations where people are camping on private property.
If approved, the new county proposal would create regulations similar to those in the city of Spokane for camping on private property. The city’s rules around this date back to 2011 and prohibit camping in temporary shelters on private property for more than 14 days a year except in manufactured/mobile home parks.
“We’re not regulating the kind of activity that normal people would do, just have their kids camping in the backyard or something similar to that,” Dumo said, running the board through a list of exceptions.
The proposal would not apply to legal RV parks or campgrounds. It also exempts homeless individuals camping on property controlled by religious organizations.
On properties without habitable residences, camping would be allowed if the owner is present and it doesn’t exceed 14 days or create a nuisance.
On property with a habitable residence, camping would be allowed if the owner or tenant of the home is present and gives express permission; no more than one vehicle is used for camping per 10 off-street parking spaces, and the driveway and other access points for first responders aren’t blocked.
The goal is to address encampments on vacant lots or properties where people are camping, leaving trash and human waste, and/or engaging in criminal activity, such as using or dealing illicit substances.
If the county finds that camping on private property has created a nuisance, it must issue a 48-hour notice, allowing the occupants to clear the area before the county removes their personal belongings.
The county already levies a $250 daily fine on property owners to recover nuisance abatement costs.
“I’ve had people in my district that have had neighbors who have complained about people having a ‘mini-camp’ hub on their property,” Commissioner Mary Brooks said, voicing support for the proposal.
The commissioners will hold a public hearing before voting on the proposal on May 12.
