California Governor Tells Local Governments To Promptly Adopt Ordinances That Ban Homeless Camping

On May 12, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom called on all local governments in the state to promptly adopt and implement ordinances that restrict public camping and released a model ordinance as an example. The local ordinances would address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services.

The model ordinance follows and builds on the Governor’s July 2024 executive order urging all local jurisdictions to quickly address encampments and use state and local funding to connect people experiencing homelessness with needed supports and services. In that executive order, the Governor directed state agencies, particularly . . .